In today’s market, commercial lending has become more complex than ever — especially in the land acquisition and construction space. Unlike the residential market, where clients have access to endless information about rates, terms, and lender policies, the commercial side is far less transparent.
Residential borrowers can often shop and compare with confidence. By contrast, commercial clients are usually left in the dark. Rates, terms, who is actively lending, when, and in which sectors — this information is not easily available. And it’s not just about the mortgage itself. For commercial clients, the right solution often extends into day-to-day banking needs and specialized programs:
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More aggressive loan-to-value ratios
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Less restrictive covenants
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Lenders with expertise in a specific sector
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Institutions familiar with unique business models or asset classes
The challenge? Many clients only know one lender — often whichever bank they’ve always dealt with — and rely on that single relationship. That lender, of course, is incentivized to keep the business, not to provide an agnostic, market-wide comparison of what’s truly best.
This is one of the reasons I leaned heavily into commercial lending. Over the last 16+ years, I’ve built strong relationships not only with the major banks, but also with credit unions, alternative and private lenders, asset-backed lenders, and leasing companies. This network allows me to do more than just underwrite a property. I can also assess the client’s business and direct them to the right program, structure, and institution.
That breadth is a competitive advantage. If a commercial client’s lender says “no” or offers restrictive terms, it can be daunting to navigate entry points to other lenders. Deal size, geography, industry specialization, and lender appetite all matter — but these details aren’t easily accessible to clients. What’s common and transparent in residential simply isn’t available in commercial.
My role is to make that process easier. By knowing the landscape, the players, and how to align the right client with the right lender, I can open doors that would otherwise remain closed. For my clients, this means more options, better terms, and greater confidence in moving their projects forward.
👉 If you have a deal, property, or business you’d like me to review — whether you need better terms, a second opinion, are looking to refinance, approaching renewal, or have just purchased — or if you’d like to connect and explore working together as referral partners, I’d be happy to connect.
Scott Westlake
Managing Partner | Westlake Commercial Capital
Team Lead | The Westlake Team (Residential & Private Client Desk)
Licensed Mortgage Agent – Level 2 | FSRA #10671 — Part of FC Funding, DLC
📞 416-436-1135
✉️ scott@thewestlaketeam.com
🌐 thewestlaketeam.com
Expertise:
🏢 Commercial Lending – Multifamily · Development · Construction · Bridge
🏡 Residential Lending – High Net Worth · Private Mortgages · Complex Deals
Let’s Connect:
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Contributing Editor | Fund Magazine
fund-mag.com