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MORTGAGE22 min read2026-08-15
MR
Marcus Reid

Mortgage Strategist & HELOC Specialist · NMLS #1985623, CRMP

Bridge Loan Mortgage Guide 2026: Top 10 Lenders Compared (Buy Before You Sell)

Rates Updated: June 27, 2026
A bridge loan is a short-term loan that lets you buy a new home before selling your current one. It bridges the financial gap between buying and selling, giving you the cash for a down payment without waiting for your home to sell. In 2026, bridge loans typically range from $50,000 to $500,000 with rates of 7.500-12% APR and terms of 6-12 months. You borrow against the equity in your current home, use the funds to buy your new home, and repay the bridge loan when your current home sells. There are two types: a true bridge loan (interest-only, short-term, repaid when home sells) and a bridge-to-loan program (combines bridge financing with your new mortgage in one application). We compared the top 10 bridge loan lenders and ranked them based on starting rate, max loan amount, LTV, speed, and bridge experience. Whether you need $50K to cover a down payment or $500K to buy before you sell, this guide covers every option available for bridge financing in 2026. [cta:Compare today's best bridge loan rates|mortgage]

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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

RankLenderStarting RateMax Loan AmountMax LTV (Current Home)TermSpeed to CloseGet Started
1Guaranteed Rate7.500%$500,00080%6-12 months14-21 daysGet bridge loan
2New American Funding7.500%$500,00080%6-12 months14-21 daysGet bridge loan
3CrossCountry Mortgage7.750%$500,00080%6-12 months14-21 daysGet bridge loan
4loanDepot8.000%$400,00075%6-12 months21-30 daysGet bridge loan
5Wells Fargo7.750%$500,00080%6-12 months21-30 daysGet bridge loan
6Bank of America7.750%$500,00080%6-12 months21-30 daysGet bridge loan
7U.S. Bank8.000%$400,00075%6-12 months21-30 daysGet bridge loan
8Rocket Mortgage8.000%$400,00075%6-12 months14-21 daysGet bridge loan
9Brandywine Bridge Funding8.500%$1,000,00075%6-24 months7-14 daysGet bridge loan
10Acra Lending9.000%$500,00070%6-12 months7-14 daysGet bridge loan

Best Lenders for Bridge Loan Mortgage Guide

1
Rocket MortgageBEST RATE

Best online experience

5.750%

Min credit: 620

2
Better.com

No lender fees

5.625%

Min credit: 620

3
Veterans United

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

CategoryBest LenderWhy They WinKey AdvantageGet Started
Best for lowest rateGuaranteed Rate / New American Funding7.500% starting rateLowest bridge rateGet low rate bridge
Best for highest LTV (80%)Guaranteed Rate / New American / CrossCountry / Wells Fargo / BofA80% LTV on current homeMaximum equity accessGet 80% LTV bridge
Best for fast closing (7-14 days)Brandywine / Acra Lending7-14 day closingFastest bridgeGet fast bridge
Best for large loans ($500K-$1M)Brandywine Bridge Funding$1M max loan amountLargest bridge loansGet large bridge
Best for bridge-to-loan (combined)Guaranteed Rate / New American / CrossCountryCombined bridge + new mortgageOne applicationGet bridge-to-loan
Best for interest-only bridgeAll lendersInterest-only payments during bridge termLow monthly paymentsGet interest-only bridge
Best for experienced investorsBrandywine / AcraExperienced with investor bridge loansInvestor friendlyGet investor bridge
Best for conventional bridgeWells Fargo / BofA / U.S. BankBank bridge loan programsBank stabilityGet bank bridge
Best for digital experienceRocket Mortgage / Guaranteed RateOnline application, digital closingBest digital UXGet digital bridge
Best for Non-QM bridgeAcra LendingNon-QM bridge, flexible qualificationNon-QM specialistGet 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 OptionStarting RateMax AmountMax LTVTermSpeedKey ProsKey ConsGet Started
Bridge loan7.500%$1,000,00080%6-12 months7-21 daysFast, designed for buy-before-sell, interest-onlyHigher rate, short term, must sell home to repayGet bridge loan
HELOC7.500%$100,000-$500,00080-85%10yr draw + 20yr repay2-4 weeksLow rate, long term, reusable credit lineSlow approval, home as collateral, monthly paymentsGet HELOC
Home equity loan7.500%$500,00080-85%5-30 years2-4 weeksFixed rate, fixed payment, long termSlow approval, home as collateral, must qualify with both paymentsGet home equity loan
Cash-out refinance6.000%$806,50080%30 years30-45 daysLowest rate, long term, one mortgageSlow approval, replaces current mortgage, must qualify with both paymentsGet cash-out refinance
401(k) loanPrime + 1%$50,000N/A5 years1-2 weeksNo credit check, pay yourself interestReduces retirement, due immediately if you leave job, limited amountGet 401k loan
Personal loan6.99%$100,000N/A1-7 yearsSame day - 4 daysFast, no collateral, any useHigher rate for large amounts, must qualify with both paymentsGet personal loan
Contingency offer0%N/AN/AN/AN/ANo loan needed, sell first then buyMay lose new home to another buyer, timing riskGet contingency offer
Buy with cash (from savings)0%Savings amountN/AN/AImmediateNo interest, no debt, strongest offerTies up savings, may not have enoughBuy with cash

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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

ScenarioCurrent Home ValueCurrent MortgageEquityBridge Loan (80% LTV)New Home PriceBridge Monthly (interest-only at 8%)Get Started
Move-up buyer$300,000$150,000$150,000$90,000$400,000$600/moGet bridge loan
Move-up buyer (high equity)$400,000$100,000$300,000$220,000$500,000$1,467/moGet bridge loan
Luxury move-up$800,000$300,000$500,000$340,000$1,200,000$2,267/moGet bridge loan
Downsizing$500,000$200,000$300,000$200,000$300,000$1,333/moGet bridge loan
Relocation$350,000$180,000$170,000$100,000$450,000$667/moGet bridge loan
First-time seller buying second$250,000$100,000$150,000$100,000$350,000$667/moGet bridge loan
High-value home$1,000,000$400,000$600,000$400,000$1,500,000$2,667/moGet bridge loan
Low equity$300,000$250,000$50,000$0 (insufficient equity)$400,000N/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/moGet investor bridge
Multi-property bridge$500,000 + $300,000$200,000 + $150,000$450,000$360,000$700,000$2,400/moGet 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

Loan Amount$320,000
Monthly Payment$1,867
Total Interest$352,276
Total Paid$672,276
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Today's Best Mortgage Rates

Updated November 1, 2026

LenderRateAction
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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Frequently Asked Questions

MR
Marcus Reid NMLS #1985623, CRMP

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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