A bridge loan is short-term financing designed to get you from Point A to Point B, typically 3 to 12 months in length. It’s most often used when:
These loans are asset-based, meaning the approval is based on the property’s value and your exit strategy, not your income or debt-to-income ratio.
Scenario 1: Equity Unlock for Cash Offer
You own a fourplex in Orlando with $190K in equity, but your bank won’t let you cash out fast enough. A seller in Tampa wants a 12-day close on a $375K off-market duplex.
We connect you with a private lender who cross-collateralizes both properties, gives you $300K up front, and you close in 10 days, before your refi even clears.
Quick Bridge Loan Math:
$300K bridge loan at 12% for 2 months = $6,000 interest.
That’s the price of controlling $60K+ in new equity.
Scenario 2: Bridge to Construction
You find a tear-down lot with plans approved, but your builder’s construction lender won’t release funds until permits are final.
A bridge loan gives you the $180K you need to close on the lot now. Once the vertical construction loan funds in 45 days, the bridge is paid off.
Quick Bridge Loan Math:
$180K × 12% × 1.5 months = $2,700 total cost
Holding the lot gives you negotiating leverage and control of the timeline.
Scenario 3: Juggling Closings
You’re under contract to sell a triplex for $625K, but closing got delayed. Meanwhile, a seller in St. Pete is offering you a $450K duplex, cash buyers only.
We arrange a 75% LTV bridge loan ($337,500) to lock up the new deal now. Your triplex closes two weeks later and pays off the bridge in full.
Up to 75–80% of the property’s purchase price, more if additional collateral is offered. We’ll help you structure it smartly.
Bridge loans are a form of hard money, but purpose-specific. The goal is always short-term funding for a pending liquidity event, like a refi or sale.
Check out our Investor Scenario: Creative Bridge Loans That Save the Deal
Absolutely. This is a common strategy for investors doing BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat). Once the property is stabilized and rented, we can help you transition into a DSCR or rental loan with longer terms and no personal income verification.
Most programs are interest-only monthly payments, but some lenders offer the option to roll payments into the loan so you don’t have to make monthly payments during rehab. This can be useful if you’re tight on cash flow or managing multiple projects.
Because no single lender fits every project. Some are great for first-timers, others prefer larger deals. Some move fast but require high cash reserves.
At FLN, we know the quirks, limits, and sweet spots of each lender, and we use that knowledge to get you matched with the one who’s most likely to say yes on terms that actually work for your project.
It’s not just faster, it’s smarter, especially if you’re flipping more than one deal or have specific timing, rehab, or credit considerations.
We’ve built an entire page covering the ins and outs of fix and flip financing, with real scenarios, tips, and program options.