Lee County is one of the few places in this program where a single rental home can need a seven-figure loan. Gulf-access canal homes in Cape Coral, rebuilt and elevated homes on Fort Myers Beach, riverfront homes along McGregor Boulevard and packages of new duplexes in Lehigh Acres all show up as $1 million-plus deals.
In short: LendingStreet's residential investor bridge loans range from $150,000 to $5M+, and Lee County balances of $1M and up are reviewed case by case. Rates start from 7.99%, the loans are short-term and interest-only, and a complete file can close in as little as 10 days. Larger balances usually need a full valuation, and the exit is a sale or a refinance into a DSCR, blanket or jumbo DSCR loan.
High-value single properties are common here: gulf-access pool homes in southwest Cape Coral, homes in the Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel areas that were rebuilt or replaced after Hurricane Ian, and riverfront and historic homes in Fort Myers. Investors also buy packages, such as several new duplexes from a Lehigh Acres builder or a group of rentals from a local owner.
Every property must be residential, 1 to 8 units. Apartment complexes with 9 or more units go through our commercial or multifamily programs.
Many Lee County properties are not ready for long-term financing on the day you buy them. A newly finished elevated home may have no rental history. A post-storm property may need its final permits closed out. A builder's duplexes may be unleased. A bridge loan finances the purchase now and buys time to finish, lease or season the property before a DSCR or jumbo DSCR refinance.
Speed also matters. Waterfront homes and builder packages often go to the buyer who can close quickly and with few conditions.
Experience matters on large balances. An investor who already owns and runs vacation rentals or long-term rentals in Southwest Florida, and can show booking or leasing results, usually gets more leverage and a faster answer than a first-time buyer of a $2M home. Name your property manager and show how the home will be furnished, licensed and marketed.
These are program-level terms. Leverage and pricing depend on the property, valuation, your experience and the exit.
| Feature | Large bridge program |
|---|---|
| Loan size | $150,000 to $5M+; $1M+ reviewed case by case |
| Rates | From 7.99% |
| Structure | Short-term, interest-only |
| Speed | As little as 10 days when the file is ready |
| Valuation | Larger balances usually need a full valuation |
| Exits | Sale, DSCR, blanket or jumbo DSCR refinance |
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a newly built, elevated four-bedroom gulf-access home in southwest Cape Coral for $2,400,000, closing quickly to win the deal. The home has no rental history. The bridge loan is $1,680,000, 70% of the price. Estimated interest-only payments are about $14,700 a month, or about $88,200 over a 6-month period while the investor furnishes it, gets licensed and builds a booking history.
The home then values at $2,500,000, and a third-party projection shows about $210,000 a year in vacation rental revenue, or about $17,500 a month. A jumbo DSCR refinance at 65% of value is $1,625,000. Estimated principal and interest is about $11,085, taxes are about $3,750 and insurance is $1,600, for a total of about $16,435. DSCR is about 1.06x, which clears the 1.0x standard minimum. On larger balances max LTV is often lower, and it varies by program.
| Stage | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $2,400,000 |
| Bridge loan (70%) | $1,680,000 |
| Estimated interest-only payment | $14,700 a month |
| Projected monthly revenue | $17,500 |
| Jumbo DSCR refinance (65% of value) | $1,625,000 |
| Total payment after refinance | $16,435 |
| DSCR | 1.06x |
Larger balances usually need a full valuation. Waterfront homes are valued on recent sales with similar water access, so a gulf-access home with sailboat access and no bridges is compared with similar homes, not freshwater canal homes. Insurance quotes for wind, hazard and flood should be in hand before closing, because they decide the exit payment.
For older or storm-affected properties, ask whether the home was declared substantially damaged under FEMA's 50% rule, which Lee County and its cities enforce. A home that must be elevated or rebuilt is a construction project, not a bridge-to-rent deal.
Florida charges documentary stamp tax on deeds and on new mortgages, plus intangible tax on new mortgages. On a $1.5M bridge loan followed by a refinance, those taxes apply to each new mortgage, so plan for them in your budget. Rentals do not get homestead protection, and the assessment resets after a sale, so use a tax estimate based on your purchase price.
A single high-value home usually exits into a jumbo DSCR loan, qualified on long-term rent or, on some programs, projected short-term revenue. Packages of five or more properties can exit into a blanket portfolio loan. Some investors sell after the property is finished and licensed, since a turnkey vacation rental with a booking history can attract buyers moving to Florida. Whatever the plan, run the exit at realistic insurance costs; it is the most common reason a Lee County refinance comes in smaller than expected.
Builder packages of new duplexes are another common large bridge deal here. The bridge finances the purchase while units lease, then a blanket DSCR refinance replaces it. New block construction usually insures more cheaply, which helps the exit ratio. Confirm well, septic and utility assessments for each lot, and check flood zones across the package. Lease-up can run slower when several builders deliver duplexes on the same streets at once, so plan the bridge term with a cushion.
Our investor loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property. Send the property details, price, insurance quotes, rental plan and exit through the form below or call (877) 298-1001. Statewide large bridge details are on our Florida large bridge loans page, and long-term options above $1.5M are on Fort Myers jumbo DSCR loans.
Yes, when the property and exit support it. Balances of $1M and up are reviewed case by case.
Rates start from 7.99%. Pricing depends on leverage, the property, your experience and the exit plan.
Larger balances usually need a full valuation.
Yes. That is a common use. The refinance comes after the property is furnished, licensed and leased or booked.
Ask whether it was declared substantially damaged. If it must be elevated or rebuilt, it may need construction financing instead.
A jumbo DSCR refinance, often at lower leverage, or a sale.
No. Our investor loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property, used for rentals and investment purchases.
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