Best Bridging Loans (2026)

Expert comparison of the top US bridging loan lenders ranked by speed, geographic reach, loan size, and borrower requirements for fix-and-flip, refinance, and acquisition deals.

Written by Harvey Brooks, Senior Financial Editor

TL;DR Quick summary

Manhattan Bridge Capital (NASDAQ: LOAN) is the most institutionally credible US bridging lender — 25+ year track record, NY tri-state coverage, in-house origination and servicing. West Forest Capital covers the broader Northeast plus Florida with 7-10 day closes. Crescent Lenders is the SoCal pure-bridge specialist. For California statewide, Lending Bee covers residential and commercial. Chicago Hard Money & Bridge Loans is the strongest Midwest option.

Key Takeaways

Bridging loans (a.k.a. bridge loans, hard money loans) close in 1-3 weeks at 8-13% interest with 50-75% LTV — useful when bank timelines won't beat your contract clock
Manhattan Bridge Capital is the only NASDAQ-listed US bridging lender, giving it the strongest institutional credibility for NY tri-state deals
Crescent Lenders and West Forest Capital target 7-10 day closes — the fastest in the category
Most bridging loans are asset-based, not credit-driven — your property's LTV and exit plan matter more than your FICO score
Budget 13-15% all-in cost (interest + 1-3 origination points + closing) when modeling the math on a 12-month bridging loan

A bridging loan — also called a bridge loan or hard money loan in the US — is short-term real-estate-secured financing, typically 12 to 36 months, used to close a property purchase or refinance before permanent financing is in place. Real estate investors use them to win contracts on tight timelines, complete renovations, or pull equity out of stabilized property. Rates run 8-13%, loan-to-value caps at 50-75%, and closings happen in 1-3 weeks instead of the 45-60 days a bank takes. We reviewed the leading US bridging loan lenders by track record, speed, geographic reach, and pricing transparency. Here are our top picks for 2026.

Manhattan Bridge Capital

4.4/5

From Free/mo BBB: NR Free Consultation

Manhattan Bridge Capital is a NASDAQ-listed New York hard money lender offering fix-and-flip, bridge, and construction loans to real estate investors.

NASDAQ-traded company providing transparency and regulatory oversight uncommon in hard money lending

Specializes in rapid approval timelines suited to competitive real estate acquisitions

Accepts properties across wide geographic area: all NYC boroughs, Long Island, Westchester, Hudson Valley, plus NJ/CT/Florida

Read Full Review Visit Manhattan Bridge Capital

West Forest Capital - New York, NY | Hard Money Loans, Real Estate Investment Loans & Bridge Loans

4.4/5

From Free/mo BBB: NR Free Consultation

New York-based hard money lender offering bridge loans, rehab financing, and investment property mortgages with rates starting at 10% and funding available within 1-5 days.

Extremely fast funding timeline: Claims 1-5 day funding, same-day approval on phone for pre-qualified deals

Direct access to decision-makers: Eliminates multi-layer approval process and back-and-forth delays

Funds up to 100% of documented rehab costs for fix-and-flip projects

Read Full Review Visit West Forest Capital - New York, NY | Hard Money Loans, Real Estate Investment Loans & Bridge Loans

Crescent Lenders - Bridge Loans Los Angeles

4.4/5

From Free/mo BBB: NR Free Consultation

Crescent Lenders is a direct hard money and bridge lender in Los Angeles offering fast real estate financing up to $5M for commercial, residential, and business properties with 5-7 day funding.

Fast funding in 5-7 days compared to traditional 30-45 day mortgage timelines

Asset-based underwriting focuses on property equity rather than personal credit history or financial track record

Direct lender model eliminates broker intermediaries and their associated fees

Read Full Review Visit Crescent Lenders - Bridge Loans Los Angeles

Lending Bee | Trusted Hard Money Lender California

4.4/5

From Free/mo BBB: NR Free Consultation

California-based hard money lender offering fast real estate financing for investors, fix-and-flip projects, and commercial properties with loan amounts from $150K–$30M and same-day underwriting.

Same-day underwriting decisions enabling rapid loan processing

Competitive rates starting from 8.99% (low end for hard money)

Loan amounts from $150K–$30M accommodate projects of varying scales

Read Full Review Visit Lending Bee | Trusted Hard Money Lender California

Chicago Hard Money and Bridge Loans

4.4/5

From Free/mo BBB: NR Free Consultation

Local Chicago hard money lender specializing in real estate investor loans secured by property, with fast underwriting and in-person property evaluation.

Local lender that meets borrowers and visits properties in person rather than relying solely on appraisals

Lends company's own capital, enabling faster decisions and post-closing loan adjustments without requiring new appraisals

Reduced emphasis on credit scores and traditional financial underwriting, focusing instead on property value

Read Full Review Visit Chicago Hard Money and Bridge Loans

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bridging loan?

A bridging loan is short-term real-estate-secured financing — usually 12 to 36 months — used to bridge the gap between buying a property and arranging permanent finance. In the US these are commonly called bridge loans or hard money loans. They close in 1-3 weeks versus 45-60 days for a bank mortgage, with rates of 8-13% and loan-to-value capped at 50-75%.

How fast can a bridging loan close?

Most US bridging lenders fund in 7 to 21 days once title and appraisal clear. Crescent Lenders and West Forest Capital target 7-10 day closes on clean files. Manhattan Bridge Capital issues commitments inside 48 hours and funds inside two weeks. Banks, by contrast, take 45-60 days.

What credit score do you need for a bridging loan?

Bridging loans are asset-based, not credit-driven — most lenders require 600+ FICO but underwrite primarily on the property's loan-to-value, your equity, and your exit plan (sale or refi). Investors with a 650+ score and demonstrable real estate experience get the best rates.

What's the difference between a bridging loan and a hard money loan?

In the US the terms are interchangeable — both describe short-term real-estate-secured first-mortgage financing for investors. 'Bridging loan' emphasizes the gap-financing use case (acquisition before permanent debt); 'hard money' emphasizes that the loan is asset-secured rather than credit-secured. The product is the same.

How much does a bridging loan cost?

Expect 8-13% interest plus 1-3 origination points. Closing costs run another 1-2%. On a $500K bridging loan at 10% for 12 months with 2 points, total cost is approximately $50K interest + $10K points + closing = roughly 13% all-in. The math works when your exit produces enough margin to absorb the cost.

Harvey Brooks

Senior Financial Editor

Harvey Brooks is a consumer finance writer specializing in credit repair, personal lending, and debt management. With over a decade covering the industry, he makes financial literacy accessible to everyday Americans. About our editorial team.

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