Commercial Mortgage Restructuring - Your Business at a Crossroads

The present downturn has placed many businesses ata restructured mortgage.
a crossroads, with many finding that their loanIt is necessary to consider the likelihood of near term
payments are no longer possible. Faced with such aimprovements that may justify a restructuring of your
predicament it is normal to look for solutions. Walkingmortgage. One area to assess is the expected
away is more easily said than done, and typically to beimprovement in the business environment. This
avoided at all costs. Businesses throughout the worldconclusion has to be arrived at based on neither
are in the doldrums and an escape route can presentpersonal feelings nor intuition, but rather grounded in
itself through commercial mortgage restructuring. Thisauthentic studies by recognized experts. Another
is a targeted exercise aimed at saving your businessfactor to evaluate is whether you have recently won
based on the consideration of a number ofnew contracts that can realistically be expected to
parameters. It has to be undertaken mathematicallygenerate more profit in a short period of time.
based on the principles of disaster management. If youCommercial mortgage lenders run their businesses
are looking for a quick fix solution to remedy a longsolely by the numbers, and the process to determine
term problem, you are inviting more serious trouble inwhether or not your mortgage can be restructured will
the future.be exclusively based on the principles of commerce.
When faced with a crisis in your business, it isYou should expect to have your debt service
imperative to keep your cool and weigh all of thecoverage ratio, or DSCR, put under the microscope.
options at your disposal. You must identify the rootThis metric assesses whether the anticipated cash
cause of the problem, and you must be convinced thatflow of your enterprise is adequate to service the
restructuring your commercial mortgage will salvagepayments of your restructured loan after you meet all
your business. In other words, you have toof your normal operating expenses.
dispassionately weigh the advantages andMany people are unable to manage a crisis in their
disadvantages of seeking a commercial mortgagebusiness. The increased stress of cash flow problems
restructuring.due to a downturn in your business, combined with a
Like most loans, commercial mortgages have to belack of strategies to overcome them, can place even
serviced regularly at agreed upon intervals anda seasoned business professional in a precarious
milestones. If you cannot do so due to lack ofposition. It is wise in these trying times to seek the help
adequate cash flow, it is essential to determine theof a financial professional who is experienced in
reason for the shortcoming. Will the increase in capitalworking through debt related issues. He will be able to
available after your commercial mortgage islook at your problems in an impartial way and offer
restructured lead to a realistic expectation of adequateyou guidance on seeking the right path forward.
future cash flow? If so, then there is sense in pursuing