Bridge Loan Strategy
in Marin County, CA
Coordinate your sale and your purchase so you never own two homes at once.
You found the next home. But your equity is still locked in the current one — and the thought of two mortgages, or selling into thin air with nowhere to land, keeps you stuck. There is a calmer way to span that gap.
Prefer to talk it through? Call or text (415) 483-6009
Five Stars, Across Every Platform
Real, verified reviews from buyers and sellers across San Rafael, Novato, and greater Marin — pulled straight from Google, Yelp, and Zillow.
Mike is knowledgeable, patient, and extremely service-focused! He's always ready to make a real estate deal. That must be the reason they call him “Action Jackson”.
Mike helped us with the sale of our home and was very easy to work with. During a pandemic he stayed calm and worked very hard to get our house sold. You need someone to work hard and stay ahead of the game and Mike did just that for us.
As we navigated the stressful time of purchasing our new home in conjunction with the sale of our old home, he was always calm and reassuring. Even after we got our keys, he followed up to see how we were doing.
Michael is my go-to realtor in Marin County. I recommend Mike if you are looking for a home.
He's Great!! Kind, professional, knowledgeable, and patient. If you want a great realtor… your search is done.
Michael made buying a home and selling a home a breeze. You can imagine the work that goes into buying and selling at the same time. He had everything so organized and answered all 1,000 questions I had in a timely manner!
Two Homes, One Impossible Choice
Almost every Marin move-up or downsizing seller hits the same wall. It isn't about the houses. It's about the timing in between.
"If I sell first, where do I go?"
You picture handing over the keys with no replacement home lined up — a rushed rental, a double move, or settling for something you'd never normally accept just to have a roof. That fear alone keeps thousands of owners frozen in place.
"If I buy first, can I carry two mortgages?"
Buy before you sell and your debt-to-income ratio balloons. Lenders may balk, and the prospect of covering two house payments at once — even for a few weeks — is enough to stop the whole plan cold.
"My contingent offer keeps losing."
In a low-inventory market like Marin, sellers rarely accept an offer that hinges on you selling your current home first. You watch the home you wanted go to a non-contingent buyer — again.
The regret is almost never about making the move. It's about making it without a plan for the gap — and letting a few weeks of bad timing cost tens of thousands.
Meet Michael Wayne Jackson
They call him "Action Jackson" for a reason: he keeps deals moving and makes sure things get done correctly and on time. When two transactions have to line up to the day, that relentlessness is exactly what you want on your side.
A licensed California real estate broker since 2007 with a psychology degree from Sonoma State and a former pro-baseball competitor's instinct, Michael reads both sides of a deal — buyer and seller — to time your sale and purchase so the gap closes cleanly.
- CA Broker · DRE #01513285
- SRES · Senior Specialist
- CNE · Negotiation Expert
- CDPE · Distressed Property
- Coldwell Banker
- Realtor® · NAR Member
Talk it through directly: (415) 483-6009
Spanning the Gap Between Two Closings
A bridge loan taps the equity already sitting in your current Marin home, giving you the down payment for the next one before the first one sells. You make a strong, non-contingent offer — then repay the bridge when your sale closes.
The Two Roads — and When Each Wins
There's no universally "right" order. The smart choice depends on the market, your equity, and how much certainty you need. Here's the honest trade-off.
Buy First, Then Sell
- Make a non-contingent offer that competes with cash buyers
- Move once, on your timeline — no interim rental, no double move
- Sell your current home empty and staged, often for more
- Requires bridge financing or strong equity to qualify
- You carry costs until the first home sells
Sell First, Then Buy
- You know your exact budget before you shop
- Easier mortgage qualification — no doubled debt load
- No bridge interest or carrying two payments
- You may need a rent-back or temporary place to live
- Time pressure can push you into a rushed purchase
A Five-Step Plan for a Seamless Move
From first conversation to both sets of keys, here's how Michael keeps your sale and purchase moving in lockstep.
Map your equity and your numbers
We start with what your current home is worth today in this market, how much equity you can responsibly tap, and what your next purchase realistically looks like — including whether Prop 19 lets you carry your lower property-tax base to the new home.
Choose the right order — and the right tool
Bridge loan, HELOC, a buy-before-you-sell program, or a rent-back. We weigh each against your timeline and risk tolerance, then connect you with vetted lenders so you know your real costs before you commit to anything.
Get pre-positioned to win
With financing arranged, you can make a strong, non-contingent offer the moment the right home appears — instead of watching it go to someone who didn't have to sell first.
Prep and time the sale
Once your purchase is secured, we present your current home at its best — staged, photographed, and priced to sell quickly across San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, and the rest of Marin — so the bridge period stays short.
Close, repay, and settle in
Your sale closes, the bridge is repaid from the proceeds, and you're left holding exactly one home — the one you actually wanted — without the limbo in between.
Stop guessing at the timing. Get a real plan.
One free planning session is enough to see whether buying first or selling first is right for your situation — and what it would actually cost.
Book a Free Planning SessionThe Difference a Coordinator Makes
A bridge loan is just a tool. The outcome depends on whether the two transactions are choreographed by someone who has done this in Marin many times.
One point of contact for both deals
Your sale and your purchase stop being two separate, competing projects. Michael runs them as a single coordinated plan, so a delay on one side never blindsides the other.
A vetted lender network
Not every bank offers bridge financing, and rates vary widely. With a mortgage-lending background, Michael points you to lenders who actually do this — so you compare real numbers, not guesses.
