Metro Detroit's Commercial Real Estate Market:
Opportunity Meets Execution Gap
Drive through Metro Detroit and the pattern repeats across every city.
Warren industrial buildings with "For Lease" signs that have been there for months. Troy office space sitting vacant while profitable businesses down the street write $25,000 monthly rent checks. Sterling Heights manufacturing facilities available while growing companies struggle in inadequate leased space.
The problem isn't demand. Metro Detroit has profitable businesses that need these properties. Commercial real estate brokers have qualified buyers ready to transact.
The problem is financing execution.
Business owners get declined by their bank and assume commercial real estate ownership isn't possible. Brokers submit deals to one lender, receive a rejection, and watch transactions die. Traditional commercial loans require 30% down that depletes working capital needed for operations.
Meanwhile, the right financing structure—properly matched lender, optimal loan program, expert coordination—would close the deal with 10-15% down, competitive terms, and timeline that doesn't kill momentum.
LVRG facilitates commercial real estate financing for Michigan businesses and connects commercial real estate brokers with institutional capital that closes transactions. We provide the platform access and execution capability that turns "For Sale" signs into closed deals.
The Platform Advantage: 25+ Lenders vs. One Bank Relationship
Most businesses approach commercial real estate financing through a single bank relationship. Most brokers have one or two lending contacts they submit deals to repeatedly.
When that lender declines or offers unfavorable terms, the transaction dies—not because the deal lacks merit, but because single-lender exposure creates single points of failure.
Here's what actually happens:
Your bank says they're "not doing industrial properties right now." Your contact at the local lender explains "we're full on Metro Detroit exposure." The SBA-preferred bank you've used for years declines because "manufacturing concentration limits are maxed."
The deal is viable. The business qualifies. The property makes sense. But you're stuck with one lender's current appetite, internal limits, and portfolio preferences.
LVRG operates differently.
We maintain active relationships with 25+ institutional commercial real estate lenders—SBA-preferred banks, conventional commercial lenders, and specialized CRE financing sources across multiple capital structures and geographic markets.
Your transaction gets evaluated against the full commercial lending landscape, not one bank's quarterly risk appetite. When one lender declines based on property type, we have alternatives that specialize in that asset class. When one bank's pricing isn't competitive, we access better terms through our institutional relationships.
This isn't broker hyperbole. We've closed hundreds of commercial real estate transactions after initial bank declines—not because we changed the fundamentals, but because we matched transactions with lenders whose current focus aligned with deal specifics.
For business owners: You get financing access that standalone bank relationships can't provide.
For commercial real estate brokers: Your buyers get funded when single-lender submissions would have failed. Your deals close instead of dying from financing gaps.
Commercial Real Estate Financing Programs
SBA 7(a) Commercial Real Estate
Maximum flexibility for owner-occupied commercial properties with ability to include working capital and equipment beyond just real estate.
Up to $5 million
10-15% down payment
25-year terms for commercial real estate
LTV up to 90%
Current rates: 9-11%
Can include: Working capital, equipment, soft costs, business needs beyond property
Best for: Businesses acquiring commercial real estate as part of broader growth initiatives, or transactions requiring working capital alongside property financing.
SBA 504 Commercial Real Estate
Fixed-rate financing specifically for commercial real estate and major equipment purchases with lowest available down payment.
Projects $1M to $20M+ (SBA portion capped at $5-5.5M)
10% down payment
10, 20, or 25-year terms
True fixed rates for life on 40% of financing
Current combined rates: 6-7%
No balloon payments, fully amortized
Best for: Businesses focused exclusively on property or equipment acquisition who want minimal cash investment and true fixed-rate certainty.
Conventional Commercial Real Estate
Traditional commercial mortgages for businesses prioritizing speed or transactions outside SBA parameters.
Up to $10M+
20-30% down payment
5-25 year terms
Current rates: 7-12%
Faster closing than SBA programs (typically 15-25 days quicker)
Best for: Strong credits with substantial cash reserves, or situations requiring faster execution than SBA timeline allows.
