eLoanTree

Find the right loan officer for your home or business loan.

eLoanTree is a referral service. Tell us what you are looking for, review everything before you submit, and get a referral packet you can send to a licensed loan officer. No documents, no Social Security number — ever.

HOME LOANS

Home loan

Buying a home, refinancing, or opening a home equity line of credit (HELOC)?

  • Purchase, refinance, or HELOC
  • About 3 minutes to complete
  • Review every answer before submitting
BUSINESS LOANS

Business loan

Working capital, equipment, expansion, or an SBA loan for your business?

  • Includes SBA loan inquiries
  • About 3 minutes to complete
  • Free business valuation estimator available
Referral only: eLoanTree is not a lender or broker. We do not make loan decisions, guarantee rates or approval, or collect borrower documents. Final terms are decided by the licensed partner and lender.

How it works

Three simple steps. You stay in control of your information the whole way.

1

Tell us what you need

Answer a short set of questions about your home or business loan goal. No Social Security number and no document uploads.

2

Review and consent

Check every answer on the review screen. Nothing is shared unless you check the consent box to share your information with a partner loan officer.

3

Get your referral packet

You receive a referral number (for example, LR-0001) and a packet you can email to eloantree@gmail.com, download, or copy — and a loan officer follows up with you directly.

What loan officers look at

Every lender weighs these factors differently, and only the licensed partner and lender can evaluate your full picture. Here is what typically matters.

🏠 Home loan criteria

  • Purpose: purchase, refinance, or HELOC
  • Property: address, type, and estimated value
  • Down payment: how much you plan to put down
  • Income & employment: stability and amount
  • Credit score range: your general credit profile
  • Debts: existing monthly obligations

🏢 Business loan criteria

  • Loan amount & purpose: including SBA programs
  • Time in business: how long you have operated
  • Annual revenue: what the business earns
  • Credit score range: owner and business credit
  • Collateral: assets that may secure the loan
  • Cash flow: ability to repay from operations

What eLoanTree does — and does not do

Clear lines, so you know exactly what to expect.

✓ What we do

  • Collect your inquiry, with your explicit consent
  • Create a referral with a referral number
  • Introduce you to a licensed partner loan officer
  • Provide free educational content and a valuation estimator

✕ What we do not do

  • We are not a lender or a loan broker
  • We do not make loan decisions or conditional offers
  • We do not guarantee rates or approval
  • We do not collect borrower documents or SSNs

Free business valuation estimator

Curious what your business might be worth? Estimate it in under a minute using seller's discretionary earnings (SDE) × an industry multiple. It's an estimate for planning — not an appraisal.

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers about how the referral works.

Is eLoanTree a lender?

No. eLoanTree is a referral and lead-introduction service only. We are not a lender or broker, we do not fund loans, and we do not make loan decisions. A licensed partner loan officer and the lender handle your application and decide all terms.

Does submitting a request guarantee a rate or approval?

No. Nothing on this site guarantees a rate, approval, or any specific loan term. Rates and eligibility depend on the lender's review of your full financial picture.

Do you need my Social Security number or documents?

No — and we never ask for them. The form has no Social Security number field and no document upload. If a lender later needs documents, you provide them directly to that licensed lender.

What happens after I submit?

You get a referral number and a referral packet. You can email the packet to eloantree@gmail.com, download it, or copy it to share with a loan officer. A loan officer then contacts you directly to discuss next steps. There is no automatic matching or routing on this site.

What does it cost to use eLoanTree?

Submitting a referral request and using the valuation estimator are free for borrowers. Any loan costs, if you proceed, are disclosed by the licensed partner and lender.

Is the business valuation an appraisal?

No. The estimator multiplies your seller's discretionary earnings (SDE) by a typical industry multiple to give a rough planning range. A formal valuation or appraisal requires a qualified professional.

Referral-only disclosure

eLoanTree is not a lender or broker. eLoanTree does not make loan decisions, guarantee rates or approval, issue conditional offers, or collect borrower documents or Social Security numbers.

eLoanTree collects your inquiry only with your consent and introduces you to a partner loan officer who is licensed for that loan type and state. All loan terms, rates, and decisions are made solely by the licensed partner and lender.

