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TO FILL OUT A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE FORM!
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Understanding a UK Commercial Mortgage
In many ways a commercial mortgage is just like a residential
mortgage in that you pledge real property as collateral
against a loan to either buy or refinance that property. You can
also receive a commercial re-mortgage and use it as a line of credit
for any business purpose.
When you use a commercial mortgage to buy property, or to raise funds
for any other business purpose, the lender retains an interest in
that property until the loan has been paid in full. Unlike other
types of business loans, which usually have a relatively short repayment
period, you can take out a loan for as long as 30 years if you like.
The lender receives repayment of the commercial
mortgage principal
and interest over the lifetime of the loan. If you default on the
loan and go into arrears then the lender can foreclose and take possession
of the property that was used as collateral.
Generally speaking, the interest on a commercial
mortgage is tax
deductible and the net proceeds of the loan are not considered to
be taxable income. However, you should always check with your accountant
to be sure because the tax consequences can be severe should it be
determined that your usage of the funds was not for a qualified business
purpose.
Should you be seeking a commercial mortgage for the purposes of operating
your business, rather than actually buying property, then the lender
will either want to re-finance your current mortgage, and include
enough money to provide the amount that you are seeking, or they
may arrange an equity line where they lend you the difference between
the current value of your commercial property and the amount that
you owe on the current mortgage.
There are generally two types of interest schemes available when
you are applying for a commercial mortgage.
The fixed rate commercial mortgage establishes an interest rate that
is in place either for the life of the loan or for a fixed period
of time. If it is for a fixed period of time then it will normally
convert over to the second type of rate, which is called a variable
interest rate, after the fixed time period expires.
In some cases your lender may add a Early Redemption Charge (ERC)
clause to your commercial mortgage contract which states that if
you pay off the note prior to the end of the fixed rate period then
the lender is entitled to a one-time lump fee to offset their loss
of expected income. In some cases this ERC may extend to longer periods
possibly up to the entire term of the loan. Be very sure to read
your loan contract carefully to make sure that you understand the
implications of the ERC if it is present.
With competition from lenders heating up you'll find that many of
them are dropping ERC clauses all together. If there is one present
in your loan contract you may be able to negotiate it away with little
effort. It's worth trying in any case and you can always apply somewhere
else if your lender is not willing to negotiate.
In the case of a variable interest rate commercial
mortgage the rate
is based upon those issued by Bank of England. The lender will usually
state that the rate consists of the published rate, which will likely
vary up and down over the life of the loan, plus some pre-determined
premium that remains the same for the life of the loan. Be sure that
you understand how frequently your rate will change and that you
are comfortable with the amount that the lender is charging as a
premium. As with any terms of your loan you can negotiate both of
these factors.
A fixed rate commercial mortgage is a good choice when you feel that
interest rates are headed up sharply and you want to lock in the
current rates. On the other hand, if interest rates are in flux,
and economic indicators point to a downtrend, then a variable rate
may be your best choice.
Keep this strategy in mind during the lifetime of your commercial
mortgage. If you are locked into a fixed rate, and interest rates
have dropped significantly below what you are paying, you should
consider applying for a re-mortgage and selecting a variable interest
rate to take advantage of the lower rates. On the other hand, if
you are in a variable, and all indicators are that interest rates
will be skyrocketing soon, then look to move into a fixed rate so
you can protect yourself against future increases. |
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