Commercial mortgage brokers in Exeter
5 independent, FCA-authorised advisers covering Exeter and the wider South West area who handle commercial mortgage cases. Contact them directly — we never sell your details.
Beerstone Financial Services
Exeter
Mayflower Mortgage And Finance LTD
Exeter
Opie & Associates Ltd - Independent Mortgage Brokers
Exeter
Philip Meek Mortgages
Exeter
The Mortgage Quarter
Exeter
Commercial mortgages in Exeter: what to know
Commercial mortgages cover premises used for business — shops, offices, industrial units, and mixed-use buildings with a residential element above. Unlike residential lending there is very little standardised pricing: terms are negotiated case by case on the strength of the business, the asset and the covenant. Deposits of 25–40% are typical. For Exeter businesses, a broker with genuine commercial lender relationships matters far more than it does on a straightforward residential case.
- Pricing is individually negotiated. Two businesses buying similar units can be quoted materially different rates depending on trading history and sector.
- Lenders will want two to three years of accounts, and usually projections. Newer businesses can still borrow but should expect a larger deposit and possibly personal guarantees.
- Owner-occupier cases (you trade from the property) are generally viewed more favourably than commercial investment where you are letting to a third party.
- Semi-commercial and mixed-use properties fall between residential and commercial criteria, and are a common source of declines when placed with the wrong lender.
What matters locally in Exeter
St Leonard's and the Newtown and Heavitree fringes hold the higher-value period stock; Pennsylvania and Mount Pleasant sit near the university and carry the student and academic rental market. St Thomas, Exwick and Whipton are the more accessible districts, and the outer estates and surrounding villages absorb family demand. The city is compact, with substantial Victorian terraced and mid-century suburban stock and a growing volume of new-build on the eastern edge. Parts of the lower city lie close to the Exe, so flood risk applies to specific streets rather than the city as a whole.
- Student and NHS-staff lets around Pennsylvania and Heavitree, requiring HMO-aware lending.
- Flood risk on riverside addresses, where insurance availability determines lender appetite.
Do I need two years of accounts to get a mortgage in Exeter?
Two years is the common requirement for self-employed applicants, but some lenders will consider one year where the trading history and sector support it. The bigger question is which figure the lender uses — net profit, salary plus dividends, or in some cases retained profit within a limited company — because that choice can change your maximum borrowing substantially.
Questions worth asking a commercial broker
- What deposit do I need for a commercial mortgage in Exeter?
- Typically 25% to 40% of the purchase price. Owner-occupiers with strong trading accounts sit at the lower end; investment purchases and less established businesses at the higher end.
- How long do commercial mortgage terms run?
- Commonly 15 to 25 years, though shorter terms of five to ten years are frequent for investment cases. Rates are more often variable or linked to a reference rate than fixed for long periods.
- Will I need to give a personal guarantee?
- Frequently, yes — particularly for limited-company borrowing or newer businesses. The guarantee may be capped at a proportion of the loan, and that cap is usually negotiable.
- Can I get a commercial mortgage for a business I am buying?
- Yes, though lenders will underwrite the business you are acquiring as well as the property. Sectors such as hospitality and care are treated as specialist and have a narrower lender pool.