Commercial Bridge Loans in Tampa

How To Close Commercial Bridge Loans in Tampa within 10 Days (While Banks Take 90)

I borrowed my first dollar of hard money in 2013. Back then, I was flipping homes and desperately needed capital to scale. Traditional banks? They wanted to see two years of tax returns, perfect credit, and enough paperwork to fill a filing cabinet. By the time they’d make a decision, the deal was gone.

Fast forward to today, and I’m on the other side of the table. After flipping properties, wholesaling, and building rental portfolios for over a decade, I now run SEP Capital – providing the same type of fast, flexible financing that helped me build my real estate business.

If you’re trying to compete in Tampa’s hot real estate market, you already know speed kills deals. The best opportunities – that distressed office building in Westshore, that value-add multifamily in Channelside – they don’t wait for your bank’s 45-day underwriting process.

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What Are Commercial Bridge Loans? (And Why Tampa Investors Need Them)

Let me break this down simply. A commercial bridge loan is short-term financing that gets you from point A (finding a deal) to point B (permanent financing or sale). Think 6 months to 3 years, not 30 years like your typical bank mortgage.

Here’s what makes them different: I don’t care about your credit score. I don’t need to see your W-2s. What I care about is the asset – the property itself.

When I was actively flipping, I borrowed hard money because it let me do multiple deals simultaneously. The math was simple. If I used my own cash for a $100,000 property plus $20,000 in rehab, I’d have $120,000 tied up for months. But with leverage? I’d put down $20,000, borrow the rest, and even after paying financing costs, I’d make a 250% cash-on-cash return instead of 50%.

More importantly, I could do six deals a year instead of three. Would I make less per deal? Sure. But $20,000 profit times six deals beats $30,000 profit times three deals every time.

Current Commercial Bridge Loan Rates in Tampa (Q1 2025)

Let’s talk real numbers. In Tampa right now, you’re looking at rates between 7% and 14% for commercial bridge loans. Yes, that’s higher than conventional financing. But here’s what most investors miss – it’s not about the rate, it’s about the OPPORTUNITY.

At SEP Capital, I structure deals based on risk. Got a solid multifamily project with some existing income? You might see rates around 8-9%. Completely vacant office building that needs major work? Expect to pay 11-14%.

The institutional guys – your debt funds and specialized bank divisions – they’re offering rates in that 5.75% to 11% range for strong multifamily deals. But they want to see your track record, your liquidity, your financial statements. For many investors, especially those just scaling up, that’s a non-starter.

Top Commercial Bridge Loan Lenders Serving Tampa

After being in this business for over a decade, I know most of the players. Here’s who’s actually writing checks in Tampa:

Direct Private Lenders (Like Us): We fund deals from our own capital or investor funds. At SEP Capital, I focus on making deals happen when others won’t. No credit checks, no income verification – just strong collateral. Other direct lenders in town include BridgeWell Capital for smaller deals ($150K-$2M) and DDA Mortgage.

Institutional Lenders: These are your bigger players. NewPoint Real Estate Capital just funded a $50 million bridge loan for a multifamily complex in Hillsborough County. iBorrow is another major player – they recently funded $5.55 million for an industrial building acquisition.

Brokers: Sometimes you need someone to shop your deal around. Apartment Loan Store has been in Tampa since 1997. They know everyone and can often find creative solutions.

The key is matching your deal to the right lender. Don’t waste time sending a $500K retail strip center to NewPoint – they want $10M+ deals. And don’t expect BridgeWell to fund your $50M portfolio acquisition.

Ready to see if your deal qualifies? APPLY NOW for a NO COST, NO OBLIGATION loan quote and I’ll personally review your project.

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The Commercial Bridge Loan Process in Tampa (Timeline Breakdown)

Here’s exactly how fast this can move. Recently, I had a client who found a distressed property at auction. From application to funding? 12 days. Here’s the breakdown:

Days 1-2: Initial Review
You send me your deal. Not a novel – just the basics. Purchase price, repair budget, exit strategy. If it makes sense, I’ll issue a Letter of Intent within 24 hours. Some lenders take a week just for this step.

Days 3-8: Due Diligence
This is where most deals slow down. We need an appraisal, maybe an environmental report, title work. But here’s the difference – while banks have committees and multiple rounds of review, I’m making decisions in real-time.

Days 9-12: Documentation and Funding
Legal docs get drafted, we coordinate with title, and boom – you’ve got your money.

Compare that to a bank. They’ll want 3 years of tax returns, personal financial statements, business plans, and then send it through multiple committees. By week 6, they might tell you they need more documentation.

Qualifying for Commercial Bridge Loans in Tampa

Forget everything you know about qualifying for a bank loan. I’m not running your credit (though some institutional lenders will). I’m not calculating your debt-to-income ratio. I’m looking at one thing: does this deal make sense?

Here’s my underwriting in a nutshell:

The Asset: What’s it worth today? What will it be worth after your business plan? I’ll typically lend up to 70-75% of purchase price, sometimes up to 80% for strong multifamily deals.

Your Skin in the Game: You need cash in the deal. Usually 20-25% down. This isn’t because I don’t trust you – it’s because when you have real money at risk, you’ll move heaven and earth to make the project successful.

The Exit Strategy: This is CRITICAL. How are you paying me back? Refinancing into permanent debt? Selling? I need to see the path clearly.

