In Little Rock, rentals often change hands as small packages: a retiring landlord selling three or four houses and a duplex, or an estate liquidating a family's rental holdings. Those sellers want one buyer and one quick closing, and a bridge loan can provide it.
In short: LendingStreet offers residential investor bridge loans on 1-8 unit properties in Little Rock and central Arkansas from $150,000 to $5M+, with rates from 7.99% and closings in as little as 10 days. Bridge loans are short-term and interest-only, some bridge programs do not require an appraisal, and the exit is a sale or a refinance into DSCR loans or a blanket portfolio loan once properties are leased and stabilized.
Bridge loans fit when the property, or the group of properties, is not ready for long-term debt yet, or when the closing timeline is too short.
Package sales are common because many Little Rock landlords built their holdings slowly over decades, one inexpensive house at a time. When they retire, they want to sell everything at once. Buyers who can close quickly on the whole group often negotiate a better price than buyers who want to pick only the best houses.
Bridge financing is also useful in North Little Rock, Jacksonville near the Air Force Base and the growing suburbs, where small multifamily buildings with older leases trade without much marketing.
These terms describe the program and are not a quote for any property.
| Term | Residential investor bridge |
|---|---|
| Properties | 1-8 units each, non-owner-occupied |
| Loan size | $150,000 to $5M+ |
| Rates | From 7.99% |
| Payments | Interest-only, short-term |
| Speed | Close in as little as 10 days |
| Valuation | No appraisal on some bridge programs |
| Exit | Sale, DSCR refinance or blanket portfolio loan |
This example is illustrative and not a quote. A retiring owner sells a package of rentals for $515,000: a Capitol View duplex at $210,000, a Midtown house at $165,000 and a Southwest Little Rock house at $140,000. Two units are vacant and the leases that remain are below market. A bridge loan of $390,000 closes the purchase, with estimated interest-only payments of about $2,922 a month.
Over several months the investor turns the vacant units and renews leases at market, bringing total rent to about $4,200 a month. Each property can then refinance into its own DSCR loan if it meets the $150,000 minimum, or the investor can keep buying and later combine five or more rentals into a blanket portfolio loan. Smaller houses that would fall below the minimum on their own are often easier to finance as part of a portfolio.
Before you close, decide how each property will leave the bridge loan. Little Rock's lower prices make the $150,000 DSCR minimum a real planning issue. A duplex or a higher-value house can usually refinance on its own; a lower-priced single-family home may be better sold, kept in a portfolio, or paired with others.
Talk to us about the refinance side up front. We can tell you what rent and value each property needs to show.
Arkansas's quick eviction process and landlord-favorable law make lease-ups more predictable than in many states, but the 2021 habitability standards still require working heat, plumbing and electricity. Budget to bring vacant units up to that standard before you lease them.
Rents vary widely by neighborhood. A unit in Hillcrest or near UAMS rents for much more than a similar unit in Southwest Little Rock, so set your refinance target unit by unit, with input from a local property manager.
Arkansas charges a real property transfer tax at closing, usually allocated by contract. Taxes are assessed at a 20% assessment ratio and investors do not receive the homestead credit. Insurance on partly vacant properties can be higher, and storm coverage matters in central Arkansas. Budget all three as carrying costs.
Insurance is worth special attention on a package purchase. A single policy covering several properties can be simpler, but each property's roof age and storm history affects the premium. Get quotes before closing.
A bridge loan works best when the properties are livable and need leasing or light work. If you plan a substantial renovation with a line-item budget, a fix and flip loan with rehab draws is usually the better fit.
For a quick close, send the purchase contract, rent roll and leases, photos, your plan for vacancies and your exit for each property on day one, and order title and insurance immediately. Package deals with several properties need a clear schedule of addresses and prices.
On package deals, the title company will need a legal description for every parcel, and each property may have its own tax status and code history. Starting title work on day one is what keeps a multi-property closing on schedule.
North Little Rock, Sherwood, Jacksonville and Cabot each have their own rental stock and rules. Jacksonville rentals near the Air Force Base turn over with military assignments, and North Little Rock's older neighborhoods have small multifamily that trades quietly. A bridge loan works the same way in each: buy quickly, stabilize, then sell or refinance. Check each city's code and rental requirements before you plan the lease-up.
Our investor loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property. Use the form below or call (877) 298-1001 with the properties, price and timeline, and we will lay out the bridge terms and the refinance path.
Rates start from 7.99%. Pricing depends on the property, leverage, experience and exit plan.
Bridge loans can finance a purchase of 1-8 unit investment properties, including packages. Talk to us about the structure for a multi-property purchase.
Some bridge programs do not require an appraisal. The later DSCR or portfolio refinance will use a valuation.
DSCR loans start at $150,000. Smaller properties can be sold or combined with others in a blanket portfolio loan of five or more properties.
In as little as 10 days with title, insurance and property details ready.
Yes, on 1-8 unit investment property, while you stabilize and prepare to refinance.
No. Our investor loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property. The property has to be a rental or investment project, not your residence.
Bridge loans are short-term and interest-only. The term is set to fit your lease-up or sale plan, and the exit should be planned before closing.
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