Commercial Real Estate Bridge Loans · $300K–$10M+
We go where
banks don't.
Commercial real estate bridge loans and bridge financing for investors, developers, family offices and funds. Bank turndowns, low occupancy, tight timelines, complex structures: these are the deals we're built for.
$1B+
Transactions Closed
$300K
Minimum Loan Size
$10M+
Loan Size (Larger Case-by-Case)
25+
Years Direct Lending
Loan Parameters
The numbers, plainly stated.
No bait-and-switch pricing. No loan amount too complex. Here's what we lend on.
Loan Size
$300K–$10M+
Per transaction
Loan-to-Value
Up to 65%
As-is value; exceptions possible based on underwriting
Term
6 mo.–5 yr+
Fixed and interest-only options
Rates
From 8.99%
Based on LTV, asset type, term
Discount Points
1.5% +
Based on complexity and timeline
Close Time
3–10 days
Typical, following receipt of all requested documentation
Occupancy
0–100%
Stabilized and distressed accepted
Geography
Nationwide
Metro areas nationwide, selectively
Bridge Loan Case Studies
Bridge loans, recently closed.
A maturing construction loan, a defaulted purchase loan, four maturing rental loans and a bank turndown. Each card opens the full case study.
$2,500,000
Bridge · Construction Takeout
New Ocean View Residence
Carlsbad, CA
A completed coastal home was refinanced out of a maturing $2.1 million construction loan at 47% loan-to-value, with $300,000 of business-purpose cash out. A 12-month interest-only term let the owner market the home on his own schedule.
↳ Maturing construction loan · Vacant collateral · No income documentation
Read the case study →
$2,340,000
Bridge · Matured Loan
Renovated 9,608 SF Residence
Norwalk, CT
A defaulted $1.67 million purchase loan was coming due while the home sat on the market. Helvetica advanced a first-mortgage bridge with an 18-month interest-only term and an interest reserve at 55% reported loan-to-value.
↳ Defaulted loan · Credit challenged · Bridge to sale
Read the case study →
$2,000,000
Bridge · Multifamily
Four-Property Rental Portfolio, 29 Units
Tampa, FL
Four rental loans matured while the owner was mid-refinance. Helvetica funded a 12-month interest-only bridge secured by first mortgages on 29 units across four properties, at 45.3% of their $4,417,000 combined value.
↳ Four maturing loans · Cross-collateralized · Bridge to takeout
Read the case study →
$1,450,000
Bridge · Low Occupancy
Multi-Tenant Light Industrial
Tucson, AZ
A 10-year bank loan came due four months after a tenant leasing 51% of the building moved out. Helvetica funded a 12-month bridge at 60.42% loan-to-value so the owner could re-lease and return to a bank for permanent financing.
↳ Bank turndown · Tenant vacancy · Lease-up bridge
Read the case study →
When to Call Helvetica
The scenarios banks walk away from.
We underwrite to collateral and exit strategy — not bank credit matrices. These are our most common deal types.
Bank Turndowns
Conventional lender said no. That's a starting point, not an ending point. We look at the asset and exit, not the decline letter.
Time-Critical Closings
Seller deadline approaching. Conventional lender needs 60 days. We typically close 3–10 days following receipt of all requested documentation. Speed is a service we actually deliver.
Unstabilized & Value-Add
Low occupancy, deferred maintenance, repositioning plays — bridge capital is the tool. We underwrite to the stabilized story.
1031 Exchange Bridge
Identification period running out and permanent financing not ready. Our bridge loan buys you time to close the exchange cleanly.
Foreclosure Bailouts
Notice of default filed, cure deadline approaching. We move before the trustee sale. Asset-based underwriting means we can act fast.
Partner & Estate Buyouts
Equity event with a tight timeline and no bank appetite. We've funded buyouts where the asset is solid but the situation is complicated.
CMBS Workouts
Maturing CMBS with no refi path in the current rate environment. We step in with bridge capital while the borrower rights the ship.
REO Acquisitions
Distressed REO purchase where the property can't qualify for conventional financing yet. We fund the acquisition, you execute the plan.
Collateral Types
Retail, NNN, office, industrial and mixed-use bridge loans.
Retail bridge loans, triple net (NNN) bridge loans, office building bridge financing, industrial bridge loans and mixed-use bridge loans, plus the other income-producing and investment property types below. Commercial, investment and business purpose only: no primary residences or consumer-purpose loans. See two NNN retail bridge loans we funded in Chula Vista and Los Banos.
Retail Strip & Centers
Multifamily (5+ units)
Mixed-Use
Office Buildings
Industrial & Warehouse
Self-Storage
Single-Family Investment
Land (entitled)
Hospitality
Mobile Home Parks
RV Parks
Special Purpose
How It Works
From submission to funding.
No black box. No waiting weeks for a decision. Here's what happens after you contact us.
01
Submit the Deal
Send us the executive summary: property address, loan amount, LTV, borrower background, and your exit strategy. One page is enough to start.
02
Same-Day Indication
We review and respond with a rate indication or a specific question — within 24 hours, usually same business day. No soft commitments that evaporate.
