Close in days when the contract clock is running

Some loans have time to move through a bank. Some don't. If the closing date is tight, the first question is not just rate. It's whether the lender, title company, appraisal, borrower documents, and property information can move quickly enough.

Select bridge programs close in as fast as three to five days, and most deals close in less than a month. The fastest deals have clean title, available documents, clear property information, and a lender already comfortable with the property type. A conventional bank loan usually needs 60 to 90 days.

The way to protect a closing date is to find the slow spots early. Order reports as soon as you're under contract, have your package ready before you apply, and work with a lender who controls the decision rather than passing it through a committee.