As printed in the January/February issue of the Commercial Property Guide Magazine

Affinity Bank - The Commercial Real Estate Lending Experts

Commercial Real Estate lending experts with a sole focus on helping borrowers achieve their ultimate goal: wealth – it sounds like the impossible dream, but for borrowers turning to Affinity Bank, this dream is reality. 90% of Affinity Bank’s loans are made on office, industrial, retail and multi-family home properties.

Affinity Bank has been closing income property loans for realtors, builders and buyers for nearly a decade through a flexible, efficient approach that has earned it a reputation as one of the region’s leading specialist in commercial real estate lending.

“Affinity Bank has an enormous level of expertise extending from our board of directors and executives to our loan committee and our front line teams,” said Michael R. McGuire, president and CEO, Affinity Bank. “This understanding, combined with a deep appreciation of our customers’ goals, gives us a singular focus – finding a creative solution to fund commercial real estate loans that meet borrowers’ goals and are good loans for our bank.”

• Apartment Loans
• Retail Loans
• Construction Loans
• Light Industrial & Warehouse Loans
• Manufactured/Mobile Home Park Loans
• Office Building Loans
• Self Storage Loans
• Auto Repair, Auto Body/Paint Shop Loans

In 2007, Affinity Bank will be offering loan programs for A-rated properties, typically neighborhood centers that attract large, national brands such as Starbucks, Verizon, and similar retail outlets. This new offering rounds out the breadth of the bank’s loan offerings, which traditionally have included both B-rated and C-rated properties. In addition, Affinity Bank’s Healthcare Financing programs offer loans for Assisted Living and other Healthcare Facilities.

“Our goal is to make the lending transaction as easy as possible,” commented James Barnett, senior vice president and national sales manager for Affinity Bank. “We focus on the property, its operation and future plans, and what it needs to deliver for the borrower.”

Affinity Bank is a portfolio lender, meaning it has complete control over the requirements for approval rather than those mandated by the secondary market. For borrowers, this means less red tape and documentation, lower costs, and faster closing times. The average commercial real estate loan from Affinity Bank closes in 60 days with some closing as quickly as two weeks.

Affinity Bank is one of the few institutions that typically does not require a nonrefundable deposit, a business plan or more than two years of tax returns. The borrower’s operating statement, rent rolls, and appraisal form the basis of the documentation required by the loan committee. Once received, the loan officer provides hands-on management through commitment and approval. Decisions are based on whether or not the loan can perform on its terms and conditions, which may include requirements for specific refurbishments.

“Our loan process is designed to give investors the ultimate freedom in realizing a profit on their investment in the shortest time possible,” added Mr. Barnett. “We offer free 60-day rate locks and easy prepayments, and we never require lock-outs, defeasance, or yield maintenance, giving borrowers the ultimate flexibility in turning a profit as quickly as possible.”
Affinity Bank values its relationships with borrowers, and often works with them to expand services as their income property portfolios develop. “Some of our borrowers have expanded into properties in Arizona, Nevada, Utah and other Western states,” noted Mr. McGuire. “By working with them outside California not only do we support the relationship, but we increase our expertise and the value of our commercial real estate services while diversifying our portfolio across markets.”

Return to Index