Fast, Flexible Bridge Loans for Commercial Real Estate

Close quickly, access short-term capital, and keep your deals moving.

What Is a Bridge Loan?

A bridge loan is short-term financing that helps borrowers “bridge the gap” between immediate capital needs and permanent financing. Instead of waiting months for a bank loan, investors and developers use bridge loans to close quickly, stabilize properties, or take advantage of time-sensitive opportunities.

Bridge loans are typically interest-only, backed by the property itself, and last between 6 to 36 months. They’re not designed to be permanent solutions, but rather fast, flexible funding tools that buy time for the next step — whether that’s refinancing, selling, or repositioning the property.

At Nelson Funding, we specialize in structuring bridge loans for commercial real estate across the U.S. — from multifamily apartments to office, retail, industrial, land, and mixed-use projects.

Key Benefits of Bridge Loans

Speed — close in as little as 7–14 days
Flexibility — interest-only, short-term structures
Broad Property Eligibility — multifamily, office, retail, industrial, hospitality, land
Loan Sizes — $1M to $50M+
Creative Structures — tailored to unique deals and exit strategies

When to Use a Bridge Loan

Bridge loans are built for situations where timing and creativity matter more than rigid bank rules. Common use cases include:

Buying a Property Before Permanent Financing Is Ready Acquire now, refinance later. Perfect for competitive acquisitions where waiting would cost you the deal.
Refinancing Out of an Existing Loan Quickly
Pay off a maturing loan or balloon payment without missing deadlines.
Stabilizing or Renovating Properties
Finance improvements or lease-ups until the property qualifies for permanent financing.
Seizing Time-Sensitive Opportunities
In hot markets, speed is everything. Bridge loans allow investors to act first and figure out long-term financing later.

Bridge Loan Variations

Nelson Funding structures a wide range of bridge loans to match different borrower needs and property types. Each variation serves a unique audience and purpose:

[Commercial Bridge Loans →] — for acquisitions, refinances, and repositioning of all commercial property types.
[Private Money Bridge Loans →] — when you need direct private lenders who move faster than banks.
[Hard Money Bridge Loans →] — asset-based lending solutions for tougher, high-risk deals.
[Multifamily Bridge Loans →] — tailored financing for apartment and multifamily property investors.

We also arrange bridge loans for industrial, retail, and other real estate assets through our nationwide lending network.

How Bridge Loans Compare to Other Financing

vs. Bank Loans

Banks require lengthy underwriting and stable financials.

Bridge loans prioritize speed, property value, and exit strategy.

vs. Permanent Financing

Permanent loans are long-term solutions.

Bridge loans act as short-term capital until stabilization or refinancing.

vs. Hard Money / Private Money

Hard money = asset-based, often higher cost, very fast.

Private money = relationship-driven, flexible, lender-specific.

Bridge loans can incorporate either structure, depending on the deal.

Example Scenario

Investor Profile

Developer in Denver, CO

Project

Acquisition of a 90,000 SF office building for conversion to mixed-use residential

Challenge

Seller required a 20-day close. Occupancy was below 50%, disqualifying it from permanent financing.

Solution

Nelson Funding secured a $9M bridge loan with a 24-month term, interest-only payments, and renovation reserves. This allowed the developer to close on time, reposition the building, and refinance into long-term permanent financing after stabilization.

This is the power of bridge financing — it makes deals possible when timing and flexibility are critical.

Why Work With Nelson Funding?

When banks stall, Nelson Funding delivers. Clients choose us for bridge financing because:

Speed — 7–14 day closings available
Flexibility — private lenders, institutional partners, and alternative capital sources
Expertise — we know how to structure deals others can’t
Transparency — clear expectations, no surprises
Track Record — $100M+ in closed transactions across multifamily, office, retail, industrial, and land

“Where banks say no, we figure out how to get the deal funded.”

FAQs Bridge Loans

How fast can I close with a bridge loan?

Nelson Funding has closed bridge loans in as little as 7 days. Typical timelines are 7–21 days.

What property types qualify?

Multifamily, office, retail, industrial, hospitality, mixed-use, and land are all eligible.

Do I need excellent credit?

No. Bridge loans are primarily asset-based, with emphasis on property value and exit strategy.

What are typical terms?

Loan terms range from 6–36 months, usually interest-only.

What’s the exit strategy?

Most borrowers refinance into permanent financing, sell the property, or reposition before paying off the bridge loan.

Ready to Move Forward With Bridge Financing?

Don’t let timing or bank restrictions stop your project. Nelson Funding connects borrowers with fast, flexible bridge financing designed to close deals quickly and set you up for long-term success.