Bridge Loans in Davie, FL: Buy Before You Sell
Can you buy a home in Davie before selling your current one?
Yes. A bridge loan lets you buy your next Davie home before your current one sells by borrowing against the equity you already hold, then repaying it from your sale proceeds. It is one of four common paths, alongside a HELOC, a home sale contingency, and a settlement contingency. The right one depends on your equity, your timeline, and how strong your offer needs to be.
You found the next house in Davie, and your down payment is still locked inside the one you already own. That is the move up problem. In a market where sellers still prefer clean offers, the way you solve it decides how strong your offer looks on paper.
The current single family median sale price in Davie is $893,000 (single-family median, trailing 178 days ending Sep 30, 2026, based on 189 listings, per BeachesMLS), and homes are still selling close to 96% of list. When a Davie seller is weighing two offers, they rarely need to accept the one with the most strings attached. That is the real reason your financing matters here.
How a bridge loan works when you buy before you sell
A bridge loan is short term financing secured by the equity in the home you are selling. It hands you the cash for the down payment, and sometimes the full purchase, on your next Davie home before your current sale closes. When your old home sells, those proceeds pay the bridge loan off.
Here is the trade you are making:
- You get to write a non contingent offer, which reads nearly as strong as a cash offer to a Davie seller.
- You avoid rushing your current sale or taking the first low offer just to free up your money.
- You carry two properties for a short window, so you are paying for that speed and that certainty.
Bridge loans usually carry a higher rate than a first mortgage, and the rate moves with the market, so confirm current terms with your lender before you count on any number. Most lenders also want you to keep an equity cushion in the home you are borrowing against, and they look at your combined loan to value across both homes. Confirm the current equity requirement with your lender, because it varies by program.
The upside is speed. Bridge loans tend to close in days rather than weeks and run for a short term measured in months. That speed is the entire point. Get the timeline and the payoff terms in writing.
Bridge loan, HELOC, or a home sale contingency
You actually have four ways to buy before you sell, and they are not equal. Here is how they compare for a Davie move up.
| Path | How it works | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge loan | Short term loan against your current equity, repaid when your home sells | You need to close fast and want a non contingent offer |
| HELOC as a bridge | Revolving line of credit on your current home, generally cheaper than a bridge loan | You set it up before you list, because most lenders will not open one on a home already for sale |
| Home sale contingency | Your offer depends on your current home selling first | The home you want is sitting, or the market has cooled |
| Settlement contingency | Your current home is already under contract, and your purchase depends on that closing | You are further along and want a lower risk contingency a seller may accept |
The HELOC catch is timing. A home equity line is usually the cheaper way to bridge, but most lenders will not approve one once your home is listed for sale. You have to set it up weeks before your first showing. You also have to carry three obligations on paper while you qualify, your current mortgage, the line, and the new loan, so your debt to income has to absorb all three. Talk to your lender before you list, not after.
A plain home sale contingency is the weakest offer on the table. In Davie, where good homes still draw competing offers, many sellers reject an offer that depends on you selling first, because they carry the double risk of two sales instead of one. A settlement contingency, where your current home is already under contract, is easier for a seller to accept. It often comes with a kick out clause that lets the seller keep marketing and bump you if a cleaner offer arrives. Read that clause closely before you sign. It is the same kind of contingency risk I walk buyers through when we talk about an appraisal gap before we write anything.
What buying before you sell costs you in Davie
The real cost is carrying two homes for a stretch, plus the price of the short term money. Budget for the overlap. That means two mortgage payments, two sets of taxes and insurance, and the bridge loan or line costs on top. The way to keep that window short is to have your current home priced and ready the day you close on the next one, which is exactly what a seller net sheet is for.
Two Florida specifics work in your favor here, and both are single family homestead benefits worth confirming:
- Save Our Homes portability. When you buy your next Florida homestead, you can carry your accrued assessment cap to the new home, which softens the property tax jump. Buying before you sell does not forfeit it, as long as both homes are homesteaded inside the state window. Confirm your numbers with the Broward County Property Appraiser, and see the Save Our Homes portability guide for how the transfer works.
- Documentary stamp tax and closing costs. Florida charges documentary stamp tax on the deed, and on the new note if you finance. Those are real costs on both the purchase and the sale. Confirm the current rates and recording fees with Broward County rather than a rule of thumb.
For zoning, permitting, or acreage questions on a Davie move up, the Town of Davie is the primary source.
This is the part most move up buyers get backward. They fall for the next house first, then scramble for the money. I run it the other way. I map your equity, your timeline, and the strongest offer your financing supports before you tour, the same way a complete Davie buyer guide frames the whole purchase, and I do it with the data and syndication a Coldwell Banker Broker Associate can pull. If you want the full picture of running both closings at once, here is how buying and selling at the same time actually works in Davie. The house is the easy part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to sell my Davie home before I can buy the next one?
No. A bridge loan or a HELOC lets you borrow against your current equity and buy first, then repay from your sale. You can also write an offer with a home sale or settlement contingency. Which path fits depends on your equity, your timeline, and how competitive the home you want is.
Is a bridge loan or a HELOC better for buying before I sell?
A HELOC is usually the cheaper way to bridge, but most lenders will not open one once your home is listed, so you have to set it up before you go to market. A bridge loan costs more and closes faster, and it is built for exactly this move. Confirm current rates and terms with your lender.
Will a Davie seller accept an offer contingent on selling my home?
Often not, when the home is drawing interest. A plain home sale contingency carries double risk for the seller, so many reject it. A settlement contingency, where your home is already under contract, is easier to accept and may come with a kick out clause. A non contingent offer backed by a bridge loan reads strongest.
How much equity do I need to buy before I sell?
Lenders want you to keep an equity cushion in the home you borrow against, and they weigh your combined loan to value and your debt to income across both homes. The exact threshold varies by lender and program, so confirm your own numbers before you count on them.
Does buying before selling cost me my Save Our Homes cap?
No, as long as both homes are homesteaded inside Florida’s portability window. You can carry your accrued Save Our Homes benefit to your next Davie homestead. Confirm the specifics and timing with the Broward County Property Appraiser.
Talk to a Davie Real Estate Expert
Anthony Spitaleri, Broker Associate, REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Realty and a Davie native, maps the equity, the timeline, and the strongest offer your financing supports before you ever tour the next home. If you are planning a move up in Davie and want to know whether a bridge loan, a HELOC, or a contingency fits your situation, the next step is a direct conversation. Schedule a free 15-minute strategy call and walk into your next offer with the money already mapped.
Anthony Spitaleri
Broker Associate, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker Realty
Creator of Living in Davie, Florida
Davie, Florida | Serving Davie, Weston and surrounding Broward markets
954-235-5783
Florida License BK3281907
@livingindavieflorida
Written by Anthony Spitaleri, Broker Associate, REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Realty and a Davie native. More about Anthony
