Purchasing an Apartment Building or Multifamily Property?

“This was our second Fannie Mae DUS loan with CREFCOA and they delivered. Our first loan was to purchase a 244 unit in Irving. We closed with an 80% loan at a great rate and the entire process took less than 60 days – we closed early! The second loan was for a refinance of a 184 unit located in Dallas. Again, CREFCOA delivered. We closed on a 10-yr fixed with 10-years of interest only at 2.69%! I have recommended CREFCOA to family friends which should tell you something. Thank you CREFCOA for delivering on your word and making the loan process flow smoothly – even during COVID!”

“I first started doing business with CREFCOA in May of 2017. 17 Freddie Mac loans, 596 units and $43 million later, I can unequivocally say that CREFCOA is the most professional and knowledgeable mortgage provider with whom I have worked with. I had never applied for a Freddie Mac apartment loan. Our CREFCOA loan specialist, Doug, patiently walked us through the process and made the underwriting process as streamlined as possible. His attention to detail and creativity in overcoming possible loan barriers is very impressive. His sincerity and client first mentality came shining thru with each transaction. CREFCOA’s pricing was very competitive as well as the number of options available through the Freddie Mac program. There is truly no one better to work with for a Freddie Mac loan than CREFCOA.”

“CREFCOA is my go-to source for apartment financing. I have properties throughout the country and each property has different needs. By taking a few minutes to complete the quick quote form I can compare Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other financing options from a single source and determine which is best for a specific property. And it changes depending on loan size, location and other variables. Thank you CREFCOA for giving me a platform to make it quick and easy to get the best loan for my apartment buildings.”

When I first talked to Doug (over 15 years ago!) I had almost given up on the prospect of finding someone who could help me with a loan to buy my first multifamily property. Being a non-local owner proved to be a challenge for most lenders. I was frustrated and “Trust” was not in my vocabulary when it came to the commercial mortgage space at that time. Doug changed all of that. He took the time to get to know me, the property and the area and got the loan approved quickly. My faith was renewed!

Fifteen years and 7 transactions later, I now consider Doug one of my few friends I can actually count on. Every one of my transactions had issues to be dealt with. If it wasn’t for Doug, I probably would not have gotten through them and I certainly would not be where I am right now.

If there is one word I would use to describe Doug, it would be “Integrity,” a much overused word in the business, but deserving to describe Doug. Thank you, Doug, for all you have done for me and my family. I value you as my friend, and as a member of my team as I continue to build my business. I have enjoyed all the wise and prescient conversations we have had along the way, especially during the mortgage meltdown in 2008 and the commodity crash of 2014. If we can transact in those toughest of times, we can do anything!

Much Love,

When it comes to apartment financing there is none better than CREFCOA. I must have timed it perfectly because I can’t believe the low rate we got for a Fannie Mae loan through CREFCOA. My bank had nothing close to what we closed on with CREFCOA. We got a 10-yr fixed rate at a very low rate with 5 years of interest only payments! And the loan was non-recourse and we were able to get cash out! What I liked about CREFCOA, besides the great terms and knowledgeable professionals, is they have a simple straightforward process and gave me a couple different options which saved me some time on shopping the loan around to different lenders. I rarely provide reviews, but in this case I’m happy to do it. Go with CREFCOA they won’t disappoint you!

Since 2016, my team and I have consistently been working with CREFCOA on deals ranging from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000. Not only does CREFCOA and their mortgage bankers display the utmost and highest level of professionalism, but they find a way to get even the most complex deal to the closing table and perform 100% of the time. Working with CREFCOA has been an absolute blessing, and not only do we relish our relationship, but we know our clients are in great hands whenever we introduce them to a mortgage banker at CREFCOA.

We came across CREFCOA while searching on the internet for a commercial lender. As all things on the internet, we proceeded with caution and reservation. We spent quite a bit of time on the phone and by e-mail, trying to read between the lines and in search of indicators that would give us pause, as far as proceeding with a commercial loan we were seeking at the time.

