Underwrite the opportunity
We review property performance, sponsorship, business plan, and financing priorities.
Retail capital
Retail & Shopping Center Financing
Quick answer: Retail property financing spans single-tenant net lease assets to large multi-tenant shopping centers. Creditworthy tenancy and long-term lease structures drive the most competitive terms, with strong net lease assets qualifying for life insurance company and CMBS financing. Community and neighborhood centers with grocery anchors remain attractive to bank and agency lenders.
NationwideMarket coverage
1,000+Capital relationships
$2MM+CLS engagement floor
24 hoursInitial response
Property fit
Financing retail assets.
While retail has evolved significantly with the growth of e-commerce, well-located, well-tenanted retail properties continue to generate strong returns and attract financing. Net lease properties with investment-grade tenants command premium financing terms, while value-add retail opportunities may leverage bridge capital for repositioning. CLS CRE structures financing for the full spectrum of retail assets, from single-tenant pharmacies to regional shopping centers.
Underwriting starts with the asset: income durability, tenancy or operations, physical condition, market position, sponsorship, and the proposed business plan shape the lender universe.
01
Single-Tenant Net Lease (NNN)
02
Multi-Tenant Shopping Centers
03
Grocery-Anchored Centers
04
Power Centers & Outlet Malls
05
Strip Retail & Inline Shops
06
Restaurant & Food Service
07
Auto Service & Car Wash
08
Entertainment & Experiential Retail
Capital options
How we approach retail financing.
We match the property, sponsorship, and business plan to lenders with current appetite, then compare proceeds, pricing, recourse, reserves, prepayment, and closing certainty.
| Financing path | Where it may fit |
|---|---|
| Life Insurance Company Loans | Long-duration fixed-rate capital for high-quality assets and experienced sponsors, generally with conservative leverage. |
| CMBS | Non-recourse execution with broad property appetite, balanced against more standardized servicing and prepayment provisions. |
| Bank Permanent Loans | Relationship-oriented capital that can offer local market knowledge and structural flexibility, with recourse often considered. |
| Bridge Loans | Flexible short-term capital for acquisition, lease-up, renovation, repositioning, or other transitional business plans before stabilization or sale. |
| Construction (Build-to-Suit) | Draw-based financing for ground-up development, major renovation, or conversion, sized to budget, schedule, sponsorship, and the planned permanent exit. |
| Government-supported owner-occupied financing with program-specific eligibility, occupancy, and documentation standards. |
How we work
One process. Multiple capital sources.
The objective is not simply to find a lender. It is to create a credible, comparable set of financing choices around the transaction.
Property-level insight and lender appetite have to meet before pricing becomes meaningful.
Target active lender desks
The request is matched to capital sources that understand the asset and market.
Compare complete proposals
Rate, proceeds, recourse, reserves, prepayment, and execution risk are evaluated together.
Manage the closing
We coordinate lender diligence, third-party reports, documentation, and issue resolution through funding.
Selected closings
Retail financing in practice.
National reach
Market knowledge where the asset requires it.
We arrange retail financing nationwide while accounting for local property fundamentals and lender appetite.
Atlanta, GABoston, MAChicago, ILDallas, TXDenver, COHouston, TXLos Angeles, CAMiami, FLNashville, TNNew York, NYPhoenix, AZSan Diego, CASan Francisco, CASeattle, WATampa, FL
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Questions
Retail financing, clarified.
The final structure depends on the property, sponsor, market, and requested execution.
Sizing your equity? See the down payment guide for commercial property: typically 20% to 30% down, with SBA owner occupied from 10%.
Absolutely. While the retail sector has evolved, well-located properties with strong tenancy continue to attract competitive financing. Grocery-anchored centers, net lease properties with credit tenants, and experiential retail all remain highly financeable asset classes.
Single-tenant net lease retail with investment-grade tenants is highly attractive to life insurance companies and CMBS lenders, offering the most competitive long-term fixed rates. Banks also compete aggressively for net lease deals with strong tenancy.
Retail property loan rates range from 5.34% to 8.25% for permanent financing, with credit-tenant net lease assets at the lower end. Multi-tenant shopping centers may see rates at the higher end depending on tenancy strength and market location.
Restaurants can be financed through SBA 504/7(a) programs if owner-occupied, or through conventional commercial loans if the property is leased to a restaurant operator. Stand-alone restaurant properties are considered higher risk and may require specialized lenders.
Lenders evaluate tenant credit quality, lease terms and rollover schedule, in-place rent vs. market rent, anchor tenant presence, location and traffic counts, competitive landscape, and the property's physical condition and deferred maintenance.
Let's evaluate your retail financing request.
Share the property and transaction. We will respond within 24 hours with an initial view.