How Long Does It Take to Get a Bridge Loan?

Quick Answer

Getting a bridge loan typically takes 2–4 weeks from application to funding, significantly faster than conventional mortgages which average 45–60 days. Some private lenders and hard money lenders can close in as few as 5–10 business days for borrowers with strong equity positions and clean documentation.

Bridge Loan Timeline

Stage	Typical Duration	Details
Application & Prequalification	1–3 days	Submit financials, property details, exit strategy
Appraisal & Property Evaluation	3–7 days	Lender orders appraisal of current and/or target property
Underwriting & Approval	3–7 days	Credit review, LTV calculation, risk assessment
Title Search & Legal Review	3–5 days	Title insurance, lien verification
Closing & Funding	1–3 days	Sign documents, wire funds
Total	10–25 business days

Lender Type Comparison

The type of lender you choose has the greatest impact on how quickly your bridge loan closes.

Lender Type	Typical Close Time	Interest Rate Range	Best For
Banks & Credit Unions	3–4 weeks	7%–10%	Existing customers with strong credit
Private/Hard Money Lenders	5–14 days	9%–14%	Speed-priority deals, investment properties
Online Bridge Lenders	2–3 weeks	8%–12%	Convenience, moderate speed
Mortgage Brokers	2–4 weeks	7%–12%	Shopping multiple lenders

What Speeds Up Approval

Strong Equity Position

Bridge lenders focus primarily on collateral rather than income. Having at least 20%–30% equity in the property being used as collateral significantly accelerates approval. Most bridge loans have a maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 70%–80%.

Clear Exit Strategy

Lenders want to know how you will repay the bridge loan. The two most common exit strategies are selling the current property or refinancing into a permanent mortgage. Having a signed purchase agreement on your current home or a preapproval for long-term financing speeds the process.

Complete Documentation

Gathering documents before applying eliminates delays. Most lenders require:

• Recent mortgage statements for all properties
• Property tax records
• Homeowner's insurance
• Bank statements (2–3 months)
• Tax returns (1–2 years)
• Purchase agreement for the new property

Common Delays

Delay Factor	Added Time	How to Avoid
Appraisal scheduling	3–7 days	Request rush appraisal (extra $150–$300)
Title issues (liens, disputes)	1–3 weeks	Run a preliminary title search early
Incomplete application	3–5 days	Submit all documents with initial application
Property condition issues	1–2 weeks	Disclose known issues upfront

Bridge Loan Costs

Bridge loans carry higher costs than conventional mortgages due to their short-term nature and faster processing.

Cost Component	Typical Range
Interest rate	7%–14% annually
Origination fee	1%–3% of loan amount
Closing costs	$1,500–$5,000
Appraisal fee	$400–$800
Loan term	6–12 months

When a Bridge Loan Makes Sense

Bridge loans are most appropriate when buying a new home before selling the current one, purchasing investment property at auction or in competitive markets, and funding commercial real estate transitions. The speed of funding is the primary advantage, making bridge loans valuable in time-sensitive situations where conventional financing would be too slow.