How it worksAbout AndrewCommon SBA Q&AFor brokers & CPAs
Financing pathsMy deal is stuck or declinedGet a free second opinionSBA vs. conventionalBuy a businessCommercial real estateFranchise financingMedical & dental practicesSelf-storage & hospitality
Planning toolsAll planning tools
Model the deal01Business acquisition03Owner-used real estate05Cash injection06Scenario comparison09Payment stress test
Prepare the project027(a) vs. 50404Loan readiness07Application timeline08Document checklist10LOI financing preflight
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SBA financing for owner-used real estate

Own the building.
Preserve room to operate.

Explore how an owner-occupied property, improvements, long-life equipment, project costs, and borrower injection may fit into an SBA 504 or 7(a) conversation.

Get my free SBA game plan Model the real-estate structure
For business owners buying, building, or improving their location

What deserves attention

Finance the complete project—not a shorthand version.

01

Build the total project

Property, improvements, equipment, eligible soft costs, and timing can all affect the financing structure.

02

Occupancy is fundamental

SBA real-estate financing is generally intended for an operating business using the property—not a primarily passive investment.

03

Compare flexibility and structure

A 504 and 7(a) conversation can differ in participation, use of funds, timing, fees, collateral, and long-term flexibility.

Prepare the conversation

Start organizing the evidence.

These are practical starting items, not a complete lender document request. The exact list changes with the borrower, project, lender, and current program requirements.

Get my project checklist
  1. 01Property summary, purchase terms, and intended occupancy
  2. 02Improvement, construction, and equipment budgets
  3. 03Business tax returns and current interim financials
  4. 04Borrower liquidity and post-project operating reserves

Questions worth asking

Clear answers before assumptions.

Is 10% always the required injection?

No. Injection depends on the program, project, business history, property, lender, and current rules. Any percentage shown here is an adjustable illustration.

Can improvements be included?

Eligible improvements and related project costs may be included when properly documented and reviewed within the complete project.

Can this finance investment property?

SBA owner-occupied real-estate programs are not designed primarily for passive investment real estate. Occupancy and operating-business eligibility require review.

Make the next conversation more productive

Bring the project into focus.

Tell Andrew what you are trying to do and receive a plain-English first look with possible program direction, questions to review, and a project-specific starting checklist.

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