For more than 40 years, Market Capital Lending has helped investors and operators move quickly on time-sensitive deals — part of the $375 million+ we've funded for our clients. We've arranged short-term financing for everyone from local investors near our Loganville, Georgia office to operators working nationwide across 46 states, and we know how much a fast, certain closing can be worth. As a veteran-owned business, we bring the values that shaped us to every file: straight advice, relentless advocacy for your deal, and treatment that always puts you first. Below, here's everything you need to know about bridge loans — and how we can help you get to closing.
What is a bridge loan, in plain terms?
A bridge loan is exactly what the name suggests — it bridges a gap. Maybe you need to close on a new property before an existing one sells. Maybe you're acquiring an asset that isn't ready for conventional financing yet. Maybe the deal is solid but the timeline won't wait for a traditional underwriting process. In each case, a bridge loan keeps you in the game while a longer-term solution is arranged.
Bridge loans are short-term by design — typically 6 months to 3 years — and structured to give borrowers the flexibility to move quickly. The assumption is always that the bridge is temporary, with a clear plan for what comes next: a sale or a refinance into permanent debt.
What can a bridge loan be used for?
Bridge financing is flexible enough to cover a range of situations. It's a strong fit when you're:
- Acquiring a property while permanent financing is being arranged
- Purchasing a value-add asset that isn't yet stabilized, where a bank won't lend until the numbers are proven
- Covering the gap between the purchase of a new property and the sale of an existing one
- Financing a property during renovation or repositioning — often paired with our fix-and-flip loans or hard money loans
- Closing a time-sensitive acquisition where conventional timelines simply won't work
If the plan is a long-term hold, a bridge loan can be the stepping stone into a permanent commercial real estate loan or multifamily financing once the asset stabilizes.
Who bridge financing is for
Bridge loans attract experienced investors and operators who understand the cost of moving fast and are willing to accept a higher short-term rate in exchange for speed and flexibility. Good candidates include:
- Investors under contract with a tight closing deadline
- Buyers acquiring distressed or unstabilized assets
- Operators repositioning a property before refinancing into permanent debt
- Anyone whose deal doesn't fit a conventional timeline or underwriting box
Typical borrowers come to us with credit around 680 or better and a deal of $300,000 or more — but on bridge deals, a strong asset and a clear exit strategy often carry more weight than a picture-perfect borrower profile.
Want the basics first? Our guide bridge loans explained covers how they work, what they cost, and exit strategies.
Why investors choose Market Capital Lending
We built this firm for the borrower who doesn't fit neatly into a big bank's box — the self-employed investor, the operator with write-offs that shrink taxable income, the buyer who was told "no" by the branch down the street. As both a direct lender and a broker with a network of 40–50 lenders, we're not limited to a single bank's rulebook. If one lender passes, we know where else the deal can land.
We're also a veteran-owned small business with 40+ years of combined experience and over $375 million funded — the kind of track record that matters when a closing date is bearing down on you. You work directly with people who understand commercial deals and move quickly. (Rates, approval, and terms vary by credit, collateral, loan amount, and underwriting.)
How the process works
Bridge loan underwriting moves faster than conventional financing because it's focused primarily on the asset and the exit strategy. Lenders want to understand the current property value, the plan during the bridge period, and how the loan will be repaid — through a sale or a refinance. We identify the right bridge lenders for your deal and manage the process to get you to closing as efficiently as possible. When you're ready, start your application — or talk to our team about your timeline.
Bridge loans in your market
While we fund deals in 46 states, most of our business comes from Georgia, Alabama, and Florida — and especially the communities within about an hour of our Loganville office. Learn more about how we work across Georgia, or see where we lend if your deal is farther afield.
Bridge Financing for Property Under Contract or Needing Renovation
A commercial bridge loan can help when a property is under contract, the closing date is too fast for a bank, occupancy must be improved, renovation is required, or permanent financing is not yet available. Approval depends on property value, borrower strength, project plan, and a realistic exit through sale or refinance. A 30-day close may be possible for a complete, straightforward file, but should never be guaranteed.
Related: bridge loan versus hard money loan, fast commercial financing, hard money loans, and commercial construction loans.
Flexible payment structures
On bridge loans you're not locked into one payment structure — you can choose deferred or monthly payments, and finance your origination points and fees into the loan so you keep more cash at closing for the deal itself. These options are available on purchase, refinance, rate-and-term, and cash-out transactions.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can a bridge loan close?
Bridge loans are built for speed — underwriting focuses on the asset and the exit strategy rather than a lengthy conventional review, so they typically close faster than a bank loan. The exact timeline depends on the property, the lender, and how quickly documentation comes together. Tell us about your deadline and we'll tell you what's realistic.
How long is a bridge loan term?
Bridge loans are short-term by design — usually 6 months to 3 years. They're meant to be temporary financing while you arrange a sale or refinance into permanent debt, not a long-term hold.
Can I get a bridge loan if a bank already turned me down?
Often, yes. A bank turndown usually reflects that one bank's criteria — or its timeline — not that your deal is unfundable. Because we work with 40–50 lenders and lend directly, we can take a file a traditional bank passed on and find a lender whose guidelines fit it.
What credit score do I need for a bridge loan?
Most of our borrowers have credit around 680 or higher, but on bridge deals a strong asset and a clear exit strategy often matter more than the score. The best way to know is to let us review your specific situation.
How large of a bridge loan can you arrange?
Our sweet spot starts around $300,000, and through our lender network we arrange financing well into the millions. For very large commercial requests, we also have partners that handle deals from the millions up to $100 million and beyond.
Do you only serve Georgia?
No — we arrange bridge financing in 46 states. Most of our clients are in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, with a concentration in the metro-Atlanta and Loganville-area markets, but we're happy to help wherever your deal is.