{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/occupancy-period","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/occupancy-period","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"occupancy-period","term":"Occupancy Period","group":"Reading the business","definition":"The amount of time you, as the buyer, plan to use the purchased property for your business operations. This period is crucial for evaluating lease terms or real estate investment.","what_it_means":"If you're buying real estate with an SBA 7(a) loan, the SBA requires the small business to occupy at least 51% of the property if existing, or 60% if new construction, for its operations. This requirement ensures the loan primarily supports the business, not just investment property.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/occupancy-period","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"owner-occupied-commercial-real-estate","term":"Owner-occupied commercial real estate","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/owner-occupied-commercial-real-estate"},{"slug":"lease-agreement","term":"Lease agreement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lease-agreement"},{"slug":"use-of-proceeds","term":"Use of proceeds","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/use-of-proceeds"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What is the minimum owner-occupancy requirement for real estate purchased with an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-minimum-owner-occupancy-requirement-for-real-estate-purchased-with-an-sba-7-a-"},{"question":"Can a lender approve a deferment period without prior SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-lender-approve-a-deferment-period-without-prior-sba-approval"},{"question":"What is the typical repayment period for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-typical-repayment-period-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can a full standby seller note accrue interest during the standby period?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-full-standby-seller-note-accrue-interest-during-the-standby-period"},{"question":"What is the usual repayment period for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-usual-repayment-period-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What happens if the acquired business declines significantly during the loan underwriting period?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-happens-if-the-acquired-business-declines-significantly-during-the-loan-underwriting-"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Occupancy Period","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/occupancy-period","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}