There are a number of local banks writing new Commercial Loans. The big boys are out, but the local guys are still solid (as of 4:45 this afternoon, subject to change at any moment).

Ken Ronnecker at First Community Bank of St. Petersburg is writing loans for both Owner Occupied and Investment Properties.

Regions Bank is writing loans for owner occupied buildings, but will not do any investment property loans at this point. We went to them with a 35% LTV deal and they turned ot down because it was investment property (fully occupied apartment building by Crescent Lake).

Florida Bank is writing both Investment and Owner Occupied Loans and I have noticed their notes and mortgages are written in plain English.

Wachovia, long a supplier of Commercial Loans in Pinellas County, is obviously out of the game (and sold to Citigroup).

Southern Commerce and Old Harbour (contact Fred Miller) are still good sources for hard to place commercial loans on Investment Property