Content on this site, including the blog and the valuation estimator, is educational only and is not financial, legal, or lending advice.

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Loan referral request

Four steps, about 3 minutes. No Social Security number. No document uploads. You will review everything before submitting.

Step 1 of 4
Which type of loan?
Please choose a purpose.
← Back to home

Free business valuation estimator

Estimate what your business might be worth using seller's discretionary earnings (SDE) × a typical industry multiple. Takes under a minute.

Not an appraisal: This is a rough educational estimate for planning only. It is not a formal valuation or appraisal, and actual value depends on financials, market conditions, and a qualified professional's review.

Net profit + owner's salary + owner's benefits + one-time expenses. If you only know revenue, a common rough SDE is 20–35% of revenue for small businesses.

Please enter your SDE to calculate.

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eLoanTree Blog

Educational guides on home and business loans. No guaranteed rates, no guaranteed approval — just clear explanations to help you talk with a licensed loan officer.

Business Loans

How much business loan a $500K-revenue business can get

Revenue is only the starting point. See how lenders use cash flow, debt service coverage, and credit to size a loan — with worked examples.

Home Loans

Refinance vs HELOC: which fits your goal?

Both tap your home's value, but they work very differently. Compare how each one changes your payment, rate, and total cost.

SBA Loans

SBA 7(a) loan requirements in 2026

Eligibility, credit expectations, down payment, documents lenders ask for, and the step-by-step process — explained in plain language.

Educational only: Blog content explains general concepts. It is not financial advice and does not guarantee any rate, approval, or lender offer. Final terms are decided by the licensed partner and lender.
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How much business loan a $500K-revenue business can get

Business Loans · Educational guide · eLoanTree Blog

“My business does $500,000 a year — how much can I borrow?” It is one of the most common questions small-business owners ask, and the honest answer is: revenue starts the conversation, but cash flow decides the number. Here is how lenders actually size a loan.

Revenue is not the same as borrowing power

Two businesses can both report $500K in revenue and qualify for very different amounts. A consulting firm with $500K revenue and $200K of owner earnings is very different from a restaurant with $500K revenue and $40K left after food, labor, and rent. Lenders lend against the money left over to repay them — not against the top line.

The number lenders watch: debt service coverage

Most lenders calculate a debt service coverage ratio (DSCR): your annual cash flow available for payments, divided by the annual payments on all business debt including the new loan. Many lenders look for a DSCR around 1.20–1.25 or higher, meaning cash flow covers payments with room to spare. Requirements vary by lender and program — nothing here is a guarantee.

ScenarioRevenueCash flow (SDE)Illustrative loan range*
Service business, strong margins$500,000$175,000Roughly $200K–$400K
Retail business, average margins$500,000$100,000Roughly $100K–$250K
Restaurant, thin margins$500,000$60,000Roughly $50K–$120K

*Illustrative educational examples only, assuming typical terms and a DSCR near 1.25. Your actual eligibility depends on the lender's full review.

What else moves the number up or down

  • Credit history: Stronger owner and business credit generally supports larger amounts and better terms.
  • Time in business: Two or more years of operating history is a common comfort point; SBA programs have their own rules.
  • Existing debt: Current loans and leases reduce the room for new payments.
  • Collateral: Equipment, real estate, or receivables can support a larger loan.
  • Loan purpose: Buying an income-producing asset is viewed differently from covering a shortfall.

A practical way to estimate before you apply

Take your SDE — profit plus your salary and owner benefits. Multiply a conservative share of it by a loan term to sanity-check affordability: if annual payments on the loan you want would eat more than about 75–80% of your SDE, most lenders will hesitate. Our free estimator can also show what your business might be worth, which matters for acquisition and SBA loans.

The bottom line

A $500K-revenue business might qualify for anything from under $50K to several hundred thousand dollars. The fastest way to a real answer is a conversation with a licensed loan officer who can see your full picture.

Next step

Estimate your business value free, or start a business loan referral request — no documents, no SSN.

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Refinance vs HELOC: which fits your goal?

Home Loans · Educational guide · eLoanTree Blog

A refinance and a HELOC (home equity line of credit) both involve your home's equity, but they solve different problems. Choosing the wrong one can cost you thousands — so let's compare them plainly.

