Question 1

Which SBA district office handles a loan for my Jacksonville business?

Accepted Answer

Your own metro's office, which is unusual in Florida. Jacksonville hosts the SBA North Florida District Office at 7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite 100B, open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., covering 43 counties and explicitly including Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau and Baker. Tampa Bay's counties are served out of the South Florida District in Miami, and Orlando is split across two districts. A Jacksonville borrower deals with a staffed office in their own backyard, not a virtual desk somewhere else. We work the district through our partner lender network either way.

Question 2

How much of the building do I actually have to occupy?

Accepted Answer

51% for an existing building, more for new construction. Buying an existing building, you need to occupy at least 51% of the square footage yourself. Ground-up construction sets a 60% occupancy floor, and only 20% of the remaining space may be permanently leased out, with a 3-year or 10-year plan to absorb the rest. That fits the local borrower pool well: logistics and distribution operators working JAXPORT's cargo and container corridors, marine services businesses, and trades serving the Navy installations in Duval County, NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport and Blount Island Command, typically want the whole warehouse, yard or shop for their own operation, not a tenant mix.

Question 3

What if I'm buying near JAXPORT but won't occupy the building myself?

Accepted Answer

Then it's not an SBA deal. SBA 7(a) and 504 loans require the borrower to occupy the property, 51% for an existing building, 60% for new construction. A pure investment purchase along the industrial corridors JAXPORT feeds, buying to lease to someone else, doesn't fit that structure no matter how strong the demand story is. For that kind of deal, our CRE bridge financing is built for commercial real estate you don't plan to occupy.

Question 4

How much do I need to bring to an SBA purchase in Jacksonville?

Accepted Answer

Around 10%, because the program finances up to 90%. On a $1,500,000 owner-occupied Jacksonville building that is up to $1,350,000 financed and $150,000 from you (1,500,000 x 90% = 1,350,000), before closing costs. The term runs up to 25 years at market SBA rates, which is the longest amortization we place anywhere. Remember the occupancy test rides alongside it: 51% of an existing building, 60% on new construction. Subject to underwriting.

Question 5

Is my Jacksonville deal too small for an SBA loan?

Accepted Answer

The range starts at $350,000 and runs past $5,000,000. Below that floor an SBA file is usually more process than the deal can carry, and the North Florida District Office on Baymeadows Way covers Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau and Baker either way. We place 7(a) and 504 through our partner lender network, and the right one depends on the deal, not the district. Subject to underwriting.

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