What is a Bridging Loan?

A bridging loan as the name implies is a loan used to "bridge" the financial gap between monies required for your new property completion prior to your existing property having been sold.

A bridging loan is in simple terms a short-term mortgage that is secured against the property that you are selling, with the money that is lent being used to complete the purchase of the new property. Because of the nature of their use, bridging loans can be arranged in a very short period of time, usually around seven to ten days, which is important when you need to complete on the purchase or risk loosing the property.

Bridging loans are short term loans arranged when you need to purchase a house but are unable to arrange the mortgage for some reason, such as there is a delay in selling your existing property. Timing is of the essence when selling one property and buying another. Sometimes if you are looking for a new home and the right property becomes available, it is not always possible to wait until your current home is sold.

The beauty of bridging loans is that a bridging loan can be used to cover the financial gap when buying one property before the existing one is sold. For example, if you are in a chain, where you are buying a property at the same time as selling a property, it's possible that you'll be put in the situation where you need to complete your purchase, but the funds from your buyer are not available. You are now under pressure to complete on a particular date but do not have the funds available. This is where bridging loans come in. They are looked on as short term lending to cover a specific short term need.

Bridging loans can be arranged for any sum between £25000 to a few million pounds and can be borrowed for periods from a week to up to six months. Because of the nature of bridging loans they can usually be arranged at short notice and within a few days. Bridging loans are widely available and can usually be arranged by your existing mortgage provider.

A bridging loan is similar to a mortgage where the amount borrowed is secured on your home but the advantage of a mortgage is that it attracts a much lower interest rate. While bridging loans are convenient the interest rates can be very high. When considering a bridging loan please remember that you may be paying not only for the bridging loan but also for the mortgage on your existing property. Although bridging loans are convenient, you need to consider the pitfalls too, like the high interest rates.

The downside to the fast nature of these types of loan is that the interest rates charged on them are relatively high, this is because not only are they short-term and for large amounts, but the risks to the lenders of non-payment are higher than for other circumstances and this is taken into account when the loan rates are calculated. Although the rates are high when compared to other loans available on the market, when you take into account the short amount of time over which this interest is charged, and the benefits that a bridging loan can bring, the costs are reasonable.

Bridging loans are designed to provide you with the equity from your current home in order to make your new purchase, before you are able to sell your own property. The loan is secured against the home that you are selling in the form of a mortgage or second mortgage, and will allow you in general to release around 65% of the property's value. With these funds you are then in a position to complete the purchase of the new property, and once your old property sells you can clear the bridging loan. If you are considering such a loan, you should be confident of a sale, and that you will be able to clear the debt within six months, as the high interest rates are something that you do not want to be paying long-term.

Bridging loans are available to the people that have found it more difficult to get mortgages, such as those with an adverse credit rating. This enables these people to build a track record before applying for the traditional mortgage. Bridging loans can take from 48 hours at the shortest to around ten days if the circumstances are more complex.

Despite the costs, bridging loans are very popular, after all if you have spent a lot of time searching for the perfect property you will not want to miss out on it because of a relatively short delay in the sale of your current property. It is in these cases where bridging loans can prove invaluable, enabling you to secure the sale of the home that you want, and concentrate on the sale of your property at a later date.

Bridging loans can be provided for:

Residential property

Commercial property

Land

New build

Renovations or refurbishment

Speculative properties

Conversions

Overseas property

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

---

Guide to Personal Loans

Here is a useful guide to Personal loans. What is... Read More

What are Secured Loans?

Secured loans are one of the most popular personal loans... Read More

125% Equity Home Loans

If you are a homeowner in need of a home... Read More

Financial Aid for College Students - Grants

The bad news about attending college is that it costs... Read More

A Look at the Origins of Online Lending

You might find yourself wondering about the origins of online... Read More

Where to Look for a Fast Homeowner Loan

If you're looking for a fast homeowner loan, you might... Read More

Risk It With A Bridging Loan?

How many times have you been casually going about your... Read More

Unsecured Loans ? Substituting Secured Loans

Watching more and more people fall in the trap laid... Read More

A Guide to the Bad Credit Personal Loan

Here is a useful guide to the bad credit personal... Read More

Car Loans - Shop Around, Compare Offers, and Watch The Small Print

Getting a loan to buy your new car is, you... Read More

Short Term Payday Loans - Use One Online To Get Cash Quick

Short term payday loans are now available online. After filling... Read More

What is Credit?

Ever wondered what is credit? Credit is more than just... Read More

How to Finance a Small Business

Confused by how to finance a small business? One key... Read More

What are Home Improvement Loans?

Home improvement loans are loans specifically designed by loans companies... Read More

Bridging Loans - Fulfilling Financial Shortfall between Real Estate Transactions

You are trying to buy a new property and selling... Read More

Instant Cash Advance Loans - Take Advantage of The Convenience of The Payday Loans Available Online

Cash advance loans not only provide you with instant cash,... Read More

Shopping for a Secured Personal Loan

If you find yourself looking for a loan, you'll likely... Read More

A Beginners Guide to Bad Credit Secured Loans

Here is a useful beginner's guide to bad credit secured... Read More

Finding the Bad Credit Personal Loans that You Need

It can seem impossible at times to get bad credit... Read More

Car Loans for People With Bad Credit

Car loans for people with bad credit are readily available... Read More

Short Term Loans...are they right for you?

With less than a week before she was to receive... Read More

5 Things Pensioners Applying for a Loan Should Remember

Are you a pensioner applying for a loan? Here are... Read More

Auto Loans: Top 5 Tips For The Best Rate

You've got your eye on that shiny new Lexus -... Read More

Guide to Bad Credit Loans

Here is a useful guide to Bad Credit loans. Bad... Read More

What is a Cash Advance Loan?

A cash advance loan is a short-term loan secured by... Read More

When is a Commercial Lender not a Commercial Lender?

A Commercial Lender is Not a Commercial Lender When it... Read More

Should You Get A Pay Day Loan?

Whether you have good credit, bad credit or no credit,... Read More

A Brief Look at the Origins of Lending

When trying to discover the origins of lending you might... Read More

Are You In The Market For a Car Loan?

Car loans are a tempting way to purchase a new... Read More

Understanding Personal Loans, Cash Advances and Payday Loans

Have you ever been short on cash? Has an unforeseen... Read More

UK Loans Guide - Channelising Your Rising Budget in a Productive Mmanner

Every unknown road needs a milestone to configure where it... Read More

Zero Zero Financing on Automobiles in Retrospect

Some say that the automobile industry saved the economy during... Read More

Military Payday Loans ? When?s The Best Time To Avail Of These?

What are the opportune times to avail of military payday... Read More