The commercial bridge loan act as interim financing and is used to quickly close on a commercial real estate property. These types of loans are also used to take advantage of an opportunity that is only available for the short-term or to save real estate from foreclosure. Bridge loans tend to be more expensive than the usual commercial financing options. This is because commercial loans are riskier than conventional loans.
The term, “commercial bridge loan” generally applies to the use of the funds instead of the source of the funding or the guidelines that are imposed during the transaction. In a sense, all commercial loans can be bridge loans. However, normally, the term is associated with programs that fall into the unconventional realm of financing. A good example is when a borrower lacks enough cash equity in a business property; he or she could seek a commercial loan with a 14 percent interest rate and from 3 to 5 points. However, if he or she could make as much as a 30 percent down payment, the borrower might qualify for a conventional mini-perm loan from a bank at up to 3 percent over prime and one point.
Interest rates for commercial bridge loans typically run from 12-15 percent. With terms of 12 months, from two to four points may be levied. The LTV (loan to value) ratios tend not to be greater than 65 percent for properties that have been classified as commercial. » Read more: What Is a Commercial Bridge Loan and How To Get One