top of page

Real Estate Bridge Loans

Short-term Solutions

A real estate bridge loan is a short-term loan given to a borrower until permanent, long-term financing of a "stabilized" commercial property becomes viable in the marketplace. This normally happens when the real estate is either repositioned or renovated to become stabilized as a viable income-producing property. Kirksley can help lead you through the bridge loan financing process to get your real estate transition project completed with success.

Business Meeting
Real Estate Bridge Loans: Services

More Information about Real Estate Bridge Loans

A real estate bridge loan is needed when a property is in distress or in some other kind of transition and therefore unable to qualify for conventional long-term financing due to current levels of risk. A new owner intends to successfully transition the property into a "stabilized" financial situation but needs time to do so. The transition scenario can be highly variable but here are some common examples:

  • non-stabilized assets: commercial property in need of light or heavy renovations currently with insufficient rental income to attract new tenants and reach full occupancy

  • distressed or time-sensitive challenges: stalled construction, bankruptcy, foreclosure, 1031 exchange, bank workouts, etc

Bridge loans for real estate are typically 1 to 3 years in term with interest only payments and lower loan-to value ratios at 50-70% of the disposition value of the property. This requires a sizeable cash injection by the buyer (recipient of the bridge loan) who usually must have some track record of repositioning or managing commercial real estate as well as considerable net worth.

Loan amounts on real estate bridge loans can range from $1M to as much as $100M. International real estate is also in scope for bridge loan funding with the guidance of Kirksley.

Real Estate Bridge Loans: Text

Bridge Loan Financing Types

Types of commercial property for which bridge loan financing may be available if in a transitional or distressed stage:

  • Mixed-use

  • Office

  • Retail

  • Light Industrial

  • Warehouse

  • Multi-family

  • Hotel/hospitality

  • Self-storage

The outstanding balance of the bridge loan is eventually taken out upon the event of long-term financing, e.g. a business owner buys the property for his or her owner-occupied business or a real estate investor purchases the completed property for the purpose of rental income. As mentioned, almost every bridge loan scenario is unique and needs careful attention and planning in terms of financing.

Do you currently hold an existing bridge loan and are looking to exit to conventional financing? See the other commercial real estate lending types that may be available to take out a bridge loan.

Real Estate Bridge Loans: Text
bottom of page