Bridge loans for real estate and construction
Quick answer
A bridge loan is short-term financing that covers the gap between buying a property and selling or refinancing another, or between phases of a build. Terms run 6 to 24 months and you repay from a sale or a permanent refinance.
Costs run roughly 9–12% plus points. A bridge is only as safe as the exit you've lined up to pay it off.
Opportunity in real estate rarely waits for your capital to free up. A bridge loan buys you the time.
It's a timing tool, plain and simple. You need money now, you'll have money soon, and the bridge connects the two.
Key takeaways
- → A bridge loan covers a temporary gap — buying before selling, or carrying a project between phases.
- → Terms run 6–24 months; you repay from a sale or permanent refinance.
- → Costs are similar to hard money — speed and short term, not the cheapest rate.
- → The exit is everything — never take a bridge without a clear way to repay it.
How bridge loans work
The lender funds the gap and secures the loan against real estate. You use the cash now and repay when your other property sells or your permanent financing closes.
Because it's short-term and asset-based, a bridge closes fast — similar to hard money.
When investors and builders use them
Investors bridge to buy a new deal before an existing one sells. Builders bridge between construction phases, or when a commercial construction loan's permanent takeout is delayed.
Draw timing creates gaps too — our draw schedule guide explains why a bridge sometimes keeps a project moving.
The exit is everything
A bridge loan lives and dies on its exit. A sale that doesn't close or a refinance that falls through turns a short-term tool into an expensive problem.
Before you take one, know exactly how and when you'll repay it, and build in margin for delays.
Best bridge loan lenders
Best lenders for bridge financing
Best Overall — Same-Day Funding Across Six Loan Types Ad
Best Line of Credit for Cash Flow
Best Invoice Factoring for Contractors
eBoost Partners offers bridge construction financing built for exactly these timing gaps.
Related guides
Fix & flip loans overview
How investor financing works.
Hard money loans
Fast, asset-based financing.
Financing your first flip
Get funded as a beginner.
Commercial construction loans
Bridge between build phases.
Construction loan draw schedule
Why draws create timing gaps.
Construction loan rates
What bridge financing costs.