How Lenders Evaluate Exit Strategies

Exit strategy is the most important variable in private capital underwriting—because it determines repayment.

Why the Exit Strategy Matters Most

Private capital is typically short-term or transitional. Repayment depends on the exit. The strongest deals have exits that are realistic, supported, and time-bound.

Primary Exit Types

  • Sale: repay from disposition
  • Refinance: repay by moving into permanent debt (bank/DSCR)
  • Stabilize then refinance: transitional period before permanent debt

How Lenders Verify a Sale Exit

  • Comparable sales and market liquidity
  • Price realism (not best-case optimism)
  • Timeline realism (days on market, absorption)
  • Condition and positioning

How Lenders Verify a Refinance Exit

  • Projected DSCR and rent assumptions
  • Stabilization plan and timeline
  • Leverage targets that permanent debt can support
  • Borrower profile (varies by takeout lender)

The Value of a Backup Exit

Professional transactions include a secondary path: alternative refinance, partial payoff, capital injection, or extended marketing plan. Backup exits reduce perceived risk and often improve terms.

Common Red Flags

  • Exit timing that ignores market cycles or lease-up realities
  • Assumptions unsupported by comps or credible data
  • No plan for delays

Quiet conclusion: The best exit strategies are not persuasive; they are verifiable.

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