Bridge Loan

When Bridge Financing Is the Right Answer

• Value-Add Acquisitions — Buy under-performing property, execute a renovation and re-leasing plan, refinance into permanent debt at stabilized NOI.
• Lease-Up Plays — Acquire a recently delivered building during initial lease-up; bridge until occupancy and seasoned rents qualify for agency or CMBS.
• Repositioning — Office-to-residential conversion, brand reflag, retail re-tenanting, hotel PIP renovations.
• Distressed Acquisitions — Buy out of foreclosure, special servicer, or FDIC receivership; stabilize; refinance.
• Bridge to Sale — Hold while marketing for sale, particularly when timing or market conditions require flexibility.
• 1031 Exchange Mechanics — Bridge a replacement property closing when the seller cannot meet the buyer's identification timeline.

Typical Florida Bridge Loan Terms

• Rate: 7.5–9.5% — typically priced over SOFR for floating-rate structures
• Term: 12–36 months with extension options (often 6+6 months)
• Leverage: Up to 80% LTV or 75% LTC, sometimes 85% with mezzanine layer
• Amortization: Interest-only — accelerates cash flow during stabilization
• Recourse: Often limited to bad-boy carve-outs; full recourse occasionally required
• Prepayment: Generally open after a brief lockout (often 6–12 months minimum interest)
• Close timeline: 21–45 days typical — meaningfully faster than CMBS or agency

Bridge Loan vs. Hard Money

Bridge loans (7.5–9.5%) are institutionally-priced short-term debt for value-add and lease-up plays where the property has solid bones and a clear stabilization path. Hard money (10–14%) is more expensive but accepts more story — distressed condition, borrower credit issues, fast close requirements, or unconventional property types. The line between the two has blurred but hard money generally costs 200–400 bps more. For the right deal at the right leverage with the right exit, bridge financing is usually the better answer.

The Critical Question: The Takeout

The single most important question on any bridge loan is the takeout — what permanent financing will pay off the bridge at maturity? A bridge loan without a credible takeout strategy is a path to losing the property. Underwrite the stabilized NOI, confirm it qualifies for agency, CMBS, life company, or other permanent debt at the projected refinance date, and stress-test for changes in interest rates and cap rates between origination and takeout.

Linton Global Capital — Direct Bridge Capital

Linton Global Capital provides direct bridge-to-stabilization financing for Florida CRE acquisitions across multifamily, hospitality, industrial, retail, office, and distressed asset classes. Structured specifically for value-add and distressed plays, with a clear takeout to permanent agency / CMBS / HUD / life company financing at stabilization. See our Florida bridge loans guide for full terms and use cases.

Run the Bridge Loan Math

See your all-in annualized rate including origination, exit fee, and legal — not just the headline coupon. Most borrowers underestimate bridge economics by 150–200 bps.

What is a bridge loan in commercial real estate?

A bridge loan is short-term commercial real estate financing — typically 12 to 36 months at 7.5–9.5% interest-only with leverage up to 80% LTV or 75% LTC — used to fund the acquisition and stabilization of value-add, transitional, or distressed property until permanent financing becomes achievable at the stabilized NOI.

How is a bridge loan different from a permanent loan?

Permanent loans (agency multifamily, CMBS, HUD, life company) are sized to the in-place stabilized NOI of the property and typically run 5–35 years amortizing. Bridge loans are sized to the as-is or as-stabilized value, are interest-only, run 12–36 months, and carry a higher rate to compensate for the transitional risk during stabilization.

What loan-to-value can I get on a Florida bridge loan?

Most Florida bridge lenders go to 70–80% LTV on the as-is basis or 75% loan-to-cost on value-add deals. Stacking mezzanine debt can push total leverage to 85% or higher on the right deal with the right sponsor.

How fast can a bridge loan close in Florida?

Florida bridge loans typically close in 21–45 days from term sheet — meaningfully faster than CMBS (60–90 days), agency multifamily (60–90 days), or HUD (6–9 months). Hard money can close in 7–21 days for the right deal.

Who can help me source a Florida bridge loan?

Michael R. Linton at Linton Global Solutions maintains direct relationships across the Florida bridge lender network — including Linton Global Capital direct bridge financing — and shops every deal across multiple lenders to optimize pricing, leverage, and recourse terms. Call (312) 612-1031.

Article Summary

A bridge loan is short-term, interest-only commercial real estate financing — typically 12–36 months at 7.5–9.5% with leverage up to 80% LTV / 75% LTC — used to acquire and stabilize value-add, transitional, lease-up, or distressed property until permanent financing is achievable. Bridge loans are the workhorse capital for opportunistic Florida CRE acquisitions. Linton Global Capital provides direct bridge-to-stabilization financing across all major Florida asset classes; Michael R. Linton at Linton Global Solutions has 39 years of bridge-financed transaction experience.

Key Takeaways

• ✓Bridge loans: 7.5–9.5% interest-only, 12–36 months, 70–80% LTV / 75% LTC.
• ✓Best for value-add, lease-up, repositioning, distressed, and 1031 exchange timing.
• ✓Florida bridge loans typically close in 21–45 days — much faster than permanent debt.
• ✓Hard money is 200–400 bps more expensive but accepts more story credit and condition issues.
• ✓Stacking mezzanine can push total leverage to 85%+.
• ✓The takeout strategy matters more than the going-in pricing — underwrite the refinance.
• ✓Linton Global Capital provides direct bridge-to-stabilization financing for Florida CRE.
• ✓Michael R. Linton (FL Broker BK703722) brings 39 years of bridge-financed transaction experience.

About Michael R. Linton

Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor. With 39+ years of experience closing commercial transactions, he leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, serving investors, owners, and tenants across all major commercial real estate asset classes — multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels & hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences.

Michael holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722). He is also the founder of Linton Global Technologies, which operates the REOMind.ai AI-powered REO disposition platform serving 500+ banks.

Ready to Talk About Your Bridge Loan Deal?

Get a free consultation with Michael R. Linton — 39 years of Florida CRE experience. Zero pressure.

Works Cited

1. Mortgage Bankers Association. "Commercial Real Estate & Multifamily Lending Research." MBA, https://www.mba.org/news-and-research/research-and-economics. Accessed Jul 20, 2026.
2. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. "Commercial Real Estate Lending Statistics." FRED Economic Data, https://fred.stlouisfed.org/. Accessed Jul 20, 2026.
3. Commercial Real Estate Finance Council. "CMBS & CRE Debt Markets Research." CREFC, https://www.crefc.org/. Accessed Jul 20, 2026.
4. NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association. "NAIOP Research." NAIOP, https://www.naiop.org/. Accessed Jul 20, 2026.
5. CCIM Institute. "CCIM Research & Education." CCIM Institute, https://www.ccim.com/. Accessed Jul 20, 2026.

Disclosure & Compliance

Disclosure: This article discusses proprietary technology developed by Linton Global Technologies. Michael R. Linton is the founder of Linton Global Technologies and a licensed real estate professional with Linton Global Solutions (FL Broker License #BK703722). This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice.

Compliance Statement: All CREDDS and REOMind.ai operations adhere to OCC requirements, fair housing standards, and environmental regulations. Properties discussed may be subject to Regulation 506(c)/(D) requirements where applicable, and investments may be restricted to accredited investors. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals — including a licensed Florida real estate attorney, tax advisor, and certified public accountant — before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.