The more time we spent, and Doug’s willingness to invest that initial time, without any guarantee of new business, and his grasp of the commercial lending environments and contacts, made us comfortable to proceed. The entire loan process was handled professionally, with extreme attention to detail, to ensure that there would be no surprises that could potentially derail the loan approval and funding process.

That was a little short of 14 years ago. Since then, the majority of our commercial loans have been placed through Doug. We did not actually meet in person until almost 10 years after we started doing business together, as we live on opposite coasts.

Doug has always produced what he has promised, except one loan that fell through due to reasons that no one could predict. Even in that case, he managed to come through with a better package, on the second go around, which closed without issues. I find him to be honest, forthcoming, to the point, knowledgeable, with the willingness to spend time before, during and after a loan is placed.

I now consider Doug a personal friend. I have recommended my friends and associates to CREFCOA and they have all been treated with the same utmost level of professionalism. I would highly recommend CREFCOA and Doug to anyone seeking a commercial loan.

I am a multi family investor from CA. I have a portfolio of 10 commercial properties, all acquired by other finance companies. During my most recent acquisition I decided to give CREFCOA a call and see if they would be able to help with my needs. From the first phone call to the final closing day it was the least stressful transaction that I have done. I credit the CREFCOA team for that. They constantly stay in contact, give realistic timelines and let you know upfront the majority of the paperwork that will be needed to fund the loan. There are no surprises along the way and my loan specialist was always available to answer any questions that I had and would always take the time to explain the next process in detail so that I understood exactly what was going to happen. The amount of professionalism and experience shown by CREFCOA is unmatched in my experience with other financial companies. CREFCOA truly cares about getting the deal closed for their clients, and on a timely manner as well. I will definitely be using CREFCOA for my future acquisitions!

I have worked the many lenders over the years and I have never come across anyone like Doug and CREFCOA. He took the time to understand my position, my goals and my needs such that when it came time to put my file together for a loan he knew my situation as well as I did. His knowledge of the Freddie Mac loan and underwriting process is so thorough that I know that I can trust his opinion. There aren't any surprises with Doug, he is honest and if he says he can make it work, he does. If he can't make it work (he reviews every property I’m considering purchasing before I make an offer) he can tell you that up front. He has even given me advice on properties that weren’t the right fit for CREFCOA. I trust him completely and I have never said that about another lender, ever. I have done 3 loans with Doug and now every time I have a deal I bring it to Doug first. If he can help me I don't even bother talking to anyone else and no one will make the process smoother or more likely to pay off.

First, I would like to say thank you to the entire CREFCOA team for holding my hand and walking me through the Fannie Mae loan process. As a beginning developer of multifamily units I needed to secure long term permanent financing, and I contacted CREFCOA for that assistance. All of my financing needs up until this point had been satisfied by a small local bank and this was out of their scope of business. The CREFCOA team was there every step of the way and was always able to answer my questions. Partly due to the way in which this process worked for me, it allowed me to start a second development knowing that I would have CREFCOA there to refinance the construction loan into a Fannie Mae 15-year fixed permanent loan. Recently, I had another discussion with CREFCOA about a potential investment I am looking to make and I would not even consider working with anyone other than the team at CREFCOA.

Over the course of several years our group has purchased over 45 apartment buildings and we did all of the loans through CREFCOA and the Freddie Mac loan program. Doug Solether with CREFCOA was an integral part of our team and made the loan process easy, especially with being out of state buyers. Purchasing that many buildings it is inevitable that something that pops up with a property. Doug was able to work through whatever issues arose and we closed EVERY loan without any change in rates or terms. Because of his incredible efforts and performance, we gave him the nickname Superman!

