How Commercial Real Estate Bridging Loans Work
A bridging loan is short-term debt secured on commercial property to solve a time gap. It funds fast acquisitions, covers refurbishment or lease-up, clears debt at maturity, or buys time until a cheaper long-term loan is ready. The lender relies on property value, controls cash, and expects a defined exit.
What it is and when to use it
Definition
A commercial real estate bridging loan is a first-lien or mezzanine facility with a short tenor, secured against property or development rights, used until a sale, refinance, or stabilization event happens.
Typical use cases
- Acquisition with a tight closing date
- Refinance of maturing debt pending term loan approval
- Capex, light refurbishment, or change of use
- Lease-up to a target DSCR before term financing
- Planning or permitting period before development funding
Structure at a glance
Security and controls
First charge or mortgage, assignment of rents, account control, step-in rights for property management, and draw controls for capex.
Sizing
Commonly up to 60–75% Loan-to-Value (LTV) for stabilized assets, or Loan-to-Cost (LTC) for works. Higher leverage may require mezzanine, preferred equity, or recourse.
Tenor and repayment
6 to 24 months with extensions. Interest may be serviced monthly or partly/fully capitalized (payment-in-kind). Full repayment at exit.
Pricing and total cost
Interest and fees
- Interest margin over a base rate or a fixed coupon
- Arrangement and exit fees set as a percent of the facility
- Legal, valuation, environmental, and monitoring costs
- Extension fees if the exit slips
What drives price
- LTV or LTC and quality of valuation evidence
- Asset type and liquidity in that market
- Business plan: capex scope, lease-up, permitting risk
- Sponsor experience and track record
- Clarity and certainty of the exit
Eligibility and documents
Baseline profile
- Borrower SPV with clean ownership and KYC
- Property with clear title and acceptable zoning
- Defined plan to stabilize, refinance, or sell
Document checklist
- Corporate docs, cap table, IDs
- Purchase contract or current loan statements
- Rent roll, leases, and operating statements
- Capex budget, works schedule, planning status
- Valuation, survey, insurance, environmental reports
How the process works
- Initial screen.
Share the address, photos, tenancy, requested amount, LTV or LTC, and your exit plan.
- Indicative terms.
Lender issues a heads-up with rate, fees, LTV, DSCR or interest-reserve needs, covenants, and timeline.
- Diligence and valuation.
Independent valuation, legal searches, environmental, and insurance review.
- Documentation.
Facility agreement, security, conditions precedent, and any intercreditor if mezzanine or preferred equity is used.
- Funding.
Drawdown for acquisition or capex in line with the budget and works milestones.
- Monitoring.
Reporting on works, leasing, and covenant compliance until exit.
- Exit.
Sale or refinance into a stabilized term loan once DSCR and tenancy targets are reached.
Key risks and how to manage them
Exit risk
Mitigate with early term sheets for the take-out, realistic timelines, and conservative DSCR and valuation assumptions.
Cost and delay risk
Hold contingency for capex, use fixed-price contracts where possible, and tie draws to verified progress.
Market and leasing risk
Backstop with pre-lets where possible, staged leasing assumptions, and broker evidence for achievable rents.
Simple examples
Acquisition bridge
Buyer wins an auction with 30-day completion. Bridge funds 70% LTV. Exit is a term loan after leases roll to market and DSCR clears lender hurdles.
Refurbishment bridge
Light works and common-area upgrades to push rents. Interest partly capitalized during construction. Refinance at higher valuation.
Planning bridge
Land or building held while permits are secured. Exit is a construction loan or forward sale once approvals are in hand.
Frequently asked questions
How is LTV calculated on a bridge loan?
LTV equals the loan amount divided by the lender’s accepted value. For capex projects, some lenders size to cost and then test LTV at each draw.
Do I need to service interest monthly?
Not always. Many structures allow partial or full capitalization during works or lease-up, funded by an interest reserve at closing.
What is a credible exit strategy?
A signed sale contract, a term sheet for long-term financing, or a model demonstrating DSCR and valuation that meet term lender thresholds within the loan term.
Request Commercial Real Estate Bridge Terms
Share the address, photos, tenancy, requested amount, LTV or LTC, capex plan, and exit. We will confirm eligibility and pricing bands.
Request Indicative Terms
Financely acts as advisor and arranger on a best efforts basis. We are not a bank. All transactions are subject to KYC and AML, sanctions screening, credit approval, legal documentation, third-party reports, and available lender capacity. Nothing here is a commitment to lend or an offer of securities. Terms vary by lender names, jurisdiction, and asset quality.