In Denver, a $1M bridge loan can be a single house. Wash Park, Hilltop, Cherry Creek and the Highlands all have investor deals above that line, and new-build duplexes regularly come out of construction worth more than $2M a pair.
In short: LendingStreet makes residential investor bridge loans from $1M to $5M+ across metro Denver, in a program that starts at $150,000, with rates from 7.99%. Bridge loans are short-term and interest-only, can close in as little as 10 days, and exit by sale or refinance into a DSCR or jumbo DSCR loan. Larger balances usually need a full valuation, and because Denver rents are low relative to prices, many large bridge exits are sales rather than long-term holds.
Investors use large bridge loans to buy high-value homes for renovation and resale in Wash Park, Bonnie Brae, Hilltop, Crestmoor and the Highlands; to pay off construction loans on finished new-build duplexes and townhomes that have not sold or leased yet; to buy walk-up buildings with five to eight units in Capitol Hill that need renovation; and to close quickly on estate or off-market deals.
Suburban uses include higher-end homes in Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village and Lone Tree, and packages of rentals in Aurora and Lakewood bought from one seller.
| Scenario | Why bridge | Likely exit |
|---|---|---|
| High-value home renovation | Fast close; property not yet at full value | Sale |
| Finished new-build duplex | Construction loan maturing before sale or lease | Sale of each side, or DSCR at lower leverage |
| Capitol Hill 5-8 unit walk-up | Units need renovation and re-leasing | DSCR loan on stabilized rent |
| Suburban rental package | Single seller, quick timeline | Blanket portfolio loan |
This example is illustrative and not a quote. A developer-investor finishes a side-by-side duplex in West Highland. The construction loan is maturing, and both sides are listed at about $1,300,000 each, $2,600,000 together. A bridge loan at 75% of value, $1,950,000, pays off the construction loan.
Estimated interest-only payments are about $17,062 a month. Over a 6-month marketing period, interest plus taxes and insurance comes to roughly $110,175. If both sides sell at list and selling costs are about 6%, net proceeds are about $2,444,000, leaving roughly $383,825 after repaying the bridge and the carry.
Holding instead is harder. Each side might lease for about $5,200 a month, which would support a long-term loan well below $1,950,000 at a 1.0x DSCR. That is why sale is the usual exit for Denver new builds at these values.
Larger balances usually need a full valuation. For finished new construction, expect the appraiser to use recent sales of similar new builds nearby and to note any unfinished items. For renovation deals, bring a detailed scope and budget. Pricing on large balances is set case by case.
Experience counts on a large file. A track record of similar Denver renovations or new builds, a contractor familiar with city permitting, and realistic resale comparables from the same neighborhood all make the plan easier to underwrite and can speed up the answer.
Denver's price-to-rent ratio makes sale the most common exit for high-value homes and new builds. Walk-up buildings and suburban packages are more likely to exit into DSCR or blanket loans once rents are stabilized. High-value homes held as rentals can exit into jumbo DSCR loans, often at lower leverage so the rent covers the payment.
Colorado reappraises property in odd-numbered years. A new build or a renovated home may be reassessed at its new value, which matters for both carry and any rental exit. Denver requires a residential rental license for long-term rentals, so a hold exit needs a licensed property. Colorado's state documentary fee on transfers is small; some mountain towns charge real estate transfer taxes, but Denver does not.
Bridge loans can close in as little as 10 days with a complete file. In competitive central neighborhoods, that speed can matter. Have the contract, scope of work, entity documents, proof of reserves and insurance quote ready, and order title early. On construction-loan payoffs, get the payoff letter and certificate of occupancy status in hand.
Interest-only payments on a seven-figure balance are a meaningful monthly cost. Budget carry for longer than you expect, since high-end Denver listings can take months to sell and renovations often run into permitting or contractor delays. Hail and winter weather can also slow exterior work. Keep reserves outside the loan for interest and overruns.
Five-to-eight unit brick walk-ups in Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park and Uptown often sell with dated units, old boilers and rents well under what renovated units fetch. A bridge loan can fund the purchase while you renovate units as they turn over, then a DSCR loan replaces it once enough units lease at the higher rent.
The exit math is where these deals succeed or fail. At Denver prices, the stabilized rent has to support the long-term loan at 1.0x or better, so model the refinance before you buy, not after. Building permits, the Denver rental license inspection on each unit and contractor timelines all affect how long the hold runs.
Tenant rules matter too. Colorado requires for-cause grounds for most evictions, so a renovation plan should work with natural turnover and lease expirations rather than assume units can be emptied at once.
Send the address, price or payoff, scope and budget, current status of any construction, and your planned exit through the form below, or call (877) 298-1001. Larger balances are reviewed case by case.
Yes. Our residential investor bridge program runs from $150,000 to $5M+, and large balances are reviewed case by case.
Rates start from 7.99%. Pricing on a large balance depends on leverage, the property and the exit.
Yes. Paying off a maturing construction loan while you sell or lease a finished project is a common Denver use.
Larger balances usually need a full valuation of the property.
Rents are low relative to prices, so a long-term loan sized to the rent is often well below the bridge balance.
Yes. Properties with 1 to 8 units are residential on our programs. Buildings with nine or more units are commercial.
In as little as 10 days with a complete file.
Yes, through a DSCR or jumbo DSCR loan, but the loan is sized to the rent. Expect lower leverage than the bridge, or plan to bring cash to the refinance.
2-3 competing quotes from 30+ capital sources. No credit pull. No commitment.
By clicking, you provide express written consent to be contacted by LendingStreet (NMLS #1734316) via SMS, phone, or email, possibly using automated technology, regarding your loan inquiry. Reply STOP to opt out. Consent is not required to obtain services. See our Privacy Policy and Terms.