Before the technology wave over the past 20-30 years, the wealthiest people in the world were industrialists. Many of them bought second homes in the same few places: Palm Beach, New York and Los Angeles. Those properties tended to stay in the family.
Today we see a lot of families, particularly European and Asian ones, who own exactly this kind of property. It might be an apartment on the Upper West Side, a townhouse in Manhattan, a house in Beverly Hills or Bel Air, a home in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, or an estate in Palm Beach. They bought years ago, the value has risen, and a large share of their net worth is now tied up in the walls. They are asset-rich but cash-constrained for new opportunities. A high-value bridging loan is one way to release that equity as cash without selling the home.
The equity sitting in prime US real estate
The numbers explain why. According to Redfin, luxury home prices in West Palm Beach have risen 187 percent over the past decade, more than in any other major US metro. Luxury pending sales in the metro rose 30 percent year over year in January 2026. Prime US property has been one of the better stores of wealth, and many long-term owners hold significant unrealised gains.
That equity is valuable, but it does nothing for an owner who needs cash today.
Prime US markets for high-value bridging loans
Our focus is on high-value residential and investment property in the markets where wealthy and overseas owners tend to hold assets.
New York City. Manhattan neighbourhoods such as the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Tribeca, Greenwich Village, Central Park South and Midtown, along with Brooklyn Heights and other prime areas. Townhouses and condominiums are the most straightforward. Co-operative apartments are structured differently, because you own shares rather than real property, so we review them case by case.
Los Angeles and Southern California. Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica, the Hollywood Hills and West Hollywood. Many overseas families have held homes here for decades, and the equity is substantial. Properties in areas affected by the 2025 wildfires, including parts of Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena, need a closer look at insurance and rebuild status, so we review them individually.
San Francisco and the Bay Area. Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Atherton, Hillsborough, Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Los Altos. The technology wave has pushed values up, and many owners are rich in property but short of liquid cash.
Palm Beach and South Florida. Palm Beach island, West Palm Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and the Florida waterfront markets that have attracted a wave of wealthy buyers.
Other prime markets. The Hamptons, Aspen, Santa Barbara and Montecito, Napa Valley and other resort and second-home locations, considered on their own merits.
Each market has its own rules on title, valuation and how the property is held, which is why we review every case individually.
What a high-value bridging loan is
A bridging loan is a short-term loan secured on real estate, designed to be repaid by a defined event: a sale, a refinance or another source of liquidity. Compared with a conventional mortgage, it is faster to arrange, built around the asset and the exit rather than the borrower’s income documents, and priced higher to reflect the short term.
In the high-value segment, that means loans secured on prime homes and investment properties, including properties owned by overseas borrowers and foreign nationals, which conventional US lenders often decline or handle slowly.
Why liquidity matters more in dislocated markets
In periods of dislocation, prices move, forced sellers appear and assets that were out of reach become available. The people who benefit are rarely those who are right about the market. They are the people who have cash and can act when the opportunity arrives.
Owners who hold their wealth only in property face a hard choice at those moments: sell a family asset in a hurry, or miss the opportunity. A bridging loan provides a third path. The property stays in the family, and cash becomes available for investment.
Who uses high-value bridging loans
- European, Asian and other overseas families who own US second homes with substantial equity in New York, California or Florida
- Owners of Manhattan apartments and townhouses who want liquidity without selling
- Owners of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Malibu or San Francisco properties whose wealth is concentrated in the home
- US-based owners whose wealth is tied up in property and who want cash without selling
- Investors who need to move quickly on an acquisition before another asset sells
- Owners of multiple properties who want to rebalance without triggering a sale
How it typically works
- Initial discussion. You outline the property, the amount you want to raise, the intended use and how the loan will be repaid.
- Property and ownership review. We look at the property, title, existing debt and how it is held, including trusts or companies.
- Indicative terms. If the deal fits, we present terms from capital providers we work with.
- Valuation and documentation. Standard third-party valuation and legal documents follow.
- Funding and exit. Funds are released, and the loan is repaid through the agreed exit.
Why GMG and America Mortgages
Global Mortgage Group is a Singapore-headquartered real estate finance and private credit platform with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and the United States. Our subsidiary company, America Mortgages, is a US mortgage lender focused on overseas borrowers, expats, and foreign nationals, so we understand the extra documentation and structuring that cross-border owners face. Our team brings an investment-banking standard of work to every file.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: Can foreign nationals get a bridging loan on US property?
Yes, in many cases. Lenders look at the property, the equity, the borrower’s profile and the repayment plan, and the structure can differ for overseas owners.
Q2: How long does a bridging loan last?
Terms are short, typically measured in months rather than years, and are set around the exit.
Q3: What can I use the funds for?
Common uses include investment opportunities, business needs and bridging to another asset sale. The repayment plan is the key.
Q4: Can I get a bridging loan on a Manhattan apartment or Upper West Side property?
Often yes, depending on the type of property and how it is owned. Condominiums and townhouses are usually more straightforward, while co-operative apartments need to be reviewed separately.
Q5: Do you lend on homes in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and San Francisco?
Yes. We consider high-value homes across California, including Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Malibu, Pacific Heights and the wider Bay Area, subject to the property, the borrower and the exit.
Q6: Does the location of the property change the terms?
It can. Valuation, title, local market depth and how the property is owned all affect the structure, which is why each case is assessed on its own.
Talk to us
If you own a prime US property and would like to explore how much equity you could access through financing, get in touch to discuss your options.
Donald Klip
Head, GMG Capital Advisory
[email protected]
WhatsApp: +65 9773-0273
Book a Call: https://calendly.com/gmgdonald/15min
This article is general information only and is not financial, legal or tax advice. Loan terms depend on the property, the borrower and the capital provider.
