SBA RV Park Loans in Florida
Government-guaranteed 7(a) and 504 financing for RV park and campground acquisitions, plus direct conventional and bridge alternatives when SBA is not the right fit.
Apply OnlineSBA RV park loans in Florida are the most common way an owner-operator buys an existing park, campground or RV resort. RV Park Loans Direct, operated by Commercial Loans Florida, Inc., is a direct lender for the outdoor hospitality sector and also works with lending partners, so we can place an SBA 7(a) or 504 request where it belongs and, when the file does not fit the SBA mold, fund it ourselves with a conventional commercial loan or a bridge loan. Our office is in South Pasadena, Florida, and we finance parks across the state and nationwide.
This page explains what SBA financing can do for an RV park, how 7(a) and 504 differ, what to prepare, when SBA is not the answer, and how the process works with us. For a quote, the fastest path is the brief online application; rates vary with the loan-to-value ratio and the credit score, so a quote is specific to your park.
What SBA Loans Can Finance for an RV Park
RV park acquisition financing in Florida through the SBA is not limited to the purchase price. Depending on the program and the lender, an SBA RV park loan can cover:
- Acquisition of an existing park, campground or RV resort: the business and the real estate together.
- Refinance of a park you already own, replacing seller notes or short-term debt with long repayment terms.
- Expansion: more sites, new pads, utilities and roads on land you control.
- Improvements: bathhouses, laundry, a store, cabins or glamping units, Wi-Fi and site upgrades.
- Equipment that stays with the park, under the 504 program.
SBA 7(a) vs 504 for an RV Park, in Plain Words
The SBA 7(a) loan is the general-purpose program and the one most buyers use to purchase an existing RV park, because it can finance the business and the real estate in one loan and can include working capital. The SBA 504 loan finances owner-occupied real estate and equipment through two pieces: a bank loan plus a loan from a Certified Development Company. Both are government-guaranteed programs with long repayment terms, both require the park to be owner-operated, and both require the borrower to meet SBA eligibility. Which one fits is a question of what you are buying and how the project is structured; we walk you through that on the first call. Our articles SBA 7(a) and 504 loans: which is right for your RV park and combining 7(a) and 504 loans for RV parks go deeper.
What SBA Lenders Look At
An SBA 7(a) RV park loan is underwritten like a business purchase with real estate behind it. Lenders review a feasibility study or the park’s operating history, the personal credit of the owners, the park’s revenue and occupancy, and, for a value-add park, the project budget. Experience helps, but the operating plan carries weight too. Read is your RV park eligible for SBA financing for the criteria and the role of feasibility studies for what a study should contain.
What to Prepare
- A business plan or a feasibility study for the park you are buying or building.
- Two to three years of park financials, or the seller’s records when the park has not kept formal books.
- A personal financial statement for each owner.
- The purchase contract, or the letter of intent while the contract is being negotiated.
- Site and occupancy data: the site mix (transient, seasonal, annual), rates and occupancy by month.
- For a value-add park: the project budget and the timeline.
When SBA Is Not the Right Fit
SBA RV park loans are a strong product, and they are not the only product. SBA financing takes longer than a direct loan, timing depends on the lender and the SBA, and the program has rules on owner occupancy, eligibility and use of proceeds. We see files every week that need something else:
- Speed: a seller who will not wait for an SBA timeline.
- Leverage: our direct programs offer high-leverage options beyond SBA.
- Value-add parks whose income does not support an SBA underwrite yet.
- Seasonal income: a seasonal business with predictable annual patterns that traditional banks walk away from.
- Out-of-state buyers and investors who will not operate the park themselves.
For those files we lend our own funds through a conventional commercial loan or a bridge loan. Read navigating SBA 7(a) loans for RV park acquisitions in Florida for the comparison, or see the full menu on our RV park and campground financing page.
How the Process Works
From application to closing
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an SBA loan to buy an RV park in Florida?
Yes. SBA 7(a) loans are commonly used to buy an existing RV park, the business and the real estate together, and SBA 504 loans finance the owner-occupied real estate and equipment. The park must be owner-operated and the borrower must meet SBA eligibility.
Do I need RV park experience?
Experience helps, but the operating plan carries weight too. SBA lenders review a feasibility study or operating history, personal credit, the park’s revenue and occupancy, and the project budget. A strong plan with the right team can carry a first park.
How long does SBA RV park financing take?
Longer than a direct loan. Timing depends on the lender and on the SBA. When the seller needs a faster close, our direct conventional and bridge loans are the alternative.
What down payment do SBA RV park loans need?
It depends on the program and the file. Contact us with the park and your numbers and we will tell you what each path requires.
Can I refinance an existing RV park with SBA?
Yes, refinancing a park you already own is a common use, including replacing seller notes and short-term debt with long repayment terms, as long as the park and the borrower meet eligibility.
What is the difference between an SBA 7(a) and an SBA 504 RV park loan?
The 7(a) loan is the general-purpose program that can finance the business, the real estate and working capital in one loan. The 504 loan finances owner-occupied real estate and equipment through a bank loan plus a Certified Development Company loan.
Does RV Park Loans Direct work with brokers?
Yes. We work with licensed mortgage brokers on SBA requests and on our direct loans.
What if my park has seasonal income?
A seasonal business with predictable annual patterns is normal in outdoor hospitality. Traditional banks walk away from it; we underwrite it, through SBA when it fits and through our direct programs when it does not.
Ready to finance an RV park?
Apply OnlineCommercial Loans Florida, Inc., 1155 Pasadena Ave S, Suite H, South Pasadena, FL 33707. Call (727) 642-1166, email dcaceres@commercial-loans-florida.com or send us the park and we will come back with the SBA path and the direct alternative.