Photo: Milana Real Estate Group

Owner-Occupied Bridge Loans in California.

A bridge loan collateralized against the home you live in and the one you are buying, so you can purchase the next one before this one sells.

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In one line

A bridge loan secured by the home you live in and the home you are buying, so you can close on the new one before selling the one you are in.

Most private lenders cannot write owner-occupied loans at all, because they are held to consumer protection rules. That gap is the center of what we do.

Buy before you sell, without compromise

Owner-occupied lending is held to consumer protection rules that investment-property lending is not. That extra compliance is why most private lenders will not touch it, and it is exactly the gap we were built for.

Practically, it means you can use the equity in the home you live in without selling it first, without a sale contingency weakening your offer, and without moving into a rental in between.

Entry, Peninsula
Photo: Milana Real Estate Group

Who we serve in California

  • Moving up, rightsizing or downsizing, or relocating within California
  • Significant equity tied up in the current home
  • Want to buy before selling without weakening the offer
  • Value privacy, clarity, and a single smooth move
  • Buying in competitive or luxury markets

How our owner-occupied bridge loans work

  • Secured by the home you live in and the home you are buying
  • Interest-only payments
  • No prepayment penalty
  • Short term, repaid when the existing home sells
  • Typically 65 to 70 percent measured across both properties, less existing liens

Rates and limits depend on the property and the file. Nothing here is a commitment to lend.

Why choose a bridge loan in California

There is a great deal of cash in this market and strong buyers will not come forward with contingencies. You have to be able to compete with that. Sometimes it is simpler still: you find your dream home before you are ready to sell, and you have to move fast.

It also removes the second move. You go straight from the house you own into the one you bought, and your agent gets a vacant home to prepare, stage and sell properly.

Living room with fireplace, Peninsula
Photo: Milana Real Estate Group

Typical scenarios we see in California

Lost an offer to a contingencyYour offer was strong but conditional on selling. This removes the condition.
Found the house earlyThe right home appeared before you were ready to list. Buy it now, list on your own schedule.
Rightsizing without moving twiceDecades of equity locked in the house, and a home that no longer fits. Use the one to buy the other, and move once.

People who bought first

★★★★★ “My clients have had seamless transactions with Golden Gate Lending Group. They offer a great solution when you want to purchase before selling your home. This allows my clients to show their home in its best light and have a better opportunity to get top dollar.”Megan Pomponio · Google review

Questions we get on this

Can you really lend against my primary residence?

Yes. It is a consumer loan and held to those rules, which is why it takes a licensed lender rather than a general private lender.

How much can I borrow?

Typically 65 to 70 percent measured across both properties, less what you owe. The qualifier gives you a range in about ninety seconds.

What does it cost to find out?

Nothing. Use the qualifier or call, and you get a real answer either way, with the reason behind it.

What if I still have a mortgage on the home I own?

That is the normal case. We measure across both properties and subtract what you still owe, so an existing mortgage reduces the figure rather than ruling you out.

How long is the term?

Twelve months, interest only, repaid when your existing home sells. Most run sixty to ninety days.

Keep reading

How to buy before you sell: a complete roadmapCan I buy a new home before selling my current one?Rightsizing in retirement: a financial planning guide

Property photography: The House

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