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Mezzanine Loans in Charleston, SC

Find lenders offering mezzanine loans in the Charleston, including Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Summerville, and surrounding areas. Compare rates, terms, and programs from 8 lenders.

Lenders
8
Typical Rate
6.75% - 11.97%
Down Payment
Often 10-25% sponsor equity
Term
5-10 years
Closing Time
30-60 days

What does the Charleston commercial real estate market look like?

Charleston is one of the fastest-growing CRE markets in the Southeast, propelled by Boeing's 787 Dreamliner final assembly facility, a booming port, and a tourism economy that generates over $8 billion annually. The Mount Pleasant and Daniel Island submarkets attract affluent residential and Class A office demand, while North Charleston's Intermodal Container Transfer Facility links the Port of Charleston to national rail networks, driving industrial and logistics development. The Upper Peninsula neighborhood in downtown Charleston's Neck area has emerged as a development frontier, with large-scale mixed-use and tech-oriented projects reshaping the formerly industrial corridor. The historic district's strict preservation requirements create a constrained supply environment for hospitality and retail properties, supporting premium rents.

Key Economic Drivers

  • Boeing South Carolina's 787 Dreamliner campus employing thousands and anchoring an aerospace supplier cluster
  • Port of Charleston, one of the deepest harbors on the East Coast, driving warehouse and logistics demand
  • Tourism industry generating over $8 billion annually and sustaining high hospitality occupancy rates
  • Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Roper St. Francis healthcare system expansions

Market Insight

The Port of Charleston's harbor deepening project to 52 feet is enabling it to handle the largest post-Panamax container vessels, positioning the metro for significant growth in port-adjacent industrial and cold storage CRE demand.

How do mezzanine loans work in Charleston, South Carolina?

Mezzanine loans are subordinate real estate loans secured by a pledge of the borrower's ownership interests rather than a mortgage lien on the property itself. Borrowers use them when the senior lender's proceeds stop short and they want to reduce the common equity check. In the Charleston metro area, borrowers can access 8 lenders offering Mezzanine financing, including Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Summerville, and surrounding areas. Loan amounts typically range from $1M to $100M with rates from 6.75% - 11.97%.

Who should consider mezzanine loans?

  • Large acquisitions with a capital gap
  • Recapitalizations
  • Senior-loan executions that stop short on proceeds
  • Experienced sponsors managing intercreditor terms

What are the key requirements?

  • Usually at least a $1M capital need
  • Strong sponsor track record and exit plan
  • Senior lender consent plus an intercreditor agreement
  • Debt service and leverage that still work for the full stack

Advantages

  • Can reduce the common equity check
  • Usually no direct property lien
  • Often structured interest-only
  • Can add proceeds above a senior mortgage

Considerations

  • Usually the priciest layer in the stack
  • Senior lender approval is typically required
  • Intercreditor terms can limit remedies
  • Often not a fit for small-balance deals

Mezzanine Loans in Charleston FAQ

How many Mezzanine lenders serve Charleston, SC?
There are 8 lenders offering mezzanine loans in the Charleston metro area. Loan amounts typically range from 1000K to 100M with rates from 6.75% - 11.97%.
What are Mezzanine loan rates in Charleston?
Mezzanine loan rates in Charleston typically range from 6.75% - 11.97%, though exact rates depend on factors like your credit score, the property's cash flow, and loan-to-value ratio. Down payments usually run Often 10-25% sponsor equity, and closing can take 30-60 days. Compare multiple Charleston-area lenders to find the best terms for your deal.
What is a mezzanine loan in real estate?
It is subordinate capital that sits between the senior mortgage and the sponsor's common equity. Instead of taking a mortgage lien, the mezz lender usually takes a pledge of the ownership interests in the property-owning entity.
How is mezzanine debt different from preferred equity?
Mezzanine debt is a loan with a maturity date and UCC foreclosure rights against the pledged ownership interests. Preferred equity is an ownership investment with negotiated control rights and no UCC foreclosure remedy.
Do senior lenders have to approve mezzanine debt?
Usually yes. The senior lender commonly requires an intercreditor agreement that sets cure rights, notice rules, and what happens if the mezz lender tries to enforce its remedies.
How small can a mezzanine loan be?
Published market tables still show mezzanine programs starting around $1 million. Smaller deals usually end up with more equity, a bridge loan, or a different senior structure instead.

Where else can I find mezzanine loans in South Carolina?

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