How to Get as Much Money as You Need  to Start, Run, and Expand Your Business

Commercial Mortgage Financing in Halifax for Growing Businesses

The numbers either work or they don’t. I’ll tell you which — and if they work, I’ll find you the money.

Commercial financing isn’t about emotion. It’s about the deal — the numbers, the property, the cash flow, and the exit. I’ve been arranging commercial financing for investors, developers, and business owners across Atlantic Canada for years, and what I’ve learned is this: most deals that get turned down at one lender get funded at another. You just need to know who to call.

Whether you’re acquiring a multi-unit property, financing a construction project, bridging a gap, or structuring a complex commercial deal — I’ve seen it before and I know how to get it done.

What I’ve Done for Clients

Here’s an example that still makes me proud. Canadian Sailing Expeditions needed funding for the Phase 2 completion of the Tall Ship Caledonia — the largest ship built in Canada in more than 100 years. For over two years, other parties had tried to secure the financing and failed. Within weeks of working with them, I secured more than $6,000,000 that enabled them to complete the project.

Every commercial deal is different. That one happened to be a tall ship. Yours might be a 16-unit residential build, a retail plaza, or a private bridge loan. Bring me the numbers and let’s see what we can do.

What I Arrange

I work across the full spectrum of commercial financing — from straightforward commercial mortgages to complex multi-layered deals that require creative structuring.

Business Capital:

Term loans and operating facilities
Working capital financing
Succession financing
Mezzanine capital and subordinated debt
Mergers and acquisitions financing

Real Estate Financing:

Construction loans — multi-residential and commercial
Long-term mortgage financing for investment, commercial, and industrial properties
Subdivision financing — interim and take-out mortgages
Private bridge financing for time-sensitive acquisitions
Multi-unit residential — from duplexes to large apartment buildings

Let’s Look at Your Deal.

Send me the numbers. I’ll give you an honest read on whether it works and exactly who to take it to. No wasted time, no vague answers, no runaround.

Commercial files move fast when the right people are involved. I’ve been doing this long enough to know who the right people are.

ASK THE BROKER — 902-465-5533

Or email: patsawler@craigburn.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of commercial properties do you finance?

Multi-unit residential (5+ units), mixed-use buildings, retail, office, industrial, hospitality, and development projects. I work closely with a commercial lending partner with over 24 years of experience, and together we’ve financed projects across Atlantic Canada and Ontario ranging from small income properties to multi-million dollar commercial acquisitions. If it generates income, there’s a conversation worth having.

How is commercial mortgage financing different from residential?

The biggest difference is that commercial lending is driven by the property’s income, not just the borrower’s. Lenders look at Net Operating Income, cap rates, debt service coverage, and the strength of the tenancy — not just your T4. Qualification criteria, timelines, and documentation requirements are all different, and the lender landscape is completely separate from residential. Experience matters enormously on commercial files. I’ve seen deals fall apart because the broker didn’t understand the asset class. That’s not a mistake I make.

What do lenders look at on a commercial file?

The short list: the property’s current and stabilized income, operating expenses, Net Operating Income (NOI), debt service coverage ratio (DSCR), the appraisal, the borrower’s experience with this type of asset, their net worth and liquidity, and their overall credit profile. For income-producing properties, the numbers on the property carry significant weight. A strong asset can offset a less-than-perfect borrower profile in ways that simply don’t apply on the residential side.

What is a bridge loan and when does it make sense?

A bridge loan is short-term financing — typically six to twelve months — that fills a gap between where you are and where you need to be. The most common scenarios: you’re buying before your current property sells, you need to close quickly before conventional financing is in place, or a project needs capital to reach a stabilization point before qualifying for permanent financing. Bridge loans are faster and more expensive than conventional mortgages by design. When the alternative is losing a deal or missing a deadline, the cost is almost always worth it.

How to Get as Much Money as You Need to Start, Run, and Expand Your Business