Bridge Loans in Florida: How to Buy Your Next Home Before You Sell Your Current One
Buy now. Sell later. Move forward with confidence.
Every move-up buyer eventually asks me the same anxious question: “What if I find the house before mine sells?” With more inventory sitting on the market here in Central Florida than a few years ago, that scenario is more common than you’d think — and a bridge loan is exactly the tool built for it.
A bridge loan is a short-term loan, typically 6-12 months, that lets you use the equity in your current home to fund the down payment and closing costs on a new home before your current one sells. Once your existing home sells, the proceeds pay off the bridge loan. In 2026, bridge loan rates typically run 8.5%-12% (often quoted as Prime + 2-4%), with 1-3% origination fees, and are usually available up to about 80% loan-to-value on your current home’s equity.
Found your next home before your current one sold?
Let’s see if a bridge loan makes sense for your specific numbers.
Check My Bridge Loan OptionsHow a Bridge Loan Actually Works
- You find your next home and make an offer — often a stronger, non-contingent offer since you’re not waiting on your current home to sell first.
- We provide a bridge loan secured by the equity in your current home, funding your down payment and closing costs.
- You buy your new home and move in while your current home is listed and shown.
- Your current home sells and the proceeds go toward paying off the bridge loan.
- You’re debt-free of the bridge loan and move forward with just your new, single mortgage.
What a Bridge Loan Typically Costs in 2026
| Cost Item | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Interest rate | 8.5%-12% (often Prime + 2-4%) |
| Origination fee | 1-3% of the bridge loan amount |
| Term | 6-12 months (interest-only payments common) |
| Max loan-to-value | Up to ~80% of current home’s equity |
| Example total cost | A $200,000 bridge loan for 6 months runs roughly $13,000-$17,000 all-in (interest + fees) |
Advantages and Disadvantages
Bridge Loan Alternatives Worth Comparing First
- HELOC or home equity loan on your current home — often meaningfully cheaper than a bridge loan if you have time to set it up before you need the funds.
- Contingent offer — making your purchase contingent on your current home selling, which avoids financing costs entirely but is a weaker negotiating position in a competitive market.
- Sale-leaseback arrangement — selling your current home first but negotiating to stay in it temporarily while you close on the new one.
A bridge loan tends to make the most sense when you have significant equity, a realistic and well-priced listing strategy for your current home, and a competitive market where a non-contingent offer meaningfully improves your chances of winning the new home.
🌉 Bridge Loan Buying Power & Cost Estimator
Estimate your available bridge loan amount and total cost. This is a planning tool, not a loan quote.
Don’t let your current home’s timeline cost you the next one.
Let’s see if a bridge loan — or a cheaper alternative — fits your situation.
Start My Bridge Loan ConversationFAQ: Bridge Loans in Florida
Do I need to sell my current home before I can get a bridge loan?
No — that’s the entire point of a bridge loan. It lets you access your current home’s equity to buy your next home before your current one sells.
How much can I borrow with a bridge loan?
Bridge loans are typically available up to about 80% of your current home’s value, minus what you still owe on it — that available equity funds your down payment and closing costs on the new home.
Will I have two mortgage payments at once?
Yes, temporarily. You’ll carry your new mortgage plus the bridge loan (often interest-only) until your current home sells and the proceeds pay off the bridge loan.
What happens if my current home doesn’t sell in time?
You’re still responsible for the full bridge loan balance, and your current home is the collateral. This is why a realistic, well-supported pricing and listing strategy matters so much before taking out a bridge loan.
Is a bridge loan cheaper than a HELOC?
Generally, no — a HELOC or home equity loan on your current home is usually a lower-cost alternative if you have enough time to set one up before you need the funds.
Does a bridge loan help me make a stronger offer?
Yes. Since a bridge loan removes the need for your offer to be contingent on selling your current home first, it can make your offer more competitive, particularly with more inventory sitting on the market.