FAQs
What is a Commercial “Bridge” Loan?
“Bridge” financing is the term typically applied to a short-term loan (12-36 months), on commercial property that does not meet the requirements for conventional/bank financing either due to poor performance, time constraints, or where a borrower has experienced recent credit issues. As a general rule, this type of financing would be available for income producing properties, or soon-to-be income producing properties. Named for its valuable purpose as a “Bridge” to conventional financing, this product can be used as a debt facility for purchase/lease-up opportunities, liquidity access, debt consolidation, partner buyouts, as well as a myriad of other uses. Rates start at 6%, with LTV’s up to 75%, depending on property type, location, and performance.
What’s the difference between a Bridge Loan and Conventional Financing?
Bridge loans, by definition, are always short-term financing, of 6 – 36 months, and typically range in cost multiples of 2-3 X that of bank rates. In either case, these loan types are often the only type of financing available when conventional lending underwriting standards cannot be met, either due to concerns with recent asset performance or with the borrower’s past credit history. Bridge Lenders will always require a viable exit strategy through either the sale of the asset or a refinance into a permanent/conventional loan.
Can I qualify for a Bridge Loan if I have a low credit score?
The short answer is YES! The primary focus in underwriting a Bridge loan is the underlying property/asset. But of course, how the loan will be repaid, is a close second. A number of factors come into consideration in underwriting a commercial Bridge loan including borrower’s experience, liquidity, equity, property type, cash-flow, and of course, location.
I’m looking to purchase a commercial property, with a conventional lender ready to provide the majority of the financing (65-75%). Can I use a “Bridge” loan as a 2nd piece of financing to meet the purchase price?
The simple answer is No. For most commercial transactions, under $10,000,000, any “Hard Money” or “Bridge” lender will only consider a first position lien. And more importantly, all lenders, in this economic climate, will require a property owner/borrower to have at least 25% in either fresh cash equity for a purchase, or years of “sweat” equity for a refinance. The most important underwriting principle for Bridge financing is leverage.
What types of commercial property qualify for Bridge financing?
Really, any viable commercial real estate, though special use properties or raw land will typically be at much lower LTV’s. Location in or near a major metropolitan area is usually a critical factor. Multi-family, office, retail, mixed-use, flagged hospitality, self-storage, light manufacturing, and warehouse/distribution would be high on the list, while assisted living facilities, marinas, churches, movie theaters, and golf courses would be low. Income producing commercial real estate will always be considered.
Where do you lend?
Loans are available for properties nationwide, though a minimum population requirement of 25,000, within a 5-mile radius, is standard.
How quickly can a Bridge Loan be funded?
Given the lower Loan-to-Value, many Bridge Loans, can be finalized without an appraisal, which can save 2-3 weeks of underwriting. While in a best case scenario, a Bridge Loan, in a major metropolitan area, can be closed and funded in as little as 7 days, the typical time frame from application to closing would be 14-21 days. For larger Bridge Loans (greater than $1MM), at higher LTV’s, we will generally require a full underwriting protocol including a fresh appraisal, environmental review, and property conditional analysis, which will necessitate a closing timeframe of 30-40 days.
How do I get started?
Simple….just take a few minutes to complete our confidential questionnaire and a loan officer will contact you directly, within 24 hours.
U.S. Commercial Property Finance Market exceeds $3 Trillion.
Well structured financing is essential to successful commercial property portfolios. We connect property investors to effective capital through the bridge loan marketplace, with fast, knowledgeable and affordable financing solutions.