Owner-occupied CRE
SBA Loans for Commercial Real Estate
SBA 504 and 7(a) loans finance owner-occupied commercial real estate — buying, building, or renovating the property your business operates from — with low down payments and long, fixed terms.
504 vs 7(a) for property
SBA 504 is purpose-built for real estate and heavy equipment: ~10% down, up to 25-year terms, with a long-term fixed rate on the CDC portion. 7(a) also works and is more flexible.
Owner-occupancy rule
Your business must occupy at least 51% of an existing building (60% for new construction) — these are not investment-property loans.
Why it beats conventional
Lower down payment preserves working capital, and the long fixed term makes the payment predictable for decades.
Frequently asked
Should I use SBA 504 or 7(a) for real estate?
504 is usually the best fit for owner-occupied real estate — lower down payment and a long fixed rate. 7(a) is more flexible if you're combining real estate with other needs.
Can I use an SBA loan for an investment property?
No — SBA real estate loans require your business to occupy the majority of the property. Pure investment/rental property doesn't qualify.
Other ways businesses use SBA loans
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