Commercial financing is substatially different from residential. Down payment, interest rates and term are not as favorable as residential financing. A duplex would not qualify, however, a mixed use over 14 units would. The best place to start asking specific questions would be with a commercial lender. Send me an email if you would like a referral.

With commercial finance its based upon the property's cash flow and debt service ratio, not your personal income, although that is one factor.

If you are buying any residential multi unit property up to 4 units, you do not need commercial financing. You can get a conventional loan as long as you occupy one of the units. Even if you do not occupy any of the 1 to 4 unit properties, you would still get a residential loan though at a slightly higher interest rate since it would then be purely an investment property.

As regards mixed-use, now that would be commercial financing. It is available, though commercial lending criteria are quite stringent. If you have specific examples, I could let you know whether you would qualify or not.

Bob Khalsa
Broker
Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
United America Realty
scvbroker@gmail.com
213-926-5847