About
First Bridge Lending CRE is a Petaluma, California-based direct commercial real estate bridge lender founded in 2012 by principals Brian Haines, Louis Bardis, Matt Moran, and Michael Joseph - a team with 100+ combined years of lending and investing experience. With over 2,000 loans closed and $1.5B+ in capital deployed, First Bridge operates as a mortgage fund with full discretion over its own capital - no loan sales, no external committee delays. The firm specializes exclusively in CRE bridge loans on core commercial property types: multifamily, industrial, retail, self-storage, mobile home parks, mixed-use, and student housing in California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. Key differentiators: no formal appraisal required (principals do the site visit), same-day rehab draws, 3-day close capability, conservative maximum 65% LTV across all programs, and complete in-house underwriting and loan servicing.
Key Differentiators
Why investors choose this lender:
- Multifamily and CRE specialists — focused exclusively on value-add multifamily and commercial bridge lending, not single-family rehab
- West Coast expertise — deep knowledge of the CA, AZ, OR, and WA commercial investment markets
- Petaluma CA HQ — Northern California-based team with strong Bay Area and broader West Coast CRE relationships
- Institutional-quality deal structures — larger loan sizes suited for experienced multifamily and commercial operators
Where They Lend
California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington
First Bridge Lending CRE lends exclusively on commercial real estate in 4 western states: California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. No ground-up construction, no land development, no hotels, no gas stations, no assisted living, no cannabis-use properties. Office buildings only considered at under 30% LTV.
Loan Types, Structures and Terms
$500,000 to $10,000,000
Typical Loan Amounts
6 to 24 Months
Typical Terms
8.5% to 10.0%
Typical Interest Rates
First Bridge Lending CRE lends exclusively on commercial real estate in California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington at a maximum 65% LTV across all programs - no residential fix-and-flip, no DSCR rental, no ground-up construction. Core commercial property types: multifamily, industrial, retail, self-storage, mobile home parks, mixed-use, RV park, student housing.
First Bridge Lending CRE multifamily value-add bridge loans cover acquisition and renovation at max 65% LTC and 65% LTARV across California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington - with no appraisal required, same-day draws, and closings in as few as 3 days.
| Multifamily Bridge Feature | Structure & Terms |
|---|
| Project Types | Multifamily value-add acquisition and rehab bridge in California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. No ground-up construction. No owner-occupied. No hotels, assisted living, or cannabis-use properties. |
| Loan Limits & Terms | $500,000 to $10,000,000 | 6 to 24 months | Interest-only, first-lien | Interest reserve option available | No prepayment penalty |
| Rates & Fees | 8.5% to 10% interest rate | Origination 1% to 3% | Good faith deposit at application (credited to closing) | Doc/processing fee $1,500 to $2,500 | Third-party escrow and title fees (borrower-paid) | No prepayment penalty |
| Leverage (LTC/ARV) | Max 65% LTP | Max 65% LTC | Max 65% LTARV | Borrower must contribute 35% of total project costs | Interest charged on drawn funds only |
| Experience Required | Minimum 2 prior completed value-add projects required. Principal-led credit review with direct feedback from day one. Cross-collateralization with equity in another investment property or primary residence accepted. |
| Structural Advantages | No appraisal required - principal does the site visit. Same-day draws. Close in as few as 3 days. Own balance sheet - no external capital dependencies. All underwriting and servicing in-house. No prepayment penalty. Discounted note payoff, note purchase, and reverse 1031 exchange considered. |
First Bridge Lending CRE commercial bridge loans cover purchase, refinance, and cash-out transactions on core commercial property types at max 65% LTV in California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington - with no appraisal required and closings in as few as 3 days.
| Commercial Bridge Feature | Structure & Terms |
|---|
| Use Cases | Short-term commercial bridge for purchase (as-is), refinance (no cash-out), and refinance with cash-out on core commercial investment properties. Also: discounted note payoff, note purchase, and reverse 1031 exchange. No ground-up construction. No land development. |
| Property Types | Multifamily, Industrial, Retail, Self-Storage, Mobile Home Park, Mixed-Use, RV Park, Student Housing, Parking Garage, Commercial Condo, Portfolio of Commercial or Residential Properties. No hotels, no gas stations, no assisted living, no cannabis-use properties. Office only at sub-30% LTV. |
| Loan Limits & Terms | $500,000 to $10,000,000 | 6 to 24 months | Interest-only, first-lien | Interest reserve option | No prepayment penalty | Vacant, tenant-occupied (100% or partial), and owner-occupied commercial all accepted |
| Rates & Fees | 8.5% to 10% interest rate | Origination 1% to 3% | Good faith deposit at application (credited to closing costs if approved; refundable less expenses if declined) | Doc/processing fee $1,500 to $2,500 | Third-party escrow and title fees (borrower-paid) |
| Leverage Ratios (LTV) | Purchase (no value-add): Max 65% LTP multifamily and commercial | Refinance (no cash-out): Max 65% LTV | Cash-out refinance: Max 65% LTV | Cross-collateralize in 1st or 2nd lien position if sufficient equity to achieve 65% LTV | Junior liens behind First Bridge's senior mortgage permitted |
| Structural Advantages | No appraisal required - principal does the site visit. Close in as few as 3 days. No prepayment penalty. Own balance sheet capital - no external committee delays. Discounted note payoff, note purchase, and reverse 1031 exchange accepted. Foreign nationals accepted with US Federal Tax ID. Auction purchases accepted. All underwriting and servicing in-house. |
Don't lose the deal waiting on financing. Apply now and get pre-approved today.
