What is a CMBS loan?
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CMBS loans are also known as commercial mortgage-backed securities or conduit loans. These loans are used to purchase commercial real estate buildings like multifamily properties office buildings, or warehouses. They typically offer flexible underwriting standards and use the property as collateral.
That said, a CMBS loan is different from a traditional commercial loan. With a traditional commercial loan, the lender gets paid back over time. However, a conduit loan will be sold and packaged along with other commercial mortgage loans into a trust called a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC), turned into bonds, and sold on the secondary mortgage market to bond investors. This process is known as securitization, and it’s where these loans get their name
The advantages of CMBS loans
The main advantage of choosing a conduit loan is that these loans typically offer a better interest rate than a traditional commercial loan. They also usually offer a fixed-rate option, which can give you the ability to plan for your payments more effectively.
Additionally, CMBS loans are nonrecourse loans, which means that the buyer is not held personally responsible for paying the loan. However, some of these loans do have a clause stating that if you intentionally cause harm to the property, your CMBS lender, or your investors, you could be held liable.
Lastly, these loans are assumable, so if you decide to sell the property in the future, the buyer can take over your CMBS financing and your interest rate. However, be aware that most lenders do charge a fee for this service.