What is a Bridging Loan?
Contents
A bridging loan is a type of short-term loan used to “bridge” the gap between the time when you need the loan and when you can get long-term funding.
Checkout this video:
What is a bridging loan?
Bridging loans are a type of short-term loan typically used to finance the purchase of a property. They are called bridging loans because they “bridge the gap” between the time when you need to buy a property and when you receive the money from selling your old property.
Bridging loans are usually interest-only loans, which means that you only have to pay the interest on the loan each month. You don’t have to repay the actual loan until you sell your old property.
Bridging loans are typically used by people who are buying a new property before they have sold their old one. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as:
-You might have found your dream home and want to buy it before someone else does.
-You might be moving to a new area for work and need to buy a property quickly.
-Your old property might be taking longer to sell than you expected.
Whatever your reason for taking out a bridging loan, it’s important to remember that they are a short-term solution. This means that you will need to sell your old property and repay the loan within 12 months, or sooner if you can.
How do bridging loans work?
Bridging loans are a very popular way of financing the purchase of a new property before the sale of your existing home has completed.
How do bridging loans work?
Bridging loans are designed to help you buy a property quickly, without having to wait for the sale of your existing home to go through.
The loan is secured against your current property, meaning that the lender will take possession of it if you default on the loan. This means that they are high risk and as such, the interest rates are usually higher than with other types of finance.
You will typically only be able to borrow up to around 70% loan-to-value (LTV), meaning that you will need to have at least 30% equity in your current property.
The length of time that you can borrow for will vary depending on the lender, but is typically around 12 months. Some lenders may offer longer terms, but you will usually have to pay an early repayment fee if you repay the loan before the end of the term.
What are the benefits of a bridging loan?
Bridging loans can be a useful way to buy a property quickly, without having to wait for the sale of your existing home to go through. They can also be used to buy a property at auction, where traditional mortgages may not be available.
The main benefit of a bridging loan is that it allows you to buy a property before selling your existing one, meaning that you don’t have to worry about finding temporary accommodation while you wait for your sale to go through. Bridging loans can therefore provide peace of mind and certainty in what can be a stressful time.
What are the risks?
As with any type of borrowing, there are risks associated with taking out a bridging loan. The main risk is that you may not be able to sell your existing home within the time frame that you have borrowed for, meaning that you could end up having to sell your new home and move into rented accommodation or default on the loan and lose your existing home. You should therefore only consider taking out a bridging loan if you are confident that you will be able to sell your existing home within the agreed time frame.
What are the benefits of a bridging loan?
A bridging loan is a type of short-term finance that can be used to ‘bridge’ the gap between buying a new property and selling your old one.
Bridging loans are typically arranged for a period of 12 months, but can be extended to 18 months if needed.
The main benefit of taking out a bridging loan is that it means you don’t have to sell your old property before you can buy your new one. This gives you the flexibility to move quickly when you find the right property.
Another benefit of a bridging loan is that they can be arranged quickly and easily, often within a matter of weeks. This is useful if you need to move fast to avoid losing out on your dream home.
The main downside of taking out a bridging loan is that they tend to be more expensive than other types of borrowing, such as a mortgage. This is because they are seen as higher risk by lenders, so interest rates are usually higher than for other loans.
If you’re thinking about taking out a bridging loan, make sure you compare different deals to get the best rate possible. You should also speak to an experienced financial advisor who can help you understand the risks and decide if this type of borrowing is right for you.
What are the risks of a bridging loan?
As with any loan, there are risks involved in taking out a bridging loan. These risks include:
-You may have to pay additional fees if you extend the loan period.
-If the property doesn’t sell, you could end up owning two properties.
-The interest rates on bridging loans can be high.
-You may have to pay legal fees if the lender needs to appoint a solicitor.
How to get a bridging loan?
Bridging loans are a type of short-term loan used to “bridge” the gap between the purchase of a property and the finalization of long-term financing. For example, if you are buying a new home before selling your old one, you may take out a bridging loan to cover the down payment and other associated costs.
Bridging loans are typically interest-only loans, meaning that you only pay the interest on the loan during the term of the loan. At the end of the term, you would need to either pay off the loan in full or refinance into a long-term loan.
Because bridging loans are typically interest-only, they usually have lower monthly payments than traditional mortgages. However, because they are short-term loans, the overall cost of borrowing is usually higher.
If you are considering taking out a bridging loan, it is important to speak with a mortgage broker or lender to determine if this type of loan is right for you.