Buy the Building Your Business Operates In

The Service

Rent Builds Your Landlord’s Wealth. Ownership Builds Yours.

Every month, your rent check retires someone else’s mortgage. Owner/user acquisition flips that equation: your business occupies the building, your occupancy cost pays down your own note, and over a typical hold you build equity in an appreciating Texas asset while fixing the biggest line item on your P&L against future rent escalations. It’s the single most common path by which business owners become commercial real estate investors — and it’s the origin story behind our own firm’s name.

The financing makes it more accessible than most owners assume. SBA 504 loans allow qualifying owner-occupied purchases with as little as 10% down, long-term fixed rates on the CDC portion, and terms that let the real estate payment land near — sometimes below — what the same business pays in rent. SBA 7(a) structures extend the same logic to deals that bundle real estate with other business needs. We’re fluent in both, and we structure searches around what your business can actually finance, not a fantasy budget.

The analysis has to be honest, though: owning isn’t always right. Businesses with uncertain footprints, near-term relocation plans, or capital better deployed in operations are often better off leasing — and we’ll show you that math when it’s true. When the numbers favor buying, we run the full acquisition: identifying buildings that fit your operation (including off-market candidates and buildings whose owners haven’t decided to sell yet), negotiating price and terms, and coordinating the SBA lending timeline through closing.

Current conditions favor prepared buyers in several segments. Elevated vacancy in Austin office and industrial product means more sellers are open to owner-user offers than at any point in years, and small-bay industrial, suburban office, and medical condos remain the most active owner/user categories across Texas.

FAQ

Common Questions From Owner/User Buyers

How much do I really need down?

For qualifying established businesses buying standard property types, SBA 504 structures commonly land near 10% down — the bank takes roughly half the deal, the SBA-backed CDC debenture takes about 40% at a long-term fixed rate. Startups and special-purpose buildings can require more equity. We coordinate with your lender to define the real budget before the search starts.

Does my business qualify?

The core tests: your business occupies the majority of the building (51% for existing buildings), the deal pencils against your cash flow, and you meet SBA size and eligibility standards. Most established Texas small and mid-sized businesses clear all three — and pre-qualification settles it in days, not months.

What if the right building isn’t for sale?

Many of our owner/user acquisitions start with a building that wasn’t listed. We identify properties that fit your operation, research ownership, and open direct conversations. Owners frequently sell to a credible user at a fair number — especially in today’s higher-vacancy segments.

Is a longer SBA closing a disadvantage in negotiations?

Only for unprepared buyers. With pre-qualification done, vendors staged, and milestones managed, SBA timelines close reliably — and sellers of user-suited buildings know an SBA buyer is often the strongest buyer they’ll see.