I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655, DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700), Tiburon, CA. I’ve been in California mortgage lending since 2000 and founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Call (800) 239-1103.
You’ve found the perfect home in Tiburon. Views of the bay, half an acre, exactly what you’ve been looking for. The listing just hit the market and you have two days to submit an offer. There’s just one problem: you still own your home in Kentfield, and you haven’t sold it yet.
In most U.S. markets you could make a contingent offer — “I’ll buy yours if I sell mine.” In Marin County and San Francisco, that offer gets passed over every time. Sellers here have multiple non-contingent bids within 72 hours of listing. They won’t wait. A bridge loan is the solution.
Why Contingent Offers Don’t Work in Marin and San Francisco
The median home price in Marin County exceeds $1.5M. In San Francisco neighborhoods like Pacific Heights or Noe Valley, you’re often looking at $2M+. At these price points, sellers attract serious buyers who don’t need to sell to buy. When you submit a contingent offer next to three non-contingent ones, you lose — even if your offer price is higher.
The contingency introduces uncertainty. The seller has to wait on your sale, accept the risk that your deal falls through, and potentially sit through an extended escrow. Most listing agents advise their clients to take the clean offer every time.
How a Bridge Loan Solves This
A bridge loan gives you access to the equity in your current home before you sell it. You use those funds to make a strong, non-contingent offer on the new home. Once you close on the new property, you move in, then sell your old home — often for more money because you’ve had time to stage it properly and list it in favorable market conditions.
DiVita Home Finance specializes in bridge loan structures for Marin County and San Francisco buyers, working with portfolio lenders who understand Bay Area valuations and can underwrite quickly. We frequently close bridge loans in 10–15 business days.
Cross-Collateralization: The Bay Area Bridge Loan Strategy
The most effective structure for high-equity Marin and SF homeowners is cross-collateralization. Instead of a traditional bridge loan secured only by your departing home, cross-collateralization pledges both properties — your current home and your new home — as collateral on a single loan.
The advantages are significant: no cash down payment required (your existing home’s equity covers it), one loan and one payment (easier to manage than a traditional bridge with a separate mortgage), deferred or interest-only payments (keeps carrying costs manageable while you sell), and you move once — no temporary housing, no double moves.
Real Numbers: What This Looks Like in Marin
Say you own a home in Mill Valley worth $1.8M with a $400K mortgage. You want to buy in Tiburon at $2.2M. Here’s how a cross-collateral bridge loan might work:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mill Valley home value | $1,800,000 |
| Existing mortgage balance | $400,000 |
| Available equity | $1,400,000 |
| Tiburon purchase price | $2,200,000 |
| Bridge loan (covers down + closing) | $500,000 |
| New 30-year mortgage (post-bridge) | $1,700,000 |
| Cash needed at close | $0–$50,000 |
Once your Mill Valley home sells, the bridge loan is paid off. You’re left with just the new mortgage on your Tiburon home.
Which Marin Cities Have the Most Bridge Loan Activity?
Bridge loans are most common where move-up buyers need to compete in tight markets. In Marin County, that means Tiburon and Belvedere (ultra-premium market; sellers rarely accept contingencies), Ross and Kentfield (high equity, strong demand, fast-moving listings), Mill Valley and Sausalito (popular move-up market from SF buyers crossing the bridge), Corte Madera and Larkspur (family-focused neighborhoods with strong seller leverage), and San Rafael and Novato (more inventory but still competitive; bridge loans help buyers stand out).
What About San Francisco?
The same dynamics apply across San Francisco. In Pacific Heights, Noe Valley, Cole Valley, and the Marina District, multiple offer situations are the norm rather than the exception in spring and fall markets. SF homeowners sitting on significant equity — often $1M+ in homes purchased before 2020 — are natural candidates for bridge financing.
DiVita Home Finance has helped San Francisco homeowners use bridge loans to upgrade neighborhoods, upsize for growing families, and move to Marin without ever losing their position in a competitive offer situation.
Bridge Loan FAQ — Marin County & San Francisco
How does a bridge loan work for Marin County buyers?
A bridge loan lets you access the equity in your current home before selling it. You close on the new Marin home first with a non-contingent offer, then sell your existing property on your timeline. DiVita structures cross-collateral bridge loans that often require little to no cash at closing.
How quickly can I close a bridge loan in the Bay Area?
DiVita Home Finance frequently closes bridge loans in 10–15 business days. Our portfolio lenders understand Bay Area valuations and move quickly — which is essential in Marin and San Francisco’s competitive market where listings receive multiple offers within 72 hours.
What is cross-collateralization in a Bay Area bridge loan?
Cross-collateralization pledges both your current home and your new home as collateral on a single bridge loan. Your existing equity acts as your down payment, often eliminating the need for cash at closing. It’s especially effective for high-equity Marin and SF homeowners buying in the $1.5M–$3M+ range.
Related Resources: Bridge Loans California — Complete Guide | Marin County Mortgage Broker | San Francisco Mortgage Broker
Talk to Michael Directly
DiVita Home Finance | Tiburon, CA | In lending since 2000, founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Michael DiVita DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655. Company DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700.
💬 Text: (310) 849-9124