Prop 19 awareness built in
If you're 55 or older, the order and timing of your sale and purchase can protect your low property-tax base. We plan around that two-year window from the start — not as an afterthought.
A team that makes homes show-ready
Michael keeps a contractor and painter on hand to make your current listing presentable fast — shortening the bridge period and the interest you pay along with it.
A Bridge vs. the Hidden Cost of Waiting
Bridge financing isn't free — but neither is a discounted offer, a lost dream home, or a forced double move. Here's an honest, illustrative comparison.
| Consideration | Coordinated Bridge Strategy | Going It Alone / Waiting |
|---|---|---|
| Typical bridge rate (2026) | Interest-only, roughly 9–12% for a short 6–12 month term | No interest — but offers keep getting beaten |
| Origination / points | About 1–2 points, known up front | Surprise concessions to win a contingent deal |
| Offer strength | Non-contingent — competes with cash | Contingent offers routinely declined in Marin |
| Where you live in between | Move once, on your schedule | Possible rental + a stressful double move |
| Sale price of current home | Sold empty & staged — often a stronger price | Sold occupied, under time pressure |
| Prop 19 tax-base timing | Planned within the two-year window | Easy to miss without coordination |
Figures are illustrative ranges for general education only — your actual rate, fees, and eligibility depend on your lender and financial profile. Bridge loans and property-tax rules vary; confirm current details with a licensed lender and the county assessor.
Bridge Loans & Sell-Then-Buy, Answered
Pulled from the real concerns homeowners raise online and in person — answered plainly.
Q.What exactly is a bridge loan?
It's a short-term loan — usually six to twelve months — that uses the equity in your current home as collateral so you can fund the down payment on your next one before the first sells. When your sale closes, the proceeds repay the bridge.
Q.Won't I be stuck paying two mortgages?
Most bridge loans are structured interest-only for the short term, and many programs keep that period brief by design. The goal is to make the overlap as short and predictable as possible — and a quick, well-prepared sale is the fastest way to end it.
Q.If I sell first, where will I live?
Common options include a rent-back agreement — staying in your sold home for a set period after closing — or a short-term rental. The bigger protection is a clear buying plan: knowing your exact budget and target neighborhoods so you can move quickly when the right home appears.
Q.How much does a bridge loan cost in 2026?
As a general guide, rates have been running roughly 9% to 12%, with origination around one to two points, plus standard escrow and title fees. Your actual numbers depend on the lender and your equity — which is exactly what a planning session pins down before you commit.
Q.Is buying first or selling first better in Marin?
In a low-inventory market — which Marin has largely remained — buying first tends to win, because sellers seldom accept contingent offers. In a softer, slower market, selling first can reduce risk. The right answer is situation-specific, and that's the call we make together.
Q.Does this affect my Prop 19 property taxes?
If you're 55 or older, Proposition 19 may let you transfer your existing low tax base to your replacement home, as long as both transactions happen within two years of each other. Coordinating the timing protects that benefit — but always confirm specifics with the county assessor and a tax professional.
Where We Make Moves
Move-up, downsizing, and right-sizing transitions handled throughout the county — wherever your current home and your next one happen to be.
San Rafael
From Terra Linda to Sun Valley, the most active mix of move-up and downsizing inventory in Marin.
Novato
Hamilton, Ignacio, and Black Point offer more space per dollar — a frequent landing spot for upsizing families.
Mill Valley
Coveted schools and a walkable downtown make timing critical when homes here move quickly.
Larkspur & Corte Madera
Ferry-close convenience and tight inventory reward buyers who are pre-positioned to act.
Tiburon & Belvedere
High-value transactions where a non-contingent offer and clean coordination carry real weight.
Sausalito
Distinctive homes and limited supply make precise sale-and-purchase timing essential.
Fairfax & San Anselmo
Character homes and strong demand — ideal for sellers who can show empty and staged.
Greenbrae & Kentfield
Long-tenured owners right-sizing here benefit most from careful Prop 19 timing.
From locked-in to moved-in
Picture the day both deals are done: one set of keys in your hand, the bridge repaid, and the home you actually wanted — without the weeks of limbo you were dreading. That's the whole point of coordinating it properly.
Let's Plan Your Bridge
Bring your situation — current home, target neighborhood, timeline — and leave with a clear, no-pressure plan for coordinating both transactions. The session is free.
Book a Free Planning SessionOr skip the form and call(415) 483-6009
Sources & Citations
The market figures, cost ranges, and rules referenced on this page draw on the following public sources.
| # | Source | What It Informs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redfin — Marin County Housing Market | Median sale price (~$1.5M) and days-on-market data for Marin. |
| 2 | Thomas Henthorne — Marin Market Report | Inventory, months-of-supply, and list-to-sale figures for Marin. |
| 3 | NerdWallet — What Is a Bridge Loan | How bridge loans work, equity requirements, and typical terms. |
| 4 | North Coast Financial — California Bridge Loan Rates | 2026 bridge-loan rate ranges, points, and terms in California. |
| 5 | SuperMoney — Bridge Loan Rates & Fees | Origination, appraisal, and closing-cost detail for bridge loans. |
| 6 | Redfin — Buying First vs. Selling First | Trade-offs of each order, HELOC and rent-back options. |
| 7 | CA Board of Equalization — Proposition 19 | Two-year replacement-home window and base-year-value transfer rules. |
| 8 | Living in Marin — Proposition 19 Guide | Prop 19 base-transfer mechanics applied to Marin homeowners 55+. |