Investor Bridge Loans in Philadelphia, PA

An investor bridge loan in Pennsylvania covers a gap: between buying and selling, between purchase and lease-up, or between a fast closing and long-term financing. The loan is secured by investment property, usually repaid by a sale or a refinance, and priced higher than a DSCR or conventional loan. Before you take one, know which lien position the lender will hold and exactly how you will exit.

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Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about bridge loans for investors for a property in Philadelphia. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.

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Investor buying and refinancing in Philadelphia County

2,233Investor purchase loans in Philadelphia County (2024)

1,116Investor loans with balloon terms in Philadelphia County (2024)

2,086Investor refinances in Philadelphia County (2024)

$243,100Median home value

2024 lending in Philadelphia County included 2,233 investor purchase loans and 2,086 investor refinances. A bridge loan sits between those two events: it gets the property bought or stabilized, and a longer-term loan or a sale pays it off.

Buying the next rental before selling the last one

Selling one rental and buying another rarely happen on the same day. A bridge loan lets you separate the two, so a good purchase does not have to wait on a sale.

The lender looks at the equity in the property being sold, the value of the property being bought and how the bridge will be paid off. A signed sale contract on the property you are selling can strengthen the file.

If you are exchanging one investment property for another for tax reasons, the timing rules can be strict and complicated. Talk to a tax professional or attorney before you combine a bridge loan with an exchange.

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Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 865-8230. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.

From bridge loan to long-term rental financing

A common plan is bridge to DSCR. You use a bridge loan to buy quickly or to buy a property that is not rent-ready, make repairs, place a tenant, and then refinance into a DSCR loan that qualifies on the property's rent.

For that plan to work, the property needs to meet the DSCR lender's standards on condition, lease and rent. Many DSCR lenders also look at how long you have owned the property before they will base a refinance on its present value.

Ask a loan officer in Philadelphia to walk through both loans at the start, so the bridge is set up with the refinance in mind.

Who this tends to fit

Owners with equity in one rental who want to use it toward another
Investors planning a bridge-to-DSCR refinance after lease-up
Buyers closing on vacant or not-yet-rented 1-4 unit property
Investors buying a rental before an existing property sells
Properties that need moderate updates before a long-term lender will lend

Philadelphia offices and Pennsylvania rules for investors

Deed and mortgage recording: City of Philadelphia Department of Records (Recorder of Deeds). Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.

Pennsylvania transfer taxes: Realty Transfer Tax. Applies to real estate transferred by deed, instrument, long-term lease or other writing; grantor and grantee are jointly and severally liable, and county Recorders of Deeds collect it along with any local transfer tax. Your Loan Estimate or closing statement lists what applies to your deal.

Lien position and the exit plan in Philadelphia

Every bridge loan ends in one of two ways: you pay it off as planned or you do not. Planning for the first means having a clear exit, typically a sale or a refinance. Planning for the second means knowing what extensions cost and keeping reserves.

Lien position matters too. A first-lien bridge is the most common structure for investment property. A second-lien bridge sits behind an existing mortgage and may need the first lender's consent.

A loan officer serving Philadelphia can check how the lenders they work with handle lien position, liens on more than one property and payoff at the end of the term.

Before you call

Entity documents if an LLC will be the borrower
Mortgage statements and payoff letters for properties you own
Bank statements showing cash to close and to carry both properties
Leases or a lease-up plan for the property you are buying
A listing agreement or sale contract on the property you are selling

Questions Philadelphia investors ask about bridge loans for investors

Is a bridge loan for investment property a consumer loan?

Usually not. Bridge financing on a rental for a business purpose is generally treated as business-purpose credit, and many investors borrow through an LLC. That category has its own rules and disclosures, separate from home loan rules, and your loan officer can confirm which cover your bridge. Bridge financing on your own residence is a separate, consumer product.

How is a bridge loan different from hard money?

They overlap. Many bridge loans come from the same kinds of lenders that offer hard money. The difference is mostly purpose: a bridge loan focuses on timing, such as buying before selling or holding until a refinance, while hard money often funds heavier renovations. Compare costs, terms and exits rather than the label on the loan.

What is lien position on a bridge loan?

Lien position is the order in which lenders are repaid from a property. A first-lien bridge is paid first if the property is sold or foreclosed. A second-lien bridge comes after an existing mortgage, usually costs more and may need the first lender's permission. Your title report and loan documents show the lien position.

What is an investor bridge loan in Philadelphia?

An investor bridge loan is short-term financing secured by 1-4 unit investment property. It covers a timing gap, such as buying before you sell or holding a property until it qualifies for long-term financing. The loan is repaid by a sale or refinance. Most are business-purpose loans, and they are priced above permanent rental financing.

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Get answers about bridge loans for investors for a property in or around Philadelphia. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.