Starting in 2017 my business partner and I started buying apartment buildings in Chicago. I knew I wanted a loan that had some years of interest only payments to begin with so I Googled Freddie Mac apartment buildings and CREFCOA and a few other lending companies popped up and I called them. Doug Solether with CREFCOA called me back immediately. He was knowledgeable and professional and answered every question I had. This began a 3-year period of buying apartment buildings with Doug putting together all the financing for us. We were approved for every single loan (over 10 of them) and Doug made it happen by being diligent, hard-working, and persistent. He was always available to talk when I called and, in many ways, has become a friend through this process. I cannot imagine anyone else coming close to do the job he has done for us with our apartment building loans. Most of these transactions were in a 1031 exchange so time if of the essence and Doug got them all closed well in advance of the 1031 expiration dates. I can say with all honesty that there is no better apartment building lender than Doug Solether and CREFCOA.

We are used to working with our local bank and this was our first Freddie Mac multifamily loan. We weren’t sure what to expect… we heard it can be challenging. But it wasn’t. The CREFCOA team’s knowledge, creativity, professionalism and patience made working through the loan process a breeze. In fact, it was easier and more straightforward than our bank. Thank you to the entire CREFCOA team!

I had a great experience on my multi-family refinance working with Doug Solether at CREFCOA. Not only did he know all of the requirements needed to get the deal done, he was insightful about the end of the process, where many deals fall apart, and made sure we checked all the boxes from the start. Doug went above and beyond what I would expect from a typical banker. He worked with me to overcome a few hurdles that delayed the deal a couple of months, but in the end, we closed the refinance. I shopped many banks, and not only did Doug beat their rate, he also was able to do a sizable cash out, when others couldn’t. I highly recommend Doug and his team at CREFCOA for all of your commercial real estate finance needs.

Our investment group has done four deals with CREFCOA. From the beginning, Doug Solether has been our point man. In a word, Doug is 'indefatigable'. This man does not sleep! If you want someone who will close your loan on or ahead of schedule, he will do it. If you want someone who will always maximize your dollars, expect the best. Working with Doug is like taking a master class in real estate finance. He will dazzle you with his command of the intricacies of the subject matter and he will turn you into an expert in the process. We worked with five different mortgage bankers at other companies before Doug, all competent. But when we decided to try out the company with the strange name, we never looked back. If there is a solution, they will find it. All situations are different but I doubt you will ever find a team as determined and dedicated as this one at CREFCOA.

What I love about CREFCOA is how they work. I requested a quote online and Jeff with CREFCOA emailed me back a couple quotes within a day. It was nice to have options. They provided a Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and bank quote. The rates were all really good but the Freddie Mac program worked best for me and my property. And Jeff was great so I decided to move forward with CREFCOA. Since I had a good connection with Jeff I was so glad to learn that Jeff was my main point of contact through closing. He was friendly and knowledgeable and the entire loan process went smoothly.

I have refinanced two multifamily properties with Doug Solether of CREFCOA; Bowmanor Apartments, a 111 unit complex in Mississippi, and Studio One Apartments, a 49 unit complex in Arkansas. Doug is a true professional and knows how to orchestrate the loan process to get results. He walked me through every step of the process, provided answers and insights, thoroughly explained what to expect and how to best package my properties to meet the challenges of lender requirements. Both transactions were successfully funded with low fixed rate FNMA 30-year, cash out, non-recourse loans. I give my highest recommendation that you make Doug Solether your “go to guy” for commercial real estate loans, you won’t be disappointed!

I highly recommend CREFCOA. I have a property that is somewhat unique. It’s 18 duplexes on one lot. I wanted the Fannie Mae loan because it’s non-recourse and the property is held in my IRA and loans to IRAs have to be non-recourse. I went to other lenders first and none said they could do it because they were all duplexes and held in my IRA. When I spoke with CREFCOA that asked the right questions and said it could be done. I decided to move forward but was nervous because other lenders said it couldn’t be done. Well, CREFCOA got the loan closed exactly the way they said they could. Thank you CREFCOA for a great experience!

