HELOC vs. Cash-Out Refi for Post-Close Liquidity
Hello Searchfunder Community! I have a niche question related to my personal situation that I'd love to get some perspectives on, especially from people who have done something similar in the past. I've started my search for a sub-$1 million SDE business that I intend to acquire with SBA 7(a) financing. Thankfully, my wife and I have enough saved up to comfortably cover the 10% equity injection associated with taking on such a loan. So what I will describe in a second is not related to meeting the minimum equity injection. Instead, I'm thinking through how equity stakes in two rental properties I own can be used to help provide post-close liquidity options. The two properties are cash flowing today with tenants in place. One is owned free and clear of debt, one has a mortgage balance of ~20% of property value. My questions is this: any recommendations or experience around using either a HELOC or cash-out refi (or other options) to effectively create lines of credit to be drawn on post-close? In particular, I want to be able to tap cash on demand if the acquired business hits rough patches or requires capital to grow, but don't anticipate needing it all right away. I know this would make the HELOC options inherently more attractive, but I'm not 100% clear if HELOCs can work with a SBA 7(a) capital stack and I'm weary of a lender's ability to freeze HELOCs in the future unilaterally. Any and all input welcome. Thanks all.