What Is a Bridge Loan and When Do You Need One? If you’re thinking about buying your next home before selling your current one, you might be wondering how to access your equity — especially if most of your down payment is tied up in the house you still live in. That’s where a bridge loan  comes in. A bridge loan is a short-term financing tool that helps Texas homeowners tap into their equity so they can move forward confidently without having to wait for their home to sell fi