Bridge Loans for Real Estate Investors: Close in as Little as 7 Business Days

A bridge loan is short-term financing that carries a property from one step to the next. For a real estate investor, that usually means buying now and paying the loan off later, when the property sells or moves into long-term financing.

Bridge loans exist because good deals rarely wait for a bank. A seller wants to close in two weeks, an auction needs proof of funds, or a buyer's mortgage falls through days before closing. A bank loan can take a month or more. A bridge loan from a private lender is underwritten on the property and your exit plan, so it can close in days.

Our bridge loans run 12 to 18 months, start from 8.99% and carry no prepayment penalty. They are for investment property only, so they can't be used to buy a home you plan to live in while you sell your current one.

First, you tell us about the property, the price and how you plan to exit. A loan officer reviews the file, often within 24 to 48 hours, and confirms how much we can lend on a short call, because leverage is set deal by deal.

Next, the loan funds the purchase and you take the property. During the term you hold it, improve it or lease it up, depending on your plan.

Finally, you exit. Most investors repay a bridge loan by selling the property or by refinancing it into long-term debt, such as a DSCR rental loan for 1 to 4 units or a multifamily loan for 5 or more.

To win a deal on speed. A fast, reliable close can matter as much as price, especially against cash buyers.

To buy at auction or off-market, where the seller sets a tight closing date.

To save a closing when a buyer's financing falls through. Agents can send us the deal through our Rescue My Deal page.

To reposition an apartment or mixed-use building before it qualifies for long-term financing, or to pay off a maturing short-term loan while a project finishes.

Rates start from 8.99% and terms run 12 to 18 months. How much we lend depends on the property, the plan and your file, so there is no fixed loan-to-value. A loan officer confirms it with you on a call before anything is signed.

Your total cost is the interest you pay for as long as you hold the loan, plus the lender and closing fees shown on your term sheet. Because there is no prepayment penalty, paying the loan off early cuts the interest you pay.

Bridge loans are not only for houses. We also fund apartment buildings and mixed-use properties that combine residential units with retail or office space.

A common plan is to buy a building that isn't ready for long-term financing yet, because of vacancies or needed repairs, improve it, and then refinance into a long-term multifamily loan once the rents support it.

Choose a bridge loan when you need short-term money and speed is the main problem, or when the property doesn't need a major renovation.

Choose a fix and flip loan when the plan is to renovate and sell. It covers the purchase plus up to 100% of the rehab budget.

Choose a DSCR rental loan when the property is ready to rent and you want to hold it for years. It qualifies on the rent, not your income.