Ep. 209 | Interview With Banker Austin Fee on How To Get Your Loan Approved

Welcome back to the Mobile Home Park Lawyer Podcast! In this episode, Ferd sits down with Austin Fee of Bank of Springfield, a Kansas City–based lender with deep experience in commercial and mobile home park financing. Austin shares how he evaluates deals, what banks look for in today’s lending environment, and how borrowers can position themselves for smoother approvals and better terms.

Ferd and Austin dive into the nuts and bolts of underwriting—including down payment expectations, amortization norms, rate structures, committee approvals, deposit requirements, guarantor strength, and seller financing. Austin explains how banks think about risk, when they stretch on pricing, how relationships influence renewals, why communication matters, and how borrowers can “sell the deal” to help lenders champion it internally. The conversation also covers market shifts in 2025, tightening credit, committee dynamics, and why small deals often open the door to long-term lending relationships.

Whether you’re approaching your first bank, planning a refinance, raising capital, or navigating infill and turnaround projects, this episode gives you clear, practical insight into how lenders think—and how to get more of your deals across the finish line. Tune in now to understand today’s lending landscape and build stronger banking relationships that support your long-term growth.

Highlights of the episode:

00:36 – Introducing Austin Fee

03:17 – Market differences

05:29 – Selling your deal

07:06 – How rates are priced

10:26 – Value-add flexibility

12:06 – Guarantee importance

17:17 – Seller financing blends

20:07 – Net worth ranges

23:12 – Bank-friendly documents

27:13 – Performance vs. projections

28:08 – Communication matters