Our lending panel covers a wide range of commercial property types, including:

• Office Building Loans – From CBD office towers and suburban office parks to medical and professional suites and strata office units. Special considerations include parking availability, building quality rating (A-D grade), and tenant mix stability.
• Retail Property Loans – Shopping centres and strips, individual retail shops, showrooms and display centres, and mixed-use developments with retail components. Lenders assess foot traffic data, anchor tenant quality, and location demographics.
• Warehouse Property Loans – Logistics hubs, storage facilities, distribution centres, and cold storage warehouses. Key factors include clear span dimensions, loading dock access, ceiling height, and proximity to major transport routes.
• Industrial Property Loans – Factories, production plants, workshops, and light industrial units. Lenders evaluate power supply capacity, environmental compliance, specialised equipment requirements, and zoning classifications.
• Medical Property Loans – Medical centres and clinics, dental surgeries, specialist consulting rooms, and allied health facilities. These typically attract premium tenants with long-term leases and stable income streams.
• Mixed-Use Property Loans – Residential and commercial combinations, retail with office space above, and live-work developments. These offer diversified income streams but need careful structuring to meet lending requirements.

Commercial property loans can also be used to purchase specialty property types like service stations, pubs, and entertainment premises, as well as vacant land for development.

Be aware that the type of commercial property you choose will significantly impact your loan structure, commercial interest rates, and approval likelihood. Prime metropolitan office buildings with quality tenants might secure 70-80% LVR financing at competitive rates from 6.8% p.a., while specialised properties like service stations may require 50% deposits and attract higher rates due to perceived risk.

Smart Business Plans covers all commercial property categories in Australia, with access to over 60 specialist lenders who understand the nuances of each asset class. We match your property type to lenders with specific appetite and competitive terms for that sector, maximising your approval chances while securing optimal financing conditions that support your long-term business objectives.

We see medical, industrial and prime office buildings typically receive the best loan rates and terms – sometimes achieving up to 90% LVR. This is because these property types have strong tenant demand which reduces risk for the lender.

Specialty properties like service stations or hotels have limited alternative uses if the business fails. This single-use risk means lenders are more conservative when comparing commercial loan applications. Of course, the location of the property plays a role in potential LVR as well, with metro areas seen as less risky than regional locations.

It’s very rare that a retail property could attract an 80% LVR. Most lenders cap retail properties at 70-7% LVR due to retail businesses being considered as riskier than other business types. That said, neighborhood centers with essential services or public sector tenants, and long lease terms, can sometimes achieve higher LVRs.

Yes, we are seeing increasingly focus from lenders on the NABERS rating and green certifications of commercial properties being assessed. Strong environmental credentials can see rate discounts of 0.1-0.25% with ESG-focused lenders where other criteria are also met.