SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
If the seller owns the real estate separately, the buyer can purchase it with the SBA 7(a) loan, or lease it from the seller or a third party.
If the business being acquired operates in real estate owned by the seller personally, the buyer has options: they can purchase the real estate as part of the SBA loan project, or they can establish a lease agreement. The SBA requires adequate lease terms for the latter.
A buyer purchases a print shop for $400,000, and the seller also owns the building. The buyer can request a $600,000 SBA loan to cover both the business ($400,000) and the real estate ($200,000), or negotiate a suitable long-term lease with the seller.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
Last checked 2026-06-13. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-13. DealRoom analysis of public SBA 7(a) lending records (FY2020–present). Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against the official sources above before relying on it for a live deal. Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision.
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