O-1 Visa Buying Commercial Property

Purchasing commercial property for a business operation — a medical practice buying its clinic space, a restaurant acquiring its building, a manufacturer purchasing a production facility — involves multiple capital layers: the mortgage (handled by commercial lenders), the business working capital to cover non-real-estate costs (covered by Bankable), and the transition costs of moving and setting up operations. Bankable funds the business capital layer for O-1 holders acquiring commercial property — not the mortgage itself. Check your Bankability Score.

What Bankable Funds in a Commercial Property Transaction

When an O-1 business owner is purchasing commercial property, Bankable can fund:

• Business renovation and leasehold improvements: Fit-out costs beyond what the mortgage covers
• Equipment and infrastructure: Business-specific equipment for the new facility
• Moving and transition costs: Relocation of operations, IT infrastructure migration
• Working capital bridge: Operating costs during the transition period
• Marketing for the new location: Announcing the new address, signage, local advertising

The SBA 504 Exclusion

SBA 504 loans — the primary government-backed vehicle for commercial real estate acquisition by small businesses — now require 100% U.S. citizen or national ownership under the March 2026 rule change. This means every O-1 holder is excluded from SBA 504 financing for commercial property. Traditional commercial mortgage lenders remain available (they are not SBA) — check with commercial real estate lenders separately. Bankable handles the business capital layer, not the commercial mortgage.

Structuring the Capital Stack for O-1 Property Buyers

For O-1 holders purchasing commercial property, the capital stack typically includes: commercial mortgage (from a bank or commercial lender that accepts non-permanent residents), business improvement capital (from Bankable), and equipment financing (also from Bankable or equipment-specific lenders). Bankable works within the broader capital stack to fund the business components that the commercial mortgage doesn't cover. Compare our products.

Qualifying for Business Capital Alongside a Property Purchase

To qualify for Bankable's business capital in conjunction with a property purchase, you need: at least 6 months of operating history at your current location, $15,000-$50,000/month in business revenue (depending on industry), and clear documentation of the property transaction (purchase agreement or closing documents). The business capital decision is made independently of the property transaction itself.