You have three main paths forward: a bridge loan (short-term financing using your current home's equity at roughly 9–11% APR), a HELOC (a lower-rate revolving credit line at approximately 7.5–8% APR), or a contingent offer that makes your purchase conditional on selling first. In Bonita Springs' current buyer's market — 8.4 months of supply as of spring 2026 — sellers are more receptive to contingencies than they've been in several years. A fourth option, buy-before-you-sell programs from companies like HomeLight, can give you non-contingent offer strength without a traditional bridge loan. The right choice depends on your equity position, credit, timeline, and how quickly your current home is likely to sell.
This is one of the most common situations we see with move-up buyers, downsizers, and homeowners relocating within Southwest Florida — and it's a problem with real solutions, not just "wait and hope."
Your four options
Option 1: Bridge loan
A short-term loan (typically 6–12 months) secured by your current home's equity, funding your new down payment, repaid when your current home sells. In Lee County, the average bridge loan funded in Q1 2026 was $300,458 at an average 9.56% APR. On a $300,000 bridge loan at 10% APR, expect roughly $15,000 in interest and fees over six months — not cheap, but it solves a specific problem: moving forward without waiting for a buyer to materialize. To qualify you'll typically need 20–50% equity in your current home, a credit score of 650+ (720+ preferred), your current home actively listed, and the financial capacity to carry your existing mortgage, new mortgage, and bridge loan simultaneously. Bridge loans fund quickly, often in 35–45 days.
Option 2: HELOC
A revolving credit line against your equity, similar to a credit card but secured by your home. 2026 rates run roughly prime + 0.5%, or 7.5–8% APR — meaningfully lower than a bridge loan. The tradeoff: a HELOC takes 2–6 weeks to set up, and most lenders freeze or reduce your line once your home is listed — so it needs to be established before you list. If you have time to plan ahead, a HELOC is typically the most cost-effective path, and you only pay interest on what you actually draw.
Option 3: Contingent offer
Makes your purchase conditional on selling your current home within a set timeframe, usually 30–60 days. Two years ago these were nearly impossible here; that's changed. As of spring 2026, Bonita Springs sits at 8.4 months of supply (down from 11.4 but still above the six-month equilibrium), with closed sales up 10.1% year over year and pending sales up 33.9%. The market is moving, but sellers are negotiating. Having your current home already actively listed and priced accurately — not aspirationally — makes your contingent offer far more attractive, and adding a kick-out clause (letting the seller keep marketing and accept a better non-contingent offer if one comes in) can seal the deal.
Option 4: Buy-before-you-sell programs
Companies like HomeLight, Orchard, and Homeward advance you equity from your current home so you can make a non-contingent offer, then sell your old home after you've moved — usually vacant, which typically produces a better result. HomeLight's program is available in Bonita Springs: they unlock a portion of your equity upfront, you buy and move, then list your current home; if it doesn't sell within 120 days, HomeLight purchases it and continues marketing, with any remaining profit coming back to you. These programs typically charge 2–3% of the sale price — real money, but for homeowners needing move-once simplicity and non-contingent offer strength, the math can work.
Falling in love with a property before you've confirmed you can actually close on it is the most common mistake in simultaneous transactions.
What to work through before you decide
Start with your equity position — get your seller's net sheet (actual dollars after doc stamps, title fees, commissions, and pre-sale costs) to define your real buying budget. Be honest about your current home's sellability: strong demand and good condition favors a contingent offer, especially in today's market; a home needing work or sitting in a softer segment favors a bridge loan or buy-before-sell program. A pre-listing inspection before you start making offers on anything new eliminates surprise repair demands under contract — the most common reason simultaneous transactions fall apart. And talk to a lender about your qualifying picture early — not every homeowner can qualify for a bridge loan while carrying an existing mortgage; the debt-to-income math doesn't always work.