Lending data
Who actually lends to real estate and rental businesses in Alabama?
41 SBA 7(a) loans went to real estate and rental businesses in Alabama recently, at a median of $330,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
41 SBA 7(a) loans went to real estate and rental businesses in Alabama in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $330,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was Live Oak Banking Company, with 5 loans.
What lending to real estate and rental businesses in Alabama actually looks like
Every figure on this page is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30. It reflects loans that were actually approved, not rate cards or advertised ranges.
| Measure | Real estate and rental, Alabama | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 41 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $330,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $140,500 - $1,175,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 29.3% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 11.3% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to real estate and rental businesses in Alabama. This is the list worth working from, because a lender that has funded dozens of businesses like yours in your state has seen your file before.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak Banking Company | 5 | $1,440,000 | 20% | 8.50% |
| Hancock Whitney Bank | 3 | $1,000,000 | 33% | 10.00% |
| Newtek Bank | 3 | $35,000 | 0% | 13.25% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 3 | $150,000 | 100% | 11.25% |
| Bank Five Nine | 2 | $977,500 | 100% | 9.25% |
| ConnectOne Bank | 2 | $282,500 | 100% | 10.88% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 2 | $351,750 | 0% | 11.00% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 2 | $150,000 | 0% | 10.38% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 2 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.75% |
| River Bank and Trust | 2 | $115,500 | 0% | 9.75% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $330,000 is 120% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- Startup share is about average, at 29% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 27% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 11.3% of loans to this market from the FY2010-2019 cohorts were charged off, against 7.1% overall. That history is why underwriting in this sector is tighter than the numbers alone would suggest — it is not personal.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 29.3% went to businesses the SBA classes as startups — new, under two years old, or opening with the proceeds. These are the lenders in this market that actually wrote them.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 3 | $150,000 | 100% | 11.25% |
| Bank Five Nine | 2 | $977,500 | 100% | 9.25% |
| ConnectOne Bank | 2 | $282,500 | 100% | 10.88% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan is close to what you need.
- Ask each whether they are a Preferred Lender and how many 7(a) loans they closed last year. See choosing an SBA lender.
- Check your coverage first with the affordability calculator so you ask for a number the cash flow supports.
- Assemble the package before you call. The document checklist is the single biggest thing you control.
Compare other markets
- Other sectors in Alabama: restaurants and hotels, retail, construction, personal services, healthcare, professional services
- Real Estate in comparable states: New Hampshire, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Maine, Kentucky