Bridge Loans
Flexible Capital for Transitional Real Estate
Bridge loans are a critical tool for investors and developers acquiring or repositioning commercial properties that do not yet qualify for permanent financing. Unlike permanent debt, bridge financing is underwritten against the business plan rather than current stabilized income, making it the right capital for assets in transition, lease-up, or renovation.
The right bridge loan is sized around the business plan’s timeline and the sponsor’s exit strategy. Whether the exit is a sale, a refinance into agency debt, or a CMBS permanent loan, the bridge structure should be designed from the start with that endpoint in mind.
Key Highlights
Loan Size: $5 million to $50+ million
Loan-to-Cost (LTC) or LTV: Up to 80%
Terms: 12 to 36 months
Structure: Interest-only, fixed or floating rates
Recourse: Non-recourse, partial, or full recourse available
Speed: Closings in as little as 10–21 days
When to Use a Bridge Loan
Property lacks stabilized cash flow for traditional financing
Immediate closing required before full underwriting
Renovation, re-tenanting, or repositioning is underway
Cash-out refinancing needed on a recently improved asset
Sponsor pursuing a lease-up or exit strategy within 12–36 months
Property Types We Finance
Multifamily (lease-up, light value-add, or rehab)
Office (in transition or under repositioning plans)
Retail (vacancy-driven or re-anchoring strategy)
Industrial (with expansion or stabilization upside)
Hospitality (rebrand or post-renovation recapitalization)
Specialized assets (case-by-case)
How Lenders Evaluate Bridge Loan Requests
Bridge loan underwriting differs significantly from permanent financing. Because the property is not yet stabilized, lenders cannot rely on in-place income to size the loan. Instead, they underwrite the business plan, evaluating whether the repositioning strategy is credible, whether the timeline is realistic, and whether the market supports the projected outcome at stabilization.
Sponsor experience is a primary driver of bridge loan approval. Lenders want evidence that the sponsor has successfully executed similar business plans on comparable assets. A first-time developer pursuing a complex repositioning faces a higher bar than an experienced operator with a track record in the same asset class and market. Strong sponsorship can offset property-level risk, while weak sponsorship can undermine an otherwise well-structured deal.
The exit strategy receives as much scrutiny as the entry. Lenders evaluate whether the proposed exit, whether a sale, agency refinance, or CMBS permanent loan, is achievable based on current market conditions and realistic stabilization assumptions. Deals where the exit depends on aggressive rent growth or optimistic absorption timelines are underwritten more conservatively. Sponsors who present a clear, well-supported exit thesis consistently achieve better terms and higher advance rates.
Our Advantage
Bridge lending is about more than speed. It is about structuring smart, risk-aligned capital that positions your project for long-term success. We work with a wide network of capital providers to ensure the right match for your business plan and timeline.
Sample Use Cases
Acquisition of a 60% occupied office building with a repositioning plan
Bridge-to-agency execution on a newly renovated multifamily asset
Refinancing a maturing loan on a hospitality property undergoing recapitalization.
Quick-close retail deal with future CMBS exit strategy
Why Work with i95 Capital?
Deep experience with transitional assets and nuanced business plans
Fast, hands-on execution and lender negotiation
Ability to combine senior debt with mezzanine or preferred equity
Transparent, no-nonsense deal process
Looking for Fast, Flexible Financing?
Bridge loans are one of our specialties. Let us help you structure short-term capital that unlocks your project’s next phase.
