Preferred Equity Financing for Commercial Real Estate
Preferred equity provides subordinate capital behind senior debt in commercial real estate capital stacks, offering investors higher returns than senior debt while giving sponsors access to leverage beyond what first mortgage lenders provide. Commercial Lending Solutions sources preferred equity from institutional debt funds, private equity firms, and family offices for value-add acquisitions, developments, and recapitalizations. Minimum investment size is $2 million.
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Preferred Equity and JV Financing for CRE Capital Stacks
Preferred equity occupies the gap between senior debt and common equity in the CRE capital stack. Unlike mezzanine debt which is structured as a loan secured by a pledge of ownership interests, preferred equity is an actual equity position with a preferred return, typically 8 to 15 percent current or accruing, and priority in distributions before common equity receives any return. Preferred equity providers often have consent rights over major decisions and conversion rights to common equity if performance triggers are not met. This structure is common in development and value-add transactions where senior lenders cap at 55 to 65 percent LTV and sponsors want to reduce common equity requirements to improve IRR. Commercial Lending Solutions matches each deal with the right preferred equity provider based on deal size, business plan, and required return profile.
Lender Sources
- Institutional Debt Funds
- Private Equity Firms
- Family Offices
- Insurance Company Structured Finance
- High-Net-Worth Investors
Ideal For
- Development projects needing capital above senior construction loan proceeds
- Value-add acquisitions where senior LTV cap creates equity gap
- Recapitalizations unlocking equity for portfolio expansion
- Joint venture structures where institutional capital partners need preferred return protection
- Ground-up multifamily and mixed-use projects requiring 80 to 90 percent capitalization
- Sponsors seeking to minimize common equity while maintaining full deal control
Preferred Equity by City
Related Property Types
Preferred Equity are available for all major commercial property types. Explore financing by property category.
Preferred Equity FAQ
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