MBReviewed by Mike Basti, Mortgage Broker & Founder · NMLS #377740
How it works
A buy-before-you-sell bridge is capped at a % of your current home's value. Subtract the existing mortgage payoff and you get usable cash for the new home's down payment. You pay interest-only until the sale, so the carrying cost depends on how fast your home sells.
Bridge Loan Calculator
Illustrative only — not a loan offer. Adjust the LTV to match your lender's cap.
$
$
%
$
%
pts
mo
$
Down-Payment Power for Your New Home
$0
—
Current home equity$0
Maximum bridge loan (LTV cap)$0
Less: existing mortgage payoff$0
Points cost$0
Monthly interest-only payment$0
Carrying cost until sale$0
Total bridge cost (points + carry + fees)$0
Expert tip: The number that decides whether a bridge is comfortable or stressful is months until your home sells — because you pay interest the entire time. In a fast California market a well-priced home may sell in weeks; if you pad the estimate and still like the total cost, you have a real margin of safety. The most common mistake is assuming the fastest sale. Run this at a conservative timeline, keep reserves for the carry, and price the departing home to move. We'll help you set both. Model my transition →
What each result means
- Down-payment power — usable cash the bridge frees from your equity for the new home, after mortgage payoff, points, and costs.
- Maximum bridge loan — your current home's value × the LTV cap.
- Interest-only payment — monthly carry while both homes are owned.
- Carrying cost until sale — the IO payment × your months-to-sale estimate. The real cost of the overlap.
- Total bridge cost — points + carry + fees. Weigh it against winning the home you want.
Reviewed by the licensing team at Save Financial, a California-licensed mortgage brokerage (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766) founded in 2009 and serving all 58 counties from offices in Newport Beach and Marina del Rey.