BCL provides financing to develop affordable housing, community facilities, and mixed-use developments in underserved neighborhoods throughout Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.
Through our real estate arm, Baltimore Community Lending provides access to capital for small real estate developers and small businesses. We work with different types of borrowers—from developers and individual investors, to non-profits and community partners—to transform and revitalize underserved neighborhoods.
Our underwriting criteria is flexible enough to consider most requests that fit our community development mission. We also provide technical assistance and capacity-building training on financial structuring, construction management, and oversight.
We make loans to both non-profit and for-profit commercial real estate developers who:
- May be unable to get a loan from a bank
- Are committed to revitalizing underserved neighborhoods
- Need financing for projects that increase opportunities for affordable homeownership and rentals
Our dedicated, locally-based team is available to provide comprehensive, ongoing support. We are here to assist throughout the application, construction, and loan processes.
To get started with applying for a commercial real estate loan, please email RealEstate@bclending.org or call 410-862-0938.
Predevelopment Loan Program
Commercial Loan
Guidance Line of Credit
From $250,000 - $2.5 million
- Residential affordable housing
- Commercial & mixed-sse
- Community facilities
- Neighborhood stabilization in commercial districts
- Construction: up to 24 months
- Mini permanent: up to five years with a 20-year amortization
- Fees range from 1% - 2%
Variable and fixed rate financing programs available
- Acquisition
- Rehab
- New construction
- Completed BCL application
- Bank statements
- Tax returns
- Guarantee of owners who own 20% or more
- Minimum construction amount of $25,000
- Collateral and other requirements may apply
Legal, title, inspection, and closing fees apply
No bars, liquor establishments, gas stations or establishments that store or handle hazardous materials.
Baltimore Community Lending reserves the right to waive certain conditions based on the borrowers, credit, business experience, capital, or other strong factors which may mitigate risk. Baltimore Community Lending likewise may ask for additional support such as additional collateral, guarantees or other instruments based on the information gained during their review and underwriting.
Terms are subject to change without notice. You are not considered an applicant until you fill out a loan application form and provide all required underwriting documents. Meeting the above eligibility criteria does not guarantee that your business is eligible to apply for a loan or that your business will receive a loan from Baltimore Community Lending. An advance appointment with a BCL Loan Officer is highly recommended for all loan applicants. Other loans are subject to approval by BCL’s Loan Committee.
