First National Financial LP
seniors-housing

Seniors housing

Standard financing

Properties with stable cash flow and consistent operating histories are favourable candidates for standard financing. For retirement assets, this can mean properties with consistent occupancy and a history of stabilized operations. The borrower’s experience as an operator is also a critical loan consideration. If there is an ownership group, management guarantees and competencies are required.

Standard financing offers a term of five years or more, a fixed interest rate and is typically closed to prepayment for the term’s duration.

For seniors properties, the two most common types of standard financing are Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation insured (CMHC) and conventional.

CMHC-insured financing: CMHC-insured financing offers lower interest rates, terms of 5 years or more and higher loan to value ratios, making it a popular choice for most borrowers. There are also programs available to borrowers (i.e. the Energy Efficiency Program) that can help them increase their loan amounts, access premium credits and lower their monthly expenses.  

First National is Canada’s largest CMHC-insured lender.

Standard financing is usually considered when borrowers want the payment predictability that comes with a fixed interest rate. However, it is important to note that a typical conventional financing term for a retirement asset is five years. Longer terms are available, but there is often greater scrutiny on future cash flows. Borrowers must be able to show that longer-term leases (i.e. maturing in 10 years or more) are in place for the duration of the mortgage term.

Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBS): CMBS is a conventional financing solution available for first mortgages on established, stabilized properties (generally three or more years of stable operating history). This type of financing works well for properties with in-place, stabilized net cash flow.

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Smart risk solutions in action for seniors

See how we’ve applied our financing products innovatively to help seniors borrowers achieve their goals with performance and value.

To facilitate construction financing of a seven-story apartment

  • $26 Million
  • 198 units
  • Sainte-Adele, Quebec
  • CMHC financing
  • 3 years term, amortization Interest only
  • LTV: 84.90%"

Funds will be used by the borrower to payout the construction debt maturing

  • $85.3 Million
  • 564 units
  • Terrebonne, Quebec
  • CMHC insured first mortgage loan
  • 5 years term, 25 years amortization
  • LTV: 70%

Internal refinance to proceed with renovations on the building.

  • $7.3 Millon
  • 93 units
  • Montreal, Quebec
  • CMHC insured first mortgage loan
  • 5 years term, 35 years amortization
  • LTV:85%



Refinance first and second mortgage loan to the property for future investment

  • $12 Million
  • 103 units
  • Baie-D'Urfe, Quebec
  • CMHC insured first mortgage loan
  • 5 years term, 25 years amortization
  • LTV: 59.96%

To provide a loan that will repay the current loan on the property

  • $13.7 Million
  • 144,000 sq. ft.
  • Edmonton, Alberta
  • CMHC insured first mortgage loan
  • 10 years term, 30 years amortization
  • LTV: 89.3%

Funds used for capital repairs on the subject property

  • $24.3 Million
  • 163 units
  • Georgetown, Ontario
  • CMHC insured first mortgage loan
  • 5 years term, 25 years amortization
  • LTV: 85%

Funds to refinance the existing debt

  • $12 Million
  • 92 units
  • Maple Ridge, British Columbia
  • CMHC insured first mortgage
  • 5 years term, 25 years amortization
  • LTV: 75%

Refinancing existing liabilities to enable further renovation of subject property

  • $7 million
  • 64 units
  • Cote Saint-Luc, Quebec
  • CMHC refinancing first mortgage
  • 3 years term, 35 years amortization
  • LTV: 79%
 

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View other seniors mortgage solutions

Short-term (bridge) financing

First National’s bridge loan terms typically range from three months to three years, include floating interest rates and allow some form of early prepayment. Borrowers choose this solution until standard financing is secured or while they contemplate a property sale, a change in ownership structure or buying time to complete an operational improvement. 

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Asset repositioning

First National enables owners to access a property’s equity for a short term, typically two years or less, to fund capital improvements or repairs without the need to raise capital from personal sources or less flexible, higher-cost alternatives.

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Secondary financing

A First National second mortgage enables a borrower to access the equity in a property and use it to purchase another asset or renovate/repair a property in their existing portfolio. 

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Development / Construction

A First National construction loan, insured or conventional, provides funds to cover the cost of building or rehabilitating a property with terms typically of three years or less.

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Sign up for Market updates

Economic and political developments – both in Canada and globally – can impact the commercial real estate market. First National experts follow these trends closely and provide honest, real and professional perspectives into what they could mean for your portfolio.