03
Term Sheet Issued
If we're aligned on structure, we issue a term sheet. Underwriting begins in parallel. We don't string you along — term sheet means we're funding.
04
Close & Fund
Our closing team moves with the transaction. We work with your counsel, coordinate title, and fund when the deal is ready — often inside two weeks.
Recent Closes
Deals that needed a different kind of lender.
A sample of recent bridge loans funded by Helvetica Group. Names and addresses available upon request.
$4,583,000
Bridge · Retail
49,000 SF Retail Center
San Marcos, CA
Purchase financing on a 38%-occupied community retail center. Borrowers were traveling internationally with a closing deadline that could not move.
↳ Bank turndown · Low occupancy · No appraisal · Hard deadline
Read the case study →
$2,290,000
1031 Exchange · NNN
NNN Longhorn Steakhouse — 1031 Upleg
Amarillo, TX
Stabilized single-tenant corporate-guaranteed ground lease sourced and closed inside the 180-day exchange window. The investor doubled income, cut management roughly 100%, and later refinanced with $900K cash-out.
↳ 180-day deadline · Upleg sourcing · Stabilized NNN acquisition
Read the case study →
$5,000,000
Reverse 1031 · Bridge
Luxury Residential — Reverse 1031
Beverly Hills, CA
A reverse exchange bridge let the borrower close the upleg before the Beverly Hills downleg sold — 50% blended LTV across three luxury homes, no appraisal, no prepay.
↳ Reverse exchange · Cross-collateralized · No appraisal
Read the case study →
Common Questions
Straight answers.
The questions brokers and borrowers ask before they submit a loan.
What is a commercial bridge loan?
A bridge loan is short-term financing — terms from 6 months to 5+ years — that provides capital while a borrower works toward a longer-term solution: a permanent refinance, stabilization, or sale. Bridge loans are asset-based, meaning the underwriting focuses on the property's current value and the borrower's exit plan rather than a standard income or credit profile.
Do you lend on bank turndowns?
Yes — frequently. A bank turndown tells us the deal has complexity, not necessarily that it's a bad loan. We underwrite to the collateral and exit strategy. If the asset supports the loan and the exit makes sense, the fact that a bank declined is not disqualifying.
What loan-to-value will you lend to?
Up to 65% of as-is value; exceptions possible based on underwriting. For distressed, vacant, or value-add properties, we underwrite to current market value with consideration for the repositioning plan. We do not lend to ARV (after-repair value) without significant demonstrated basis and a credible execution plan.
How fast can you close?
It depends on borrower preparedness, third-party reports and complexity; we typically close in 3–10 days following receipt of all requested documentation. We close what we commit to; we do not issue soft letters of interest and fade at the finish line.
Do you lend in states outside California?
Yes, selectively. We lend in metro areas nationwide, selectively; availability varies by deal, property type, licensing and underwriting. Contact us with your deal and geography and we'll give you a straight answer.
Do you work with mortgage brokers?
Brokers are our primary sourcing channel. We protect broker relationships and pay competitive referral commissions. A broker approval is required prior to loan funding on broker-originated transactions. Visit our broker program page or submit a loan directly to get started.
How do you qualify for a commercial bridge loan?
We underwrite the property and the exit, not a bank credit matrix. The loan must be for business purposes on commercial or investment real estate, from $300,000 to $10,000,000+, at up to 65% of as-is value (exceptions possible based on underwriting). Send the property, loan amount and exit strategy, and we respond with an indication or a specific question.
Is it hard to get a commercial bridge loan?
It is usually easier than a bank loan when the collateral is solid. Bank turndowns, low occupancy and tight deadlines are common in our files. What matters most is equity in the property and a believable way to repay, such as a sale, a refinance or stabilization.
What is the downside of a bridge loan?
A bridge loan costs more than a long-term bank loan and runs for a shorter term, so it works best with a clear plan to repay. Our rates start at 8.99% with discount points of 1.5% +, and terms run from 6 months to 5+ years. Borrowers use that time to stabilize, sell or refinance.
How much does a commercial bridge loan cost?
Rates start at 8.99% and discount points are 1.5% +, priced on loan-to-value, property type, term and complexity. Interest-only and fixed options are available. A $350,000 loan, for example, falls inside our $300,000 to $10,000,000+ range and is priced on those same factors.
Are bridge loans the same as hard money loans?
They overlap. Both are short-term, asset-based loans from private lenders. A commercial bridge loan is built around a defined exit on commercial or investment property, with terms from 6 months to 5+ years and up to 65% LTV. Helvetica is a direct lender, so the people who review the deal are the ones who fund it.
Can I get a commercial bridge loan in California?
Yes. Helvetica Group is based in Carlsbad, at 5927 Balfour Ct., Suite 208, and funds commercial bridge loans across California. We also lend in metro areas nationwide, selectively. Call MILA, our AI loan assistant, 24/7 at (760) 624-3301, or submit a loan to start.
Ready to submit a loan?
Send us the basics — property, amount, exit. We respond same business day. No loan request is too complex to discuss.
BROKER SUBMISSIONS WELCOME · CA DRE #01366104 · CFL #603E072
