Short-Term Loan
Explore how short-term loans work in Canadian real estate and how they help bridge financial gaps during fast-moving transactions or transitions.
May 22, 2025
What is a Short-Term Loan?
A short-term loan is a temporary loan with a repayment period of less than one year, typically used to cover immediate or transitional real estate expenses.
Why do Short-Term Loans Matter in Real Estate?
In Canadian real estate, short-term loans provide fast access to funds when timing is critical. They are commonly used to bridge the gap between buying and selling properties, fund renovations, or meet closing requirements while waiting for long-term financing.Key characteristics include:
- High interest rates due to shorter repayment windows
- Often interest-only, repaid in a lump sum
- Can be secured by home equity or collateral
Short-term loans can come from traditional lenders or private sources and are particularly useful for real estate investors, house flippers, or buyers in competitive markets.
Understanding short-term loans helps buyers and sellers navigate cash flow gaps and prevent missed opportunities due to timing constraints.
Example of a Short-Term Loan in Action
A buyer takes a 90-day short-term loan to cover a $40,000 deposit while awaiting the closing of their existing home sale.
Key Takeaways
- Temporary loan repaid within a year.
- Used to bridge timing or funding gaps.
- Higher interest, faster approval.
- Useful for fast closings or renovations.
- Often repaid after a property sells or is refinanced.
Related Terms
- Bridge Loan
- Private Lending
- Short-Term Financing
- Down Payment
- HELOC


Canada residential unit sales by month, actual, 2019 and 2024-2026. Data through June 2026. Source:
Canada residential sales-to-new-listings ratio, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source:
Canada residential months of inventory, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source: Source:
Year-over-year change in residential average sale price for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2022 to June 2026. Average price is shown here as a regional mix measure, not a substitute for HPI or local comparable sales. Source:
Year-over-year change in residential unit sales for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2024 to June 2026. Source: 






15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)
Renderings of the tower proposed for 15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)

Goldberg Group 
10-storey apartment building currently occupying 525 Eglinton Avenue East/WND Associates
Rendering of 525 Eglinton Avenue East/Wallman Architects
The Mayfair West site and its surrounding context. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
Renderings of Mayfair West. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
