What Is Gap Funding? The Missing Piece in Real Estate Deals

Gap Funding

When it comes to closing real estate investment deals—especially fix-and-flips or BRRRRs—many investors find themselves stuck. They’ve secured a great property. They’ve got a first-position loan lined up. But they still don’t have enough capital to cover everything. That’s where Gap Funding comes in.

🔍 What Is Gap Funding?

Gap funding is short-term capital that fills the “gap” between your primary loan (usually from a hard money or DSCR lender) and the total cash needed to close and renovate the deal.

This often includes:

  • Down payments

  • Closing costs

  • Rehab expenses

  • Interest reserves

  • Carrying costs

It bridges the gap between what you have and what you need to bring the deal to life—without tying up all your personal capital.

💡 The Cost of Gap Funding: Working with a Gator and a Connector

Gap funding is especially valuable in creative real estate deals that can’t be 100% financed traditionally. When you work with a Gator (a private lender offering short-term funds) and a Connector (the middleman who facilitates the relationship), it’s essential to understand the structure and costs:

Gator Lender Costs

  • 15–25% Flat Fee or interest on the amount funded.
    Example: $50,000 gap loan = $7,500–$12,500 fee.

  • Short Term Duration: Typically 90–180 days.

  • Second Position Risk: Gators often lend behind a first-position lender, justifying the premium.

Connector Costs

  • Flat Fee: Ranges from $1,500–$5,000, often $5,000 for larger or more complex deals.

  • Profit Share (Optional): Some connectors receive 5–10% of the back-end profit on flips or high-margin deals.

💰 Example Deal Breakdown

  • Gap Needed: $100,000

  • Gator Fee @ 20%: $20,000

  • Connector Fee: $5,000

  • Total Cost of Gap Funding: $25,000

🐊 Why Work with a Gator Gapper Like Levine Capital?

At Levine Capital, we offer a specialized Gator Gapper service that provides:

✅ Gap funding behind your primary lender
✅ Fast approval and creative structuring
✅ Help covering down payments, rehab draws, and closing costs
✅ Flexible repayment timelines and term options
✅ White-label partnerships for brokers and Gators
✅ Reliable communication and transparent pricing

We’re not just funding deals—we’re solving the problems that keep investors from scaling.

🚨 Why Are the Costs So High?

Gap funding is expensive for a reason:

  • Short-Term Duration: Gators are in and out quickly

  • Higher Risk: Especially when lending in second position

  • No Traditional Underwriting: Deals get done based on speed and relationship, not red tape

  • Speed = Opportunity: You’re paying for certainty and speed in competitive markets

Gap

⚙️ How to Use Gap Funding the Right Way

Gap funding is a tool, not a crutch. To use it wisely:

1. Underwrite Conservatively

Your deal should comfortably absorb the cost of the Gator + connector. Don’t assume best-case ARVs—stay conservative.

2. Have a Clear Exit Strategy

Whether it’s a refinance or resale, you need a solid way to pay back your Gator within 3–6 months.

3. Work with Experienced Gators and Connectors

Creative deals can get messy. Make sure you’re working with pros who know DSCR, SubTo, seller finance, and more.

4. Always Include Costs in Your Deal Analysis

Plug all gap funding costs into your calculator before committing. It could make or break your ROI.

✅ Submit Your Deal to See If It Qualifies

You can get started in just 5 minutes.

📩 Submit your scenario 
📞 Book a a call

Final Thoughts

Gap funding is the difference between “almost” and “closed.” Yes, it costs more—but when your deal has strong margins or long-term cash flow, it’s the rocket fuel your business needs.

At Levine Capital, we’ve built our brand on creative financing, speed, and trust. If you’re ready to scale, we’re ready to fill the gap—literally.

"Working with a gap funder like Levine Capital is a game-changer for creative finance deals. They understand the nuances of short-term funding and are flexible enough to align with unique deal structures. Whether you're covering down payments, closing costs, or rehab expenses, their expertise ensures you can close deals quickly and efficiently. Just make sure your underwriting is solid and your exit strategy is clear—gap funding is a tool, not a crutch."
Pace Morby
—Pace GPT

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