Webinar: Fast-Tracking SBA 504 After Reopening
November 18, 2025
A joint session by AVANA Companies and Capital Partners CDC
Thank You for Attending the Live SBA 504 Webinar
Thanks to everyone who joined our live webinar on November 18th, 2025, Fast-Tracking SBA 504 After Reopening. The session was led by Matt Hunt (AVANA Companies) and Tim Souther (Capital Partners), moderated by Sanat Patel, drawing on their experience closing $5B+ in SBA loans.
With SBA officially reopened - and a multi-week backlog building - brokers need clarity, speed, and clean execution more than ever. This session brought together both lender and CDC credit leaders to break down what it takes to get a 504 file approved quickly in the current environment.
If you missed the event—or would like to review the highlights—you can still access the full replay and takeaways below
Request the webinar’s video recording
Key Takeaways From the Webinar
- How to prepare an approval-ready SBA 504 package that avoids common Screen-Outs in today’s backlog environment.
- Clear guidance on 504 refinance rules including 75/25 structure, payment-improvement, and eligible cash-out.
- How to time and sequence third-party reports so appraisals and environmental items don’t stall your deal.
- The top underwriting red flags to catch early: occupancy, affiliates, cash flow, and use-of-proceeds.
- Real examples from $5B+ in SBA closings showing what fast-moving, successful submissions have in common.
- Practical next steps you can take now to keep borrowers engaged and accelerate decisions post-reopening.
Work With Us on Your Next SBA 504 Deal
Whether you have a live scenario, a refinance question, or you want to validate eligibility before ordering reports, our teams are here to help.
Meet the Speakers
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About Matthew Hunt
Matt has over 25 years of lending experience and currently serves as the Chief Credit Officer for AVANA. Prior to joining AVANA Capital, Matt was Senior VP and Director of National Real Estate lending for Zions Bank. In that role, he oversaw the bank’s nationwide commercial real estate lending platform with a primary focus in SBA 504 lending.
During his 16 years at Zions, the National Real Estate Group originated over $10 billion in commercial real estate loans, including nearly $5 billion in SBA 504 1st mortgage loans. He brings deep experience, having managed a $5.0 billion CRE portfolio through the global financial crisis and overseeing the secondary market program at Zions Bank.
Meet the Speakers
About Tim Souther
Tim is a Metro Atlanta native and received his BBA in Banking & Finance from theUniversity of Georgia’s Terry College of Business in 1997. After a brief stint in personal banking at SunTrust, he began his career in the SBA 504 industry in 2000.
After various roles as a Credit Analyst in his early career, Tim became a full-timeBusiness Development Officer in 2009. Since then, Tim has helped to create or retain thousands of Georgia jobs, originating over 400 SBA 504 loans totaling $500 million while being awarded Georgia CDC of the Year 12 of the past 15 years.
Tim was named SBA 504 National Lender of the Year in 2020 by The Coleman Report and is a past Chairman (2010) and Board Member of Georgia Lender’s Quality Circle (GLQC)
Meet the Speakers
About Sanat Patel
As Chief Lending Officer at AVANA Companies and Chair of the Board at AVANA Bank, Sanat Patel brings more than three decades of experience in financial services, private credit and commercial banking, with a proven track record in loan structuring, risk management, and balance sheet growth. Sanat has led strategic initiatives that connect institutional capital with entrepreneurial ambition, supporting the growth of businesses, and owners engaged in commercial real estate across the U.S. He has built and scaled lending platforms in partnership with banks and credit unions, developing tailored financial solutions that drive job creation and foster inclusive economic development.