Commercial Finance
How Long Are Commercial Property Loans?
5 min read- Finance Guide
- Updated 2026
Quick answer
Typical loan term range
15Y 30Y
Typical full loan terms depending on lender and structure
- Owner occupied property Often up to 25 - 30 years
- Commercial investment Often 15 - 25 years
- Review periods Often every 3 - 5 years
- Specialised properties May be shorter
1300 421 044
1300 421 044
Commercial property loan terms are usually assessed using two main factors
The property type and lender policy
The type of commercial property can affect the maximum loan term. Standard office, retail and industrial property often qualify for longer terms than specialised assets.
PROPERTY-BASED TERM
The borrower's strength and loan structure
Lenders assess the borrower's financial strength, income, cash flow and lease support to decide how long the facility can run and whether the loan may need earlier review.
BORROWER-BASED TERMTypical loan term ranges by property type
Most commercial lenders offer different loan terms depending on the security property and the loan purpose
-
Owner occupied commercial — Offices, retail, industrial Up to 25 - 30 years
-
Commercial investment — Retail or office investment Around 15 - 25 years
-
Specialised properties — Hotels, service stations, medical Often shorter terms
For example, a lender may calculate repayments over a 25 year term but still review the facility after 3 or 5 years depending on the borrower's position and the property risk.
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Repayment Term vs Review Term
Lenders often structure commercial loans using two different timeframes. They typically review:
Full repayment term or
amortisation period- Shorter review
period
- Whether interest only
applies at the start
- Whether refinance may
be required later
- How the borrower's
financials support the structure
A borrower may have a long repayment term on paper while still needing to revisit the loan much sooner.
Lease Strength and Property Type
If the property will be leased, lenders may also consider the lease profile when deciding term length. Important factors include:
Lease
length- Tenant
strength
- How standard
or specialised the property is
Properties with strong tenants and long leases are often easier to finance on longer terms.
Typical Loan Term Structures
Commercial property loan structures can vary widely depending on the transaction.
Typical term structures include:
Shorter Structures
15 Years
Common for some investment or specialised loans
Standard Structures
20 - 25 Years
Common for many commercial property loans
Longer Structures
Up to 30 Years
More common for stronger owner occupied scenarios
Each lender has different policy on maximum term lengths, review periods and refinance expectations.
Common problems borrowers face
Many borrowers are surprised that commercial property loan terms may be shorter or more review based than expected.
Short Review Periods
Some borrowers expect one long untouched loan term, but lenders may require review every few years.
Possible ways to improve term flexibility include:
-
Stronger
borrower financials
-
Lower risk
property
-
Better lease
profile
Earlier Refinance Needs
A loan may be calculated over a long term but still need to be refinanced or reapproved when the review date arrives.
This is common in commercial lending and does not always mean the loan is only a few years long.
Understanding the difference between term and review is important.
Specialised Property Limits
If the property is specialised, lenders may shorten the available loan term.
Standard commercial property generally supports longer terms.
Applying With The Wrong Structure
Interest only periods, repayment style and borrower entity can all affect loan term and review conditions.
Using lenders experienced in commercial property finance can help structure the loan more appropriately.
Steps to get Commercial Property Finance
Step
01
Determine the commercial property type and whether it will be owner occupied or investment.
Step
02
Confirm how much deposit or equity will be contributed and how the lender will assess the overall risk.
Step
03
Prepare business financial documents, lease information and borrower details for lender review.
Step
04
Confirm whether the lender is offering a long repayment term, a short review cycle, or both.
Step
05
Submit the application to commercial lenders and compare term structures, refinance expectations and repayment style.
Step
06
Once approved, the final loan documents will confirm the repayment term, review period and settlement conditions.
Speak with a Commercial Property Finance Specialist
Commercial property loan terms can vary significantly depending on the property, the lease profile, the lender and the borrower's financial strength.
A specialist can review your scenario and help explain which lenders may offer the most suitable term structure for your project.
Speak with a finance specialist about your commercial property finance options.
Submit the short form below and a finance specialist will review your situation and discuss possible funding options and loan term structures.
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