What I don’t need? Perfect credit. Two years of tax returns. A spotless financial history. If you have a good deal and a solid plan, let’s talk.

Exit Strategies That Tampa Lenders Actually Accept

Listen carefully because this is where most investors screw up. A bridge loan without an exit strategy is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute. You need to know how you’re landing.

The two main exits I see:

1. Refinance to Permanent Debt
This is the most common. You buy a value-add property, stabilize it (get occupancy to 90%+), then refinance with a traditional lender. In Tampa, you’ve got options – Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, local banks, CMBS lenders. But here’s the trick: know their requirements BEFORE you start.

Call a permanent lender now. Ask them: “For this type of property, what NOI do I need? What DSCR?” Then reverse-engineer your business plan to hit those numbers.

2. Sale
The commercial fix-and-flip. Buy distressed, renovate, sell. In this market, with office vacancy at 16% in some Tampa submarkets, there’s opportunity. But you better have realistic ARV (after repair value) projections.

What doesn’t work? “I’ll figure it out later.” That’s not a strategy, that’s hope. And hope doesn’t pay back loans.

Commercial Bridge Loan Costs Beyond Interest

Let’s talk about the REAL cost of bridge money. Yes, the interest rate matters, but that’s not the whole story.

Origination Fees: Expect 1-4% of the loan amount. On a $2 million loan, that’s $20,000 to $80,000 upfront. Some lenders are negotiable here – lower fee might mean higher rate.

Third-Party Costs:
– Appraisal: $2,500-$10,000+ depending on property complexity
– Environmental (Phase I): $2,000-$4,000
– Legal: $2,500-$5,000+ (you’re paying for the lender’s attorney too)
– Title and closing: Varies by deal size

The Hidden Cost – Opportunity: Every day you wait for traditional financing is a day you’re not making money on the deal. I’ve seen investors lose $100,000 deals while waiting for a bank to save $20,000 in interest.

Want a detailed breakdown of costs for your specific deal? APPLY NOW for a NO COST, NO OBLIGATION loan quote and I’ll show you exactly what your all-in costs would be.

Tampa Market-Specific Considerations

I’ve been investing in Tampa since 2013, and this market has some unique characteristics every bridge loan borrower needs to understand.

Hurricane Insurance is Non-Negotiable
This isn’t optional – it’s mandatory. And it’s expensive. Your standard policy won’t cover flood damage from storm surge. You need separate flood insurance, and the deductibles aren’t flat amounts – they’re 2-5% of the property value. On a $5 million property, that’s a $250,000 deductible.

This directly impacts your NOI and therefore your exit strategy. Make sure you’re budgeting for this from day one.

Market Divergence Creates Opportunity
Tampa’s not one market – it’s several. Westshore office is performing well with rents over $36/sf. Northeast Tampa office? 16% vacancy. This divergence is where bridge loans shine. Buy that Class B office building in a struggling submarket, reposition it, and capture the value spread.

The Industrial Gold Rush
Industrial properties are seeing 11% annual rent growth with 0.9% vacancy. If you can find an industrial deal, move fast. I’m seeing more competition for these than any other asset class.

Common Mistakes That Kill Commercial Bridge Loan Deals

I’ve seen hundreds of deals, and the same mistakes keep killing them:

1. No Clear Exit Strategy
“I’ll refinance when I’m done” isn’t a strategy. Which lender? At what terms? What NOI do they need to see? If you can’t answer these questions, you’re not ready.

2. Underestimating Renovation Costs
That $50,000 rehab budget? In this market, with contractors booked solid from storm work, it’s probably $70,000. I see this constantly. Be realistic or be broke.

3. Taking Too Much Leverage
Just because I’ll lend 75% doesn’t mean you should take it. More leverage = less room for error. Sometimes putting down 30% or 35% gets you better terms and more breathing room.

4. Choosing the Wrong Lender
Not all bridge lenders are equal. Some will string you along for weeks then change terms at closing. Do your homework. Check references. A slightly higher rate from a reliable lender beats a bait-and-switch every time.

5. Sloppy Documentation
You want fast funding? Give me clean, organized docs. Rent rolls, operating statements, clear photos, renovation budgets. The investors who close in 10 days aren’t lucky – they’re prepared.

The Bottom Line: Speed Wins Deals

After more than a decade in Tampa real estate – first as a borrower, now as a lender – I can tell you this: the best deals don’t wait. That distressed multifamily property, that value-add office building, that industrial site perfect for repositioning – they’re gone while you’re waiting for bank approval.

Bridge loans aren’t just about financing. They’re about OPPORTUNITY. They’re about moving fast enough to capture value that others miss. They’re about having the flexibility to execute your vision without being constrained by rigid bank requirements.

Yes, you’ll pay more than bank rates. But what’s the cost of missing the deal entirely?

I built my real estate business using bridge loans and hard money. Now I help other investors do the same. If you’ve got a deal that makes sense – whether it’s a fix and flip, a value-add multifamily, or a complex commercial transaction – let’s talk.

Don’t let another opportunity slip away while waiting for traditional financing. APPLY NOW for a NO COST, NO OBLIGATION loan quote. I’ll review your deal personally and let you know exactly what we can do.

Remember: in real estate, timing isn’t everything – it’s the ONLY thing.