Bridge loans typically have a faster application, approval and funding process than traditional loans. However, in exchange for the convenience, these loans tend to have relatively short terms, high interest rates and large origination fees. Generally, borrowers accept these terms because they require fast, convenient access to funds. They are willing to pay high interest rates because they know the loan is short term and plan to pay it off with low-interest, long-term financing quickly. Additionally, most bridge loans do not have repayment penalties.

Although rare, bridge loans sometimes pop up in the real estate industry. If a buyer has a lag between the purchase of one property and the sale of another property, he may turn to a bridge loan. Typically, lenders only offer real estate bridge loans to borrowers with excellent credit ratings and low debt-to-income ratios. Bridge loans roll the mortgages of two houses together, giving the buyer flexibility as he waits for his old house to sell. However, in most cases, lenders only offer real estate bridge loans worth 70% of the combined value of the two properties, meaning the borrower must have significant home equity in the original property or ample cash savings on hand.

Businesses turn to bridge loans when they are waiting for long-term financing and need money to cover expenses in the interim. For example, imagine a company is doing a round of equity financing expected to close in six months. It may opt to use a bridge loan to provide working capital to cover its payroll, rent, utilities, inventory costs and other expenses until the round of funding goes through.

Also known as interim financing, gap financing or swing loans, bridge loans “bridge the gap” during times when financing is needed but is not yet available. Both corporations and individuals use bridge loans, and lenders can customize these loans for many different situations.

A bridge loan is a short-term loan used until a person or company secures permanent financing or removes an existing obligation. This type of financing allows the user to meet current obligations by providing immediate cash flow. The loans are short term, up to one year, with relatively high interest rates and are usually backed by some form of collateral such as real estate or inventory.

Bridge financing should be utilized when the borrower needs capital quickly and only for a short amount of time (approximately 12 months or less). The borrower must also have real property to use as collateral to borrow against or have a large enough down payment (35% or more) to use towards a purchase if they are acquiring a new property with the proceeds from the bridge loan financing.

The property owner borrows against real estate they already own and pulls out equity with the bridge loan. The proceeds from the bridge loan financing are then used to purchase a new property. Once the new property is secured, the original property is sold so the bridge loan can be paid off.

Bridge loan financing is a straightforward process when compared to obtaining a financing from a conventional lender such as a bank or credit union. Simply contact a bridge loan lender and complete their application process. The bridge lender will require information about the borrower and the subject property. They will then analyze this information and confirm the value of the property. The bridge loan lender will then determine how much they can lend and what loan terms are available for the borrower. The loan should be able to be funded within a week.

A bridge loan is a short-term loan that “bridges the gap” between other types of long-term financing. Bridge financing is secured by real estate and have higher interest rates than conventional loans due to the higher risk associated with these loans. They are designed for investors and borrowers who are involved in real estate projects or transactions such as hard money rehabs, making improvements on land, and purchasing short sales or foreclosures. Residential bridge loans and commercial bridge loans are available to property owners who wish to borrower against the equity in their property.