I am writing this review with so much excitement that someone else may benefit from doing business with Doug Solether and CREFCOA.
It has been a pleasure to work with Doug, a very knowledgeable and dependable professional. He walked me through the entire experience of multimillion-dollar loans by educating, informing, encouraging and going the extra mile to get to the goal with the best terms possible.
You can tell about his honesty by the moment you have him on the phone. He keeps a very positive attitude at all times and he is always ready to answer any question.
I have completed two deals with CREFCOA and there is no way for me to ever look for another company.
Thanks Doug!

I found CREFCOA on an internet search for apartment loans. My bank was only offering a fixed rate for 5 years and I wanted a longer term. CREFCOA had a lot of options and one was for a 30 year fixed they call the Multifamily Loan for Life so I decided to give them a call. I was hesitant at first. I didn’t know them and found them online and this was a big loan. As soon as I spoke with Scott I felt comfortable. They provided a quote and it blew me away. The rate for 30 years was better than my bank was offering for 5 years. This is a generational property I plan to pass down and it gives me peace of mind knowing my kids want have to worry about the loan coming due or refinancing. Thank you, Scott, and the entire CREFCOA team for helping me and my family!

Doug was extremely professional and attentive in closing multiple loans with me. Not only was he diligent in finding the best rate available but also the best terms with the best institutions. As with all loans, there were times where things didn't go as smoothly as we all would have liked, none of which he had any control over. Doug never showed any frustration but met the challenges head on and found a solution to move the process forward expeditiously. I was kept informed throughout the whole process and Doug always responded to any inquiries I had no matter how small or inconsequential the questions I had were. I would recommend Doug to any investor or institution that is looking for the best loan and the best service available to them. I look forward to doing more business with Doug in the future.

When it comes to apartment financing there is none better than CREFCOA. What I liked about CREFCOA, besides the great terms and knowledgeable professionals, is they have a simple straightforward process and gave me a couple different loan options which saved me time on shopping the loan around to different lenders. I rarely provide reviews, but in this case I’m happy to do it. Go with CREFCOA they won’t disappoint you!

CREFCOA has provided financing for us on multiple transactions involving new acquisition and refinancing transactions in multiple states - from Indiana to Texas. We've referred CREFCOA to fellow investors because they are always available to communicate, deliver on what they promise and have several financing options available – which ensures we get the best financing available for each property. On one deal they handled direct communications with a seller and broker on one of our apartment acquisitions to make sure everyone was on the same page and facilitated a smooth transaction. The entire CREFCOA team are true professionals and a valued resource of knowledge. CREFCOA is constantly on the pulse of changes in the lending environment and have guided us in our underwriting of deals.

Doug Solether, and the whole team at CREFCOA, did a tremendous job in helping us finance our 48 unit property. They helped identify the best program, adroitly guided us through the process, and helped to get us the best loan possible. I can’t thank them enough and look forward to doing our next loan with them. Doug was always there to answer any question I had. He is the most talented loan officer I have ever worked with. Thanks again, Doug!

I wanted a 30 year fixed rate loan for my 52 unit apartment building in Smithfield, Michigan and found CREFCOA from a website search. I was a bit skeptical going online because I’m used to going into my bank. I decided to call CREFCOA and am so happy I did. They made me very comfortable and I decided to move forward with them. The entire process was very straightforward and I ended up getting a great rate. Over the next couple of years I refinanced my two other apartment buildings with CREFCOA. Both are in Naples, FL. One is a 27 unit and the other a 28 unit. Depending on the property, either the Fannie Mae program or the Freddie Mac program was better. It was nice to have options as I know I get the best rate available for each property!

Doug Solether is an exceptional mortgage professional with an exceptional knowledge Freddie Mac apartment loans. Doug knows exactly what the underwriter wants and therefore, his loans sail through the approval process. Doug is always available to answer every question or address every concern. I will be recommending Doug to my fellow apartment investors.