Maybe you need a bridge loan to get you therefrom the way you write it sounds like you intend to purchase and pay retail, highly inadvisable.

I structure a buyout with his lenders for that commercial asset (Note) at $1.25M (50% discount from lender) Offer the owner to purchase (refi with bridge or hard money) his note for $1.62( 60% market value) .

I have been investing in San Diego real estate for over 20 years, and have been doing hard money for Fix & Flip, Construction, and Bridge Loans for the last 11 years. 

@Allison Bridges thanks so much!

Not sure what loans are like on most commercial, but I know for example on apartments there are a lot of buyer using bridge debt right now with 3 year interest only and two 1 year extensions....so with rising interest rate issues, seems like if you are in that space you would want to call at about the 2 year mark and call quarterly until 2.5 year mark after initial closing, and then call monthly after that, as there is some chance they'll need to sell vs refinance at higher interest.....I'm kind of guessing most commercial has some type of limited finance period...not 30 year loans like residential.   

If so, you could either attempt to work with the Vendor to fill the building to satisfy the mortgagee, or take a bridge loan (hard money or private money) to close the deal, fill the building, then refinance.

Don't underestimate that relationship and what a Realtor can get done for you that you can't on your own.I'm so curious how it turned out,... cuz you may very well have chosen to burn this bridge with that agent, if it was your first deal AND it would net you a LOT to reinvest, AND/OR you really NEED that 1-4k your agent would have saved. 

I don't mind bridge funding materials for the things I'll be self-performing, but curious about actual experiences getting reimbursed via draws for DIY repairs (materials only, obviously). 

Hey there-OK, so I am trying to bridge the gap into CRE.

Bienes,I prefer option #1 due to the fact that your performance history and preserving your relationships is so important in dealing with REO properties.By using option #2, you run the risk of burning bridges with banks and REO listing brokers/agents.