Mortgage Strategist & HELOC Specialist · NMLS #1985623, CRMP
Bridge Loan Mortgage Guide 2026: Top 10 Lenders Compared (Buy Before You Sell)
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Top 10 Bridge Loan Lenders 2026: Side-by-Side Comparison
We compared the 10 best bridge loan lenders across 7 critical factors: starting rate, max loan amount, max LTV on current home, term, speed to close, and bridge experience.
For bridge loans, speed and LTV are critical — you need fast funding and maximum equity access. Compare bridge loan lenders
| Rank | Lender | Starting Rate | Max Loan Amount | Max LTV (Current Home) | Term | Speed to Close | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guaranteed Rate | 7.500% | $500,000 | 80% | 6-12 months | 14-21 days | Get bridge loan |
| 2 | New American Funding | 7.500% | $500,000 | 80% | 6-12 months | 14-21 days | Get bridge loan |
| 3 | CrossCountry Mortgage | 7.750% | $500,000 | 80% | 6-12 months | 14-21 days | Get bridge loan |
| 4 | loanDepot | 8.000% | $400,000 | 75% | 6-12 months | 21-30 days | Get bridge loan |
| 5 | Wells Fargo | 7.750% | $500,000 | 80% | 6-12 months | 21-30 days | Get bridge loan |
| 6 | Bank of America | 7.750% | $500,000 | 80% | 6-12 months | 21-30 days | Get bridge loan |
| 7 | U.S. Bank | 8.000% | $400,000 | 75% | 6-12 months | 21-30 days | Get bridge loan |
| 8 | Rocket Mortgage | 8.000% | $400,000 | 75% | 6-12 months | 14-21 days | Get bridge loan |
| 9 | Brandywine Bridge Funding | 8.500% | $1,000,000 | 75% | 6-24 months | 7-14 days | Get bridge loan |
| 10 | Acra Lending | 9.000% | $500,000 | 70% | 6-12 months | 7-14 days | Get bridge loan |
Best Lenders for Bridge Loan Mortgage Guide
Best online experience
5.750%
Min credit: 620
No lender fees
5.625%
Min credit: 620
Best for VA loans
5.500%
Min credit: 580
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Best Bridge Loan Lenders by Category 2026
Different bridge loan situations require different lenders. Here are the best by category.
Match your bridge situation to the best lender for optimal rates and terms. Find your best bridge loan lender
| Category | Best Lender | Why They Win | Key Advantage | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for lowest rate | Guaranteed Rate / New American Funding | 7.500% starting rate | Lowest bridge rate | Get low rate bridge |
| Best for highest LTV (80%) | Guaranteed Rate / New American / CrossCountry / Wells Fargo / BofA | 80% LTV on current home | Maximum equity access | Get 80% LTV bridge |
| Best for fast closing (7-14 days) | Brandywine / Acra Lending | 7-14 day closing | Fastest bridge | Get fast bridge |
| Best for large loans ($500K-$1M) | Brandywine Bridge Funding | $1M max loan amount | Largest bridge loans | Get large bridge |
| Best for bridge-to-loan (combined) | Guaranteed Rate / New American / CrossCountry | Combined bridge + new mortgage | One application | Get bridge-to-loan |
| Best for interest-only bridge | All lenders | Interest-only payments during bridge term | Low monthly payments | Get interest-only bridge |
| Best for experienced investors | Brandywine / Acra | Experienced with investor bridge loans | Investor friendly | Get investor bridge |
| Best for conventional bridge | Wells Fargo / BofA / U.S. Bank | Bank bridge loan programs | Bank stability | Get bank bridge |
| Best for digital experience | Rocket Mortgage / Guaranteed Rate | Online application, digital closing | Best digital UX | Get digital bridge |
| Best for Non-QM bridge | Acra Lending | Non-QM bridge, flexible qualification | Non-QM specialist | Get Non-QM bridge |
Bridge Loan vs HELOC vs Other Options 2026
There are multiple ways to access your home equity to buy before you sell. Here is a complete comparison.
Bridge loans are the fastest and most purpose-built option for buying before selling. Compare bridge financing
| Financing Option | Starting Rate | Max Amount | Max LTV | Term | Speed | Key Pros | Key Cons | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge loan | 7.500% | $1,000,000 | 80% | 6-12 months | 7-21 days | Fast, designed for buy-before-sell, interest-only | Higher rate, short term, must sell home to repay | Get bridge loan |
| HELOC | 7.500% | $100,000-$500,000 | 80-85% | 10yr draw + 20yr repay | 2-4 weeks | Low rate, long term, reusable credit line | Slow approval, home as collateral, monthly payments | Get HELOC |
| Home equity loan | 7.500% | $500,000 | 80-85% | 5-30 years | 2-4 weeks | Fixed rate, fixed payment, long term | Slow approval, home as collateral, must qualify with both payments | Get home equity loan |
| Cash-out refinance | 6.000% | $806,500 | 80% | 30 years | 30-45 days | Lowest rate, long term, one mortgage | Slow approval, replaces current mortgage, must qualify with both payments | Get cash-out refinance |
| 401(k) loan | Prime + 1% | $50,000 | N/A | 5 years | 1-2 weeks | No credit check, pay yourself interest | Reduces retirement, due immediately if you leave job, limited amount | Get 401k loan |
| Personal loan | 6.99% | $100,000 | N/A | 1-7 years | Same day - 4 days | Fast, no collateral, any use | Higher rate for large amounts, must qualify with both payments | Get personal loan |
| Contingency offer | 0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No loan needed, sell first then buy | May lose new home to another buyer, timing risk | Get contingency offer |
| Buy with cash (from savings) | 0% | Savings amount | N/A | N/A | Immediate | No interest, no debt, strongest offer | Ties up savings, may not have enough | Buy with cash |
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Pre-Qualify in 60 Seconds →Bridge Loan Costs by Scenario 2026
Bridge loan costs depend on your current home value, equity, and new home purchase price. Here are real-world scenarios.
