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Beverly Hills moves fast. When you spot the right property, waiting 60 days for a traditional sale contingency kills the deal.
Bridge loans give you immediate liquidity using your current equity. Most closings happen in 7-14 days, which matters in a market where cash offers dominate.
Bridge Loans in Beverly Hills
Lenders approve based on combined equity—your current home plus the new purchase. Most require 30-35% total equity across both properties.
Credit standards are looser than traditional loans. If you have substantial real estate equity and can prove ability to carry both payments temporarily, you qualify.
Most bridge lenders cap at $3-5 million, which doesn't work in Beverly Hills. You need specialty lenders comfortable with $5-20 million positions.
Expect 8-12% rates with 1-2 points in fees. Term is typically 6-12 months with extension options if your property takes longer to sell.
I see two Beverly Hills scenarios repeatedly. First: clients upgrading from $3M to $6M properties who don't want to rent between homes. Second: divorce situations requiring immediate buyouts.
The mistake is waiting too long to explore bridge options. Line this up before you find the new property, not after you're in escrow scrambling.
Hard money works if you can't qualify for bridge financing or need even faster closing. Rates jump to 10-14% but approval is simpler.
HELOC is cheaper at 8-9% but takes 30-45 days and requires strong credit. Bridge loans split the difference—faster than HELOC, cheaper than hard money.
Beverly Hills properties don't sell overnight like buyers assume. Even well-priced homes can take 90-120 days, which puts pressure on bridge loan timelines.
Lenders account for this. They'll want your existing property priced at or below recent comps before approving the bridge. No fantasyland valuations.
Yes, most lenders don't require an active listing. They do require realistic pricing expectations and may mandate listing within 30 days of funding.
Most bridge lenders offer 6-month extensions at a fee. Plan for this possibility upfront and confirm extension terms before closing.
Absolutely. Many investors use bridge loans to secure new acquisitions before selling existing rentals. Expect slightly higher rates on non-owner occupied deals.
Specialty lenders go to $20 million. Combined loan-to-value across both properties typically caps at 65-70% to protect against market drops.
You can cancel before funding with minimal penalty. After funding, prepayment penalties vary by lender but are often waived after 90 days.