Restoring Bankability: How a $4MM CRE Line of Credit from Flatbay Capital Protected a Century of Service

A family-owned lumber and building materials company stands tall as one of San Antonio’s most enduring businesses, stretching back to 1933. The company provides everything from high-quality lumber and roofing materials to windows, doors, cabinets, flooring, and hardware, serving generations of builders across the greater San Antonio area.

The Situation

Despite generations of hard work and deep roots in the San Antonio community, the company faced increasing financial pressure. Tariffs, intensifying big-box competition, and rising industry costs strained performance at a critical moment, creating a timing and structure gap that required flexibility beyond traditional bank financing. To continue serving customers and transition the business into the next generation, the company needed to restructure existing debt and access working capital. Existing commercial loan obligations placed pressure on cash flow and collateral, putting the company’s two key operating properties at risk.

The Solution

Flatbay Capital responded with a flexible solution structuring a $4MM commercial real estate line of credit tailored to the company’s transitional needs. The facility was used to:

• Refinance an existing commercial loan
• Repay a related-party obligation
• Establish a reserve for future debt service
• Provide incremental working capital to support operations

This transaction also marked a milestone for Flatbay Capital as its first CRE line of credit—a clean, real-estate-backed structure built on disciplined due diligence and confidence in the business and its collateral.

The Outcome: Stability and Return to Bankability

With Flatbay’s capital in place, the company stabilized operations, reduced financial pressure, and protected its core properties. The business continued serving its customers, supporting its employees, and carrying forward the family's legacy for future generations.

More than a refinance, the transaction served as a bridge. After exiting Flatbay Capital, the company returned to its long-term banking partner, unlocked equity from its real estate, and expanded into new lines of business. By providing time, flexibility, and certainty during a period of transition, Flatbay Capital helped position a century-old family business for sustainable growth—and a successful return to traditional bank financing.

Flatbay Capital specializes in non-bank commercial real estate loans/lines $1MM+ secured with owner-occupied commercial real estate. To learn more visit: www.flatbaycapital.com or connect on LinkedIn with your local representative: Houston/Phoenix (Vivian Thompson), Houston/Denver (Lili Tafilaj), San Antonio (Taylor West), Austin (Jesus Becerra, Helena Hauk), Dallas-Fort Worth (Stephanie Roehm), Atlanta (Steve Hansen)