Use this table to estimate your bridge loan amount, monthly payment, and total cost. Calculate your bridge loan
| Scenario | Current Home Value | Current Mortgage | Equity | Bridge Loan (80% LTV) | New Home Price | Bridge Monthly (interest-only at 8%) | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move-up buyer | $300,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $90,000 | $400,000 | $600/mo | Get bridge loan |
| Move-up buyer (high equity) | $400,000 | $100,000 | $300,000 | $220,000 | $500,000 | $1,467/mo | Get bridge loan |
| Luxury move-up | $800,000 | $300,000 | $500,000 | $340,000 | $1,200,000 | $2,267/mo | Get bridge loan |
| Downsizing | $500,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 | $1,333/mo | Get bridge loan |
| Relocation | $350,000 | $180,000 | $170,000 | $100,000 | $450,000 | $667/mo | Get bridge loan |
| First-time seller buying second | $250,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $100,000 | $350,000 | $667/mo | Get bridge loan |
| High-value home | $1,000,000 | $400,000 | $600,000 | $400,000 | $1,500,000 | $2,667/mo | Get bridge loan |
| Low equity | $300,000 | $250,000 | $50,000 | $0 (insufficient equity) | $400,000 | N/A (use HELOC or personal loan) | Get alternative |
| Investor bridge (flip) | $200,000 | $0 (owned free and clear) | $200,000 | $160,000 | $300,000 (flip) | $1,067/mo | Get investor bridge |
| Multi-property bridge | $500,000 + $300,000 | $200,000 + $150,000 | $450,000 | $360,000 | $700,000 | $2,400/mo | Get multi-property bridge |
How to Get a Bridge Loan: Step-by-Step Guide
Getting a bridge loan requires understanding your equity position and timing the buy/sell transition. Here is a step-by-step guide.
The key: have sufficient equity (20%+), list your current home for sale, and work with a bridge-experienced lender. Get your bridge loan
- Step 1: Determine your home equity — calculate: (current home value × 80%) - current mortgage balance = max bridge loan. Example: $400K × 80% - $150K = $170K bridge loan available
- Step 2: Determine how much you need — new home down payment + closing costs + moving costs. Example: $80K down payment + $15K closing + $5K moving = $100K needed
- Step 3: Check if bridge loan covers your needs — if your available bridge ($170K) exceeds your need ($100K), you qualify. If not, consider HELOC or personal loan for the gap
- Step 4: List your current home for sale — most bridge lenders require your home to be listed on the MLS before approving the bridge loan. Price it competitively for a fast sale
- Step 5: Get pre-qualified with 3+ bridge lenders from our top 10 — compare rate, LTV, term, and speed. Guaranteed Rate (7.500%, 80% LTV, 14-21 days), New American Funding (7.500%, 80% LTV), Brandywine (8.500%, $1M, 7-14 days)
- Step 6: Apply for the bridge loan — submit application with current home appraisal, current mortgage statement, new home purchase contract, and listing agreement for current home
- Step 7: Get approved and close on the bridge loan — bridge loans typically close in 7-21 days. You receive the bridge funds to use for your new home down payment
- Step 8: Close on your new home — use the bridge funds plus your savings for the down payment and closing costs on the new home
- Step 9: Sell your current home — once your current home sells, the proceeds pay off your current mortgage and the bridge loan. Any remaining equity is yours
- Step 10: Repay the bridge loan — the bridge loan is repaid from the sale proceeds of your current home. If the home sells within the 6-12 month bridge term, the loan is fully repaid. If it does not sell, you may need to extend the bridge or convert to a HELOC
Mortgage Calculator
20.0% down
Today's Best Mortgage Rates
Updated November 1, 2026
| Lender | Rate | Action |
|---|---|---|
Veterans United | 5.500% | Check Rate |
Navy Federal CU | 5.500% | Check Rate |
Better.com | 5.625% | Check Rate |
New American Funding | 5.625% | Check Rate |
Rocket Mortgage | 5.750% | Check Rate |
CrossCountry Mortgage | 5.750% | Check Rate |
Rates shown are illustrative. Actual rates vary by credit score, location, and loan details.
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Mortgage Strategist & HELOC Specialist
NMLS #1985623 and CRMP. Former HELOC division manager at PNC Bank ($2B portfolio). 11+ years in home equity lending. Featured on CNBC.
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