Despite a drop in commercial real estate values, only 6 percent of small business owners have purchased one or more properties in the past two years, according to a study released Monday by CIT Small Business Lending.

The study found that 52 percent of small business owners haven’t even thought about making an acquisition, but 28 percent think that purchasing real estate in today’s market presents a “great” or “substantial” opportunity.

More than 300 small business owners around the United States were surveyed for the CIT Small Business Commercial Real Estate Study, which was developed by CIT Group Inc., a bank holding company with more than $45 billion in finance and leasing assets.

The study found that 36 percent of small business owners said current market and economic conditions present the biggest barrier to securing a loan to purchase commercial real estate.

Financial constraints are another hurdle, as nearly one in five small businesses, or 19 percent, indicated that they could not afford a down payment to secure a traditional bank loan for commercial property.

And despite low interest rates, only 13 percent of small business owners who owned their property were “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to consider refinancing.

“The depressed commercial real estate market and historically low interest rates continue to present an opportunity for small business owners looking to grow their businesses,” said Chris Reilly, president of CIT Small Business Lending, in a release. “Today’s market conditions may offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for entrepreneurs who want to take their businesses to the next level.”

U.S. small businesses employ nearly 59 million Americans, approximately half of all private-sector jobs.