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Bridge Loans Florida — Buy Before You Sell

Bridge Loans Florida

Buy your next Florida home before the current one sells. Short-term, equity-backed financing that frees you from sale contingencies. Licensed FL mortgage broker NMLS# 1859012.

6–12 mo
Typical Term
680+
Min FICO
80%
Max Combined LTV
Get Pre-Approved📞 (561) 300-0380
By Onias Derilus, NMLS# 1859012 · Licensed FL Mortgage Broker · Last Updated: May 2026
Bridge Loans Florida

Bridge Loans in Florida — Buy Before You Sell

A bridge loan covers the gap between buying your next home and selling your current one. You unlock equity you already have, put it toward the new purchase, and pay the balance off once the old place closes.

Florida moves fast. When the right home shows up, a contingent offer rarely wins. A bridge loan lets you make a clean offer, close on your own schedule, and skip the scramble of renting between homes or settling for a lesser property.

Who is it for? Move-up buyers, relocating professionals, and equity-rich owners who found their next home before listing the current one. If most of your net worth sits locked inside a property you have not sold yet, this is the tool that frees it.

Bridge Loan Eligibility & Requirements

✓20%+ equity in your current Florida home
✓Combined loan-to-value at or below 80%
✓680+ credit score on most programs
✓A clear exit plan — a listed or soon-to-list home
✓Ability to carry short-term interest payments
✓Reserves to cover the overlap period

Official resource: CFPB — Owning a Home.

Is a Bridge Loan a Fit?
You found a home before yours soldYes
You have 20%+ equity to draw onIdeal
You want a non-contingent offerYes
You can carry short-term paymentsRequired
Terms depend on equity, credit, and your exit plan.
How the Numbers Work — Illustration
Current home value$500,000
Mortgage owed$250,000
Usable equity (80% CLTV)~$150,000
New home down payment$120,000
Bridge termUp to 12 months
Payoff sourceSale of current home
Illustration only — not a rate quote. Actual terms subject to appraisal and credit approval.
Rates & Costs

What a Bridge Loan Actually Costs

Bridge loans price higher than a 30-year mortgage because the lender takes on more risk over a short window. You are buying speed and flexibility. The shorter you hold the loan, the less that higher rate matters in real dollars.

Interest
Usually interest-only during the bridge term, so payments stay manageable while you wait for the sale.
Origination & Fees
Expect lender and closing costs similar to a standard loan, sometimes with a short-term premium.
What Moves Your Rate
Equity position, credit, the strength of your exit plan, and how long you need the bridge open.

We do not advertise a fixed rate here — your number depends on your file. Request a personalized quote and we will show real terms.

Pros & Cons

Bridge Loan Pros and Cons

Advantages
✓Buy now without waiting on your sale
✓Make non-contingent, competitive offers
✓Move once, not twice
✓Interest-only payments during the term
✓Often no prepayment penalty
Trade-offs
✓Higher rate than a standard mortgage
✓You briefly carry two loan payments
✓Requires meaningful existing equity
✓Risk if the old home is slow to sell
✓Short repayment window
How to Qualify

How a Florida Bridge Loan Works, Step by Step

1. Tap your equity
We size a bridge loan against the equity in your current Florida home so you can fund the down payment on the new one.
2. Buy without a contingency
Make a clean, non-contingent offer that sellers actually accept in a competitive market.
3. Move on your timeline
Close on the new home, move when you are ready, then list and sell the old one without pressure.
4. Pay off at closing
When your old home sells, the proceeds retire the bridge loan and you settle into one mortgage.
Florida Notes

Bridge Loans in the Florida Market

Florida inventory swings by season and by region. Coastal and luxury homes can take longer to sell than entry-level inventory inland, which directly affects how long your bridge needs to stay open. Price your departing home for the real market, not last year's peak, and the overlap shrinks.

Insurance and HOA timelines also matter here. A condo or coastal sale can stall on association approval or an insurance binder, so we factor those Florida-specific holdups into the bridge timeline rather than assuming a clean 30-day close.

Compare Options

Bridge Loan vs. the Alternatives

A bridge loan is one of several ways to buy before you sell. Here is how it stacks up against a standard mortgage and a HELOC.

FeatureBridge Loan30-Yr MortgageHELOC
Term Length6–12 months30 years10–30 yr draw
Best ForBuy before you sellLong-term purchaseOngoing access to equity
Payoff SourceSale of old homeMonthly amortizationRevolving paydown
Typical RateHigher (short-term)LowestVariable
Closing SpeedFastStandardStandard
Bridge Loan FAQ

Bridge Loan Questions, Answered

How does a bridge loan work in Florida?
A bridge loan in Florida is short-term financing that lets you buy your next home before your current one sells. It taps the equity in your existing property, covers the down payment on the new purchase, and gets paid off when the old home closes. Most bridge loans run 6 to 12 months. Mortgage Capital (NMLS# 1859012) structures the payoff so you are not carrying two mortgages any longer than you have to.
What credit score do I need for a bridge loan?
Most bridge loan lenders look for a 680 credit score or higher, plus solid equity in the home you are selling. Because the loan is short-term and equity-backed, lenders weigh your existing home value and your exit plan more heavily than a single FICO number. We review your full picture before quoting terms.
Are bridge loan rates higher than a regular mortgage?
Yes. Bridge loans carry higher rates than a standard 30-year mortgage because they are short-term and riskier for the lender. You are paying for speed and flexibility, not a low long-term rate. The cost is usually worth it when it means winning a home in a competitive Florida market without a sale contingency.
Can I buy before I sell in Florida without a bridge loan?
Sometimes. A HELOC on your current home, a recast after the sale, or a non-contingent offer backed by reserves can all work. We compare a bridge loan against those alternatives so you only pay for short-term financing when it genuinely beats the other routes.
How long does a bridge loan last?
Typical Florida bridge loans run six to twelve months. The clock is meant to cover the gap between your purchase and the sale of your departing home. Many programs carry no prepayment penalty, so paying off early the moment your old home closes costs you nothing extra.
How much equity do I need to qualify?
Lenders generally want your combined loan-to-value to stay at or below 80 percent of your current home's value. So if your home is worth $500,000 with $250,000 owed, you have meaningful room to draw a bridge against the remaining equity. The more equity you hold, the cleaner the structure.
What happens if my current home does not sell in time?
This is the main risk to plan for. Some programs allow an extension, and others let you convert into longer-term financing. We build a realistic timeline and pricing strategy with your agent up front so the departing home sells inside the bridge window. Never assume a sale will happen faster than the local market supports.
Do you offer bridge loans across all of Florida?
Yes. As a licensed Florida mortgage broker (NMLS# 1859012), Mortgage Capital arranges bridge financing statewide, from Palm Beach and Broward to the Gulf Coast and Central Florida. We match your scenario to the lender whose short-term program fits your equity, timeline, and exit plan.
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Get Your Bridge Loan Pre-Approval in Florida

Buy before you sell · Equity-backed · Short-term · Licensed FL mortgage broker NMLS# 1859012

📞 (561) 300-0380

Rates are illustrative only. APR and payments vary by credit score, loan amount, and market conditions. Subject to credit approval. Not a commitment to lend. NMLS# 1859012. Equal Housing Lender.