Fremont homeowners often move within Fremont. A family in Ardenwood or Irvington wants to be in Mission San Jose for the schools, or closer to Warm Springs for the commute. The challenge is that the home you want will likely sell before your current one does.
A Buy Before You Sell bridge loan lets you act first. It uses the equity in your current home to fund the next purchase, so your offer doesn’t depend on a sale that hasn’t happened yet.
Why Contingent Offers Struggle in Fremont
Fremont combines strong schools, proximity to tech employers and limited inventory. With home prices around $1.3 million and sought-after neighborhoods well above that, sellers regularly choose among several offers. An offer contingent on selling another home adds uncertainty, and sellers usually prefer one without it.
How a Bridge Loan Changes Your Offer
Your offer is non-contingent
You’re no longer asking the seller to wait on your sale. That puts you on closer footing with buyers who don’t have a home to sell.
You can close quickly
Bridge loans often close in 7 to 10 days, which helps when a seller wants a short escrow.
You sell on your schedule
After you move, you can prepare, stage and list your old home without living in it during showings.
Loan Terms at a Glance
- Up to 70% combined loan-to-value across both homes
- Terms up to 11 months
- Monthly payments
- Minimum credit score of 600
- For primary residences
Example: Moving from Ardenwood to Mission San Jose
Say your Ardenwood home is worth $1,400,000 with $500,000 left on the mortgage, and the home you want in Mission San Jose costs $2,000,000.
- Combined value of both homes: $3,400,000
- 70% of that: $2,380,000 in maximum total borrowing
- Minus your existing mortgage: $1,880,000 available
- Purchase price: $2,000,000
- Cash needed from you: about $120,000, plus closing costs
In this case the bridge loan covers most of the purchase, and you bring the difference. When the Ardenwood home sells, the proceeds repay the bridge loan.
Figures are illustrative only. Actual loan amounts depend on appraised values, existing liens and lender approval.
Estimate your own numbers with our loan calculator →
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my equity doesn’t cover the whole purchase?
That’s common when moving up. As in the example above, you bring the difference in cash. Seth can run your numbers before you start making offers.
Do I make payments on the bridge loan?
Yes. Payments are monthly until your current home sells and the loan is repaid.
What happens after my old home sells?
The sale proceeds pay off the bridge loan. Many buyers then keep a conventional mortgage on the new home.
Is this only for Fremont?
No. Seth arranges these loans across California. See our guides for San Jose and Oakland.
Work with a Bay Area Bridge Loan Specialist
Seth Swenson has worked in private money lending since 2003, including more than 25 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a licensed California broker with access to over 50 private lenders, he matches your situation with the lender whose terms fit it best.
For full loan terms and more detail, see our Buy Before You Sell bridge loan page.
Ready to Move Up in Fremont?
Call Seth at (415) 860-7384 or send a message with your current home’s value, what you owe and the price of the home you’re considering.