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guide active commercial-lending
Topic Guide

Commercial Lending

Direct AnswerCommercial mortgage rates, CMHC MLI, and financing guides for 5+ unit, office, retail, and mixed-use real estate in Canada.

In this topic Commercial Financing

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Why this guide · 00

Commercial real estate financing operates by different rules than residential lending. Lenders underwrite based on property income — net operating income (NOI), debt service coverage ratio (DSCR), and tenant quality — rather than personal income alone. These guides walk through CMHC MLI programs for apartment buildings, conventional commercial mortgages, private lending, and how to structure deals for office, retail, industrial, and mixed-use assets across Canada.

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Questions About Commercial Lending

Practical answers on commercial lending for Canadian real estate investors — financing, strategy, and next steps.

Commercial Mortgage Basics

Properties with five or more residential units, plus office, retail, industrial, and mixed-use buildings, are generally treated as commercial. Duplexes through fourplexes often stay in residential programs, though some lenders will still underwrite them like small rentals. Classification affects down payment, amortization, covenants, and the documents you must provide.
Commercial lenders focus on the property’s net operating income and debt service coverage, not only personal income. You typically provide a rent roll, operating statements, and an appraisal. Personal guarantees and net worth still matter, but the deal’s cash flow drives most of the sizing.

CMHC MLI & Programs

No. CMHC multi-unit insurance can apply to eligible existing rentals as well as new construction, subject to program criteria. MLI Select adds incentives when a project earns enough points for affordability, energy, or accessibility. Eligibility depends on property type, borrower experience, and the specific product sheet — it is not automatic.
Yes. A commercial-focused broker can compare CMHC-insured, conventional, credit-union, and private options across lenders. Timelines, legal work, and pricing differ widely, so shopping the file often beats approaching a single bank. Book a free LendCity™ strategy call to see which path fits the asset and your timeline.

Rates & Process

Insured multi-family often prices as a spread over a Canada Mortgage Bond or similar benchmark. Conventional deals usually sit over the lender’s cost of funds plus a margin. Exact pricing depends on LTV, DSCR, term, property type, and borrower strength — published ranges are starting points, not quotes.
Expect a rent roll, trailing twelve-month or annual operating statements, purchase agreement or refinance purpose, corporate documents, and personal net-worth statements for guarantors. Appraisals and environmental reports are common conditions. Incomplete financials are the usual reason commercial files stall.

Commercial Mortgage Basics (Continued)

Many conventional commercial lenders look for about 1.20–1.25x DSCR on the subject property. For CMHC-insured multi-unit, LendCity™ sizes MLI Select standard rental at 1.10, and MLI Standard at 1.30 on a five-year term or 1.20 on a ten-year term. Other shelter types and lender overlays can be stricter — confirm the program that applies to your file.
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