Borrower Qualifications (Are you qualified?)
First Bridge Lending CRE qualifies deals on property equity and commercial asset fundamentals - no formal appraisal required on any loan type. The principals personally conduct all site visits, providing front-line credit decisions with meaningful feedback from day one. Minimum 620 FICO and a max 65% LTV constraint serve as the primary underwriting guardrails.
| Qualification Parameter | Lender Requirements |
|---|
| Experience Levels | Experience Required for Value-Add Projects. Rehab/value-add loans require a minimum of 2 prior completed value-add projects. Straight bridge acquisition and refinance loans have no stated experience requirement. Principal site visits replace formal appraisals - deal is evaluated on its merits. |
| Credit Requirement | Minimum 620 FICO Required. Credit report required on all loans. Credit score is reviewed in combination with the deal structure and property equity position. |
| Income Verification | Financial Statements and Loan Application Required. No W-2s or tax returns listed as required. Asset-based underwriting focused on property equity position - max 65% LTV is the primary underwriting constraint. Borrower must contribute a minimum 35% of total project costs on value-add loans. |
| Entity Requirement | Individuals, LLC, LP, and Corporation all accepted. Personal guaranty sometimes required - evaluated case-by-case. Foreign nationals accepted with US Federal Tax ID. Cross-collateralization with equity in other investment properties or primary residence accepted. |
Underwriting Process (How long will it take to get approved?)
First Bridge Lending CRE principals collaborate directly on every deal - no loan officers, no committee delays. No appraisal required: one of the principals personally visits the site. Credit report, financial statements, and loan application required. Minimum 620 FICO. Typical close 14 days, fastest 3 days.
| Stage / Requirement | Process & Timelines |
|---|
| Initial Review | Submit deal to the First Bridge principal team. Principals collaborate directly on every credit decision - no loan officer intermediaries, no corporate committee structure. Front-line credit feedback from day one. Good faith deposit required at application (credited to closing costs if approved; refundable less expenses if declined). |
| Property Valuation | No appraisal required - ever. One of First Bridge's principals personally conducts a site visit on all loans. BPO accepted sometimes for commercial. Principal-led valuation eliminates third-party appraisal delays and keeps the process moving on a fast-close timeline. Property must be under contract before funding. |
| Speed to Close | Typical close in 14 days; fastest close in 3 days on qualifying deals with a complete application package. First Bridge produces its own loan documents in-house, eliminating outside counsel delays on document preparation. |
| Document Checklist | Credit report, financial statements, loan application. Property must be under contract. For value-add: itemized renovation scope and budget. Good faith deposit at application. Doc/processing fee $1,500 to $2,500. Third-party escrow and title fees paid by borrower. Minimum 620 FICO. |
Draw Process (How long will it take to get draws?)
First Bridge Lending CRE funds value-add rehab draws on the same day they are requested - one of the fastest draw release structures available on commercial bridge loans. Interest is charged only on funds drawn, keeping carrying costs low during the renovation phase. Use your FlipperForce project schedule to coordinate draw requests and keep contractor timelines on track.
| Operational Step | Methodology & Timelines |
|---|
| Draw System | Same-day draws. First Bridge Lending CRE releases renovation draw funds the same day they are requested on qualifying value-add loans. Interest is charged only on funds drawn - not on the full committed renovation budget - keeping carrying costs low throughout the project. |
| Inspection Method | In-house principal site visit - no formal appraisal required. One of First Bridge's principals personally conducts site visits for all loans. This eliminates third-party appraisal delays and ensures direct decision-maker involvement throughout the project lifecycle. |
| Funding Turnaround | Same-day draw funding on approved requests. Build your project schedule around same-day draw releases to protect contractor payment timelines and eliminate capital velocity gaps during your commercial rehab. |
| Draw Fees | Good faith deposit required at application (fully refundable less expenses if declined; credited to closing costs if approved). Document and processing fee: $1,500 to $2,500 depending on deal and ownership structure. Third-party escrow and title fees paid by borrower. |
