Conventional commercial mortgages
Purchase or refinance discussions involving property income, business finances, equity, guarantees, and repayment terms.
Read the guide ↗COMMERCIAL LOAN PROGRAM GUIDE
Start with the purpose.
Then compare the paths.
Commercial real estate loans, commercial mortgages, and business-property financing can describe different structures. Property use and repayment plans help narrow the conversation.
SBA 7(a) & SBA 504
Understand two SBA-backed financing paths for eligible operating businesses and their different uses.
Read the guide ↗DSCR & rental property loans
Understand rental cash-flow analysis, investment-property financing, and portfolio questions.
Read the guide ↗Apartment & agency multifamily loans
Compare general multifamily concepts with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD/FHA program categories.
Read the guide ↗Bridge, private money & construction
Explore transitional financing, renovation, ground-up development, and the importance of the exit plan.
Read the guide ↗Commercial mortgage rates & costs
Compare pricing, down payment, reserves, amortization, and prepayment terms before judging a proposal.
Read the guide ↗Real estate financing or business financing?
A commercial real estate loan is tied to a property transaction. A business acquisition loan, equipment loan, working-capital loan, or business line of credit serves a different purpose, even when real estate is involved. Tell the team what the funds will actually pay for.
SBA 7(a) can support several eligible business purposes; SBA 504 focuses on eligible major fixed assets. Neither name means every project qualifies. Standalone equipment, acquisition, and working-capital services are not confirmed River Bear offerings on this website.
Other terms you may encounter
CMBS / conduit financing relates to commercial loans that may be pooled into commercial mortgage-backed securities. Bank portfolio financing generally describes a loan held by a lender; a rental portfolio loan can describe financing secured by multiple properties. Ask what a lender means by “portfolio.”
Non-recourse does not mean no obligations: exclusions and guarantees can still apply. Mezzanine debt and preferred equity are specialized capital structures, not synonyms for a first mortgage. These are terminology explanations, not advertised River Bear products.
Program information checked September 30, 2026. Sources: SBA 7(a) overview · SBA 504 overview · Freddie Mac borrower process. Current rules and lender requirements apply.
LET’S LOOK AT THE DETAILS
Bring us the property.
And the questions.
Start with the goal, the timing, and the financing need.