Some Multifamily Borrowers are Struggling to Find Small Balance Loans

Amid the broader challenges facing the commercial real estate market, many investors who own smaller apartment buildings are struggling to find financing in the current climate.

Many of the banks these sorts of investors rely on to finance deals have become more cautious in the pandemic—especially because smaller apartment buildings are more likely than larger properties to have residents hurt by the crisis that are falling behind in rent. Facing potential distress on existing loans, some banks are lowering origination volumes and hesitating to make new loans. Meanwhile, for the deals that are getting done, terms are becoming more stringent.

“They are cautious… They make the loan-to-value ratio much lower,” says Richard Katzenstein, senior vice president and national director of Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp., working in the firm's offices in New York City.