Why LVRG: Execution That Actually Happens
Institutional Capital Access With Boutique Execution
Our lending volume and institutional relationships deliver pricing advantages typically reserved for much larger transactions. Negotiated rate structures. Reduced fee arrangements. Optimized closing costs.
The platform access provides capital terms that standalone brokers and single-bank relationships can't match. The boutique operating model ensures senior-level attention throughout the transaction—not handoffs to junior processors or communication blackouts during critical phases.
You work directly with advisors who have facilitated hundreds of commercial real estate closings and understand how to structure financing that actually funds.
Process Coordination That Eliminates Deal Death
Commercial real estate transactions fail from coordination breakdowns, not qualification issues.
Bank underwriting needs updated financials. SBA requires additional documentation. Appraisers can't access property. Environmental consultants have questions sitting unanswered. Title work reveals lien issues nobody addresses.
Each delay compounds. Sixty-day timelines become 90 days, then 120. Sellers get frustrated. Purchase agreements expire. Deals die despite having approval.
We coordinate bank underwriting, SBA processing, appraisal management, environmental due diligence, title work, and closing preparation simultaneously rather than sequentially. Problems get identified and resolved proactively rather than discovered three days before scheduled closing.
Result: Transactions close in 60-75 days for SBA programs, 35-45 days for conventional financing—not because we rush, but because we manage properly.
Twenty Years. $1 Billion Funded. 10,000+ Businesses.
LVRG's track record represents demonstrated execution across market cycles, transaction types, and business situations. We've structured deals banks initially deemed impossible. We've saved transactions other brokers abandoned. We've consistently delivered when execution matters most.
That capability exists because we've built the lender relationships, developed the process expertise, and maintained the reputation that makes institutional lenders want to close our deals.
Metro Detroit Commercial Real Estate: From Rent to Ownership
Manufacturing Expansion: Auburn Hills Precision Manufacturing
Established precision manufacturing company serving automotive and aerospace markets. $6.8M annual revenue, 42 employees, 15 years in business.
Outgrew existing 28,000 sq ft leased facility. Production capacity maxed. Turning away contracts due to space limitations. Landlord unwilling to expand or modify building for specialized equipment.
LVRG facilitated $9.5M SBA 7(a) transaction:
Commercial building: $6.2M (55,000 sq ft industrial facility)
Equipment financing: $2.8M (CNC machining centers, material handling)
Soft costs and working capital: $500K
Down payment: $1.14M (12%)
Previous rent: $18,200/month for inadequate space
New payment: $61,400/month for owned facility
Results: Production capacity increased 190%. Added second shift and 23 employees. Revenue grew to $11.4M within 18 months. Built $890,000 equity while property appreciated $780,000.
The transaction nearly died when initial bank declined due to equipment concentration concerns. LVRG connected the business with SBA-preferred lender specializing in manufacturing, restructured application to emphasize contract pipeline and industry expertise, and closed in 71 days.
Professional Services: Troy Engineering Firm
Civil engineering and land surveying firm. $3.2M revenue, 18 employees, 15 years established.
Paying $24,500 monthly for 9,500 sq ft office space. Lease renewal approaching with 18% rent increase. Needed cost control and equity building instead of funding landlord wealth.
LVRG facilitated $2.8M SBA 504 transaction:
Office building: $2.8M (12,000 sq ft, Troy business district)
Down payment: $280,000 (10%)
New payment: $17,800/month
Monthly savings: $6,700 ($80,400 annually)
Rented 2,500 unused sq ft to complementary business for $4,200 monthly, reducing net occupancy cost to $13,600—45% below previous rent while building equity.
Built $340,000 equity over four years. Property appreciated $420,000. Total wealth creation: $760,000 while dramatically reducing occupancy costs.