The one-sentence difference

A refinance replaces your current mortgage with a new one. A HELOC leaves your current mortgage in place and adds a separate, flexible credit line secured by your home.

RefinanceHELOC
What happensOld mortgage is replacedSecond, separate line added
Rate typeOften fixed for the full termUsually variable
How you get moneyLump sum at closing (cash-out) or just a new loanDraw what you need, when you need it
Best forLowering your main mortgage rate, or one large known expensePhased projects, uncertain costs, a flexible safety net
PaymentOne new mortgage paymentYour existing payment plus HELOC payment

When a refinance usually makes sense

  • Current mortgage rates are meaningfully lower than yours, so the new loan cuts your main payment.
  • You want one fixed payment and a predictable payoff date.
  • You need a specific, known amount of cash once — a debt consolidation or a completed renovation quote.

When a HELOC usually makes sense

  • Your existing mortgage rate is low and you do not want to give it up.
  • Your project happens in stages — a kitchen now, a bathroom next year — so you borrow only what you use.
  • You want a standby line for irregular expenses, and you are comfortable with a variable rate.

Watch-outs for both

Both are secured by your home, so missed payments put the home at risk. A HELOC's variable rate can rise, and many HELOCs have a draw period followed by a repayment period with higher payments. A refinance restarts your loan clock — a lower monthly payment can still mean more total interest over a fresh 30-year term. A licensed loan officer can run both scenarios with real numbers for your situation; no article can.

The bottom line

Refinance to change the mortgage itself. Choose a HELOC to add flexibility on top of a mortgage you already like. If you are unsure, ask a loan officer to price both — comparing is free.

Next step

Start a home loan referral request and ask a licensed loan officer to compare refinance and HELOC numbers for your home.

← All articles

SBA 7(a) loan requirements in 2026

SBA Loans · Educational guide · eLoanTree Blog

The SBA 7(a) program is the U.S. Small Business Administration's main loan program. The SBA guarantees part of the loan; an approved lender makes the loan and the final decision. Here is what lenders generally look for in 2026. Program rules can change, so treat this as a starting checklist, not a promise of eligibility.

Basic eligibility

  • For-profit business operating in the United States.
  • Small by SBA size standards for your industry.
  • Owner-operated: you run the business, not a passive investment.
  • Eligible use of funds: working capital, equipment, real estate for the business, refinancing eligible debt, or buying a business.
  • Credit elsewhere: SBA loans are for borrowers who cannot get conventional financing on reasonable terms alone — your lender documents this.

Credit and financial expectations

  • Owner credit: Lenders commonly look for a personal credit score in the mid-600s or higher; stronger credit improves your options. There is no single SBA-published minimum for 7(a).
  • Cash flow: The business must show it can repay — lenders typically test debt service coverage around 1.20–1.25× or higher.
  • Down payment: Often around 10% for business acquisitions and real estate, sometimes more depending on the deal and lender.
  • Personal guarantee: Owners with 20% or more ownership generally guarantee the loan personally.
  • Collateral: Lenders take available collateral, though a 7(a) loan is not supposed to be declined solely for lack of collateral.

Documents lenders typically request

You provide these directly to the licensed lender — never to eLoanTree. Expect business and personal tax returns (often 3 years), year-to-date financial statements, a debt schedule, business licenses, and, for acquisitions, the seller's financials and a business valuation.

How the process usually runs

  • Step 1: Pre-conversation with a loan officer about amount, purpose, and readiness.
  • Step 2: Full application and document collection with the SBA-approved lender.
  • Step 3: Underwriting — often several weeks; acquisitions and real estate take longer.
  • Step 4: SBA authorization, closing, and funding.

2026 notes

The maximum 7(a) loan remains $5 million under the program's standard structure. Fees, guarantee percentages, and documentation rules are set by the SBA and can be updated — your lender works from the current SBA standard operating procedure. Always confirm current terms with the lender before relying on them.

The bottom line

Strong cash flow, reasonable credit, some money down, and organized financials put you in the best position. A loan officer who does SBA lending daily can tell you quickly whether 7(a), 504, or a conventional loan fits best.

Next step

Estimate your business value free — useful for SBA acquisition loans — or start a business loan referral request and mention SBA in your purpose.