A commercial mortgage is similar to a residential mortgage in that funds can be borrowed over a long period of time, usually a maximum of 30 years, secured by a first charge on the property being bought.

In taking first charge, the lender is first in the queue to recover any debt if the property ever needs to be sold. This could happen because the mortgagee wishes to move on and sells, or perhaps has defaulted on the repayments causing the lender to foreclose.

If a first charge business mortgage already exists, it is common for different lenders to advance funds secured by way of a second charge which puts that lender as second in the ’security queue’.

Unlike residential mortgages, nearly all commercial mortgages are variable rate loans which vary in line with the Base Rate set by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee. So, if a mortgage lender offers terms which include an interest rate of say ‘2% over base’ then a base rate of 4.5% would result in an interest rate of 6.5% being applied to the loan.

Some lenders will link their interest rates to LIBOR, which is the London Inter Bank Offered Rate. LIBOR is published every day in the Financial Times and can be found on a number of other financial websites.

Commercial Mortgages can be secured against most types of freehold or long leasehold properties, such as retail stores, pubs, care homes, restaurants, office buildings, industrial factory units and more. Applying for a commercial mortgage is very much like that of a residential mortgage except that the maximum that can be borrowed is 60% of the assessed Market Value, although one or two lenders will advancelend up to 75% depending upon the proposal.

These percentages are known as the Loan-to-Value ratio, or LTV. A lower LTV means that the risk to the lender is reduced. The higher the LTV, the greater the risk to the lender and it is likely that a higher interest rate would be charged.

Lenders will not usually advance above 75% LTV to ensure that there would be enough security in the case of a forced sale, perhaps through auction when it is expected that property will sell at a discounted rate. When looking for a commercial mortgage it is advisable to shop around for the best deals and to use a specialist commercial finance broker who will possess the necessary expertise to advise you accordingly.

Secured business loans or commercial loans are designed for a wide range of small, medium and startup business needs including the buying, refinance or expansion of a business. Business loans are similar to a commercial mortgage in that money can be borrowed over an extended period of time, usually a maximum of 25 years, and are secured on the property being purchased.

A loan for a business can be secured against most types of freehold or long leasehold properties, such as factories, shops, pubs, residential care homes, guest houses, restaurants, office buildings, industrial units, apartment blocks and more. A business loan can even be secured against a residential building. The procedure is very similar to that of a commercial mortgage except that the general maximum that can be borrowed is 60% of the assessed Market Value. However, a few lenders will advance up to 75% depending upon the deal and the security offered. Interest rates on the loan are variable and depend upon the credit history of the borrower and the length of the loan.

These percentages are known as the Loan-to-Value ratio, or LTV. The lower the LTV, the lower the financial risk is to the lender. The higher the LTV, the more the risk to the lender and it is probable that a higher interest rate would be charged. Lenders will not generally advance above 75% LTV to try to make sure that there would be enough security in the case of a quick sale, often via an auction house when it is expected that property will sell at a discounted rate of up to 25% below the regular market value.