Commercial Real Estate Financing Requirements
Business Qualifications
Two years profitable operations with tax returns
Annual revenue typically $500K+ (varies by property size)
Strong cash flow supporting debt service (1.20x+ coverage)
Owner-occupancy minimum 51% (SBA programs)
Credit Requirements
680+ preferred for best terms and broadest lender access
650-680 workable with strong business financials
Below 650 increasingly difficult regardless of business strength
Down Payment
SBA 7(a): 10-15%
SBA 504: 10% (standard commercial), 15% (special-use properties)
Conventional: 20-30%
Property Types Office buildings, industrial facilities, warehouses, manufacturing plants, retail buildings, mixed-use properties (51%+ business occupancy for SBA programs)
For Commercial Real Estate Brokers: Capital That Closes Your Deals
Your buyers need financing to close. When financing fails, your commission disappears and months of work evaporate.
Single-lender relationships create risk. When that bank declines or offers poor terms, you have no alternatives. Deal dies. Buyer walks. Seller lists with another broker.
LVRG provides commercial real estate brokers with institutional capital access that closes transactions:
Multiple Lender Options: Your buyer gets evaluated by 25+ commercial lenders, not one bank's quarterly appetite.
Faster Approvals: Platform relationships and process expertise deliver faster decisions and shorter timelines than typical SBA processing.
Better Terms: Institutional pricing and negotiated structures often beat standalone bank submissions.
Expert Coordination: We manage the entire financing process so you can focus on the real estate transaction while knowing capital will perform.
For brokers throughout Metro Detroit, Michigan, and nationwide: LVRG facilitates the commercial real estate financing that turns your qualified buyers into closed transactions.
Michigan Based. Nationwide Reach.
LVRG is headquartered in Metro Detroit with deep roots throughout Michigan's commercial real estate markets—Sterling Heights, Troy, Warren, Birmingham, Novi, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing.
Our institutional lending platform provides nationwide commercial real estate financing capability. Michigan businesses benefit from local expertise combined with national capital access. Out-of-state businesses access the same institutional lending relationships and execution capability.
Geographic location doesn't limit financing options. Deal quality and execution expertise determine outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I include working capital with commercial real estate financing?
Yes, with SBA 7(a). The 504 program restricts to real estate and equipment only. If you need property financing plus working capital, the 7(a) structure provides that flexibility.
What if I want to rent part of my building?
SBA programs require 51% owner-occupancy. Remaining 49% can be rented. Many businesses reduce effective occupancy costs significantly by renting unused space to quality tenants.
How much down payment do I need?
SBA 504: 10%. SBA 7(a): 10-15%. Conventional: 20-30%. For $3M property, that's $300K (SBA 504) versus $600K-$900K (conventional)—meaningful difference in capital preserved for operations.
What credit score is required?
680+ preferred. 650-680 workable with strong business performance. Below 650 difficult regardless of business strength. Credit context matters—what caused issues, when they occurred, how they've been resolved.
How long does commercial real estate financing take?
SBA programs: 60-75 days typically. Conventional: 35-45 days. Timeline assumes complete documentation and no significant property issues.
What if one bank declines my application?
Single decline doesn't determine overall qualification. Banks decline for reasons beyond borrower merit—property type preferences, transaction size targets, geographic concentration limits, temporary portfolio adjustments. We've closed hundreds of transactions after initial bank declines through better lender matching.
Stop Renting. Start Building Equity.
Every month you pay rent is another month funding your landlord's wealth instead of building your own. Every lease renewal is another negotiation from a position of weakness. Every landlord restriction limits how you operate your business.
Commercial real estate ownership changes all of that.
For business owners: Access financing that makes property ownership possible without depleting working capital needed for operations.
For commercial real estate brokers: Connect your buyers with institutional capital that closes deals instead of killing them.
LVRG facilitates commercial real estate financing for Michigan businesses and brokers nationwide who need execution that actually happens.
Contact LVRG:
📞 (855) 998-5874
🌐 LVRGFUNDING.com
Charles M. Barr
CEO | LVRG Business Funding
Michigan's Business Financing Authority
Michigan Based | Nationwide Reach
