A bridge loan allows you to take more time between transactions by allowing you to access your home equity before selling.
Bridge loans can allow you to avoid making a contingent offer on a house you wish to buy. Sale-contingent offers to provide you the option to pull out of the deal if your present property does not sell, but they make sellers uneasy.
Article Road Map
What Is a Bridge Loan?
A bridge loan is a type of short-term financing that allows people and businesses to borrow money for up to a year.
Bridge loans are also known as bridging loans, interim loans, gap loans, and swing loans. They are secured by collateral such as the borrower’s home or other assets.
Interest rates on bridge loans generally range from 8.5 percent to 10.5 percent, making them more expensive than standard, long-term financing choices.
Bridge loans, on the other hand, have a speedier application and underwriting process than regular loans.
Plus, if you can get a mortgage to buy a new house, you should be able to get a bridge loan as well—assuming you have enough equity in your current property.
As a result, bridge loans are a popular choice for homeowners who need immediate cash to buy a new home before selling their present one.
>> More: What Is Loan – A Comprehensive Guide
Cost Of A Bridge Loan
If you want to buy a new house or other real estate but haven’t sold your present one, bridge loans are a simple method to get interim financing.
This form of financing, on the other hand, is usually more expensive than a standard mortgage.
Interest rates for bridge loans vary depending on your creditworthiness and the size of the loan, but they often range from 3.25 percent to 8.5 percent or 10.5 percent.
Business bridge loans have significantly higher interest rates, which generally run from 15% to 24%.
Borrowers must pay closing expenses, as well as additional legal and administrative fees, in addition to the interest on the bridge loan.
A bridge loan’s closing expenses and fees generally vary from 1.5 percent to 3% of the entire loan amount, and may include:
- Fee for appraisal
- Fee for administration
- Fee for escrow
- The cost of a title insurance policy
- Fee for a notary
- Loan origination fee
>> More: What Is Installment Loans – And All You Need To Know
Types Of Bridge Loans
Open bridging loans, closed bridging loans, first charge bridging loans, and second charge bridging loans are the four types of bridge loans.
1. Open bridge loan
An open bridge loan’s repayment mechanism is unknown at the time of application, and there is no set payout date.
Most bridging firms deduct loan interest from the loan advance to protect the security of their cash. Borrowers that are unsure when their projected financing will be available choose an open bridging loan.
Lenders demand a higher interest rate for this sort of bridging loan due to the uncertainty of loan payback.
2. Closed Bridge Loan
A closed bridging loan is accessible for a defined period of time that both parties have agreed on.
Lenders are more inclined to accept it since it provides them with more assurance regarding loan repayment. It has a lower interest rate than a traditional bridging loan.
3. First Charge Bridge Loans
A first charge bridging loan grants the lender’s first claim to the property. If a default occurs, the first charge bridge loan lender will be paid first, followed by additional lenders.
Due to the low degree of underwriting risk, the loan fetches lower interest rates than second charge bridging loans.
4. Second Charge Bridge Loans
The lender of a second charge bridging loan accepts the second charge after the first charge lender. These loans are just for a short time, usually less than a year.
They are more likely to default and, as a result, have a higher interest rate. After all, obligations owed to the first charge bridging loan lender have been paid, a second charge loan lender will begin collecting payment from the customer.
The bridging lender for a second charge loan, on the other hand, uses the identical repossession rig.
>> More: Loan Collateral: What Are They and How They Work Best
How Does A Bridge Loan Work
A real estate bridge loan can be utilized to purchase a new house while your existing one is being sold.
A bridge loan is a type of loan that helps you finance the purchase of a new house. For instance, you might use it to pay for the closing expenses of a new mortgage.
When making an offer to purchase a property, you can also utilize a bridge loan to present an offer without a financial constraint.
A finance contingency is a clause in a contract that allows a buyer to receive their money back if they are unable to get financing.
Sellers like bids with fewer stipulations, but you should have safeguards in place in case you can’t get financing.
In a hot home market, a bridge loan might provide you an advantage over other purchasers. For example, if a seller wants to sell quickly (which many do), he or she may be more likely to make a fair offer for a bidder who can close soon.
>> More: What Is a Secured Loan: Complete Guide
When To Use A Bridge Loan
Bridge loans are most often utilized by homeowners who wish to purchase a new home before selling their old one.
A borrower can utilize part of their bridge loan to pay off their current mortgage and the remainder to put down on a new property.
Similarly, a bridge loan can be used as a second mortgage to fund the down payment on a new property.
If you’re looking for a short-term loan, a bridge loan could be right for you if you:
You’ve decided on a new home and are in a seller’s market, which means properties are selling rapidly.
- You want to buy a house, but the seller won’t accept an offer until your existing home is sold first.
- You won’t be able to afford a down payment on a new house until you first sell your existing one.
- You’d like to close on a new house before selling your old one.
- You haven’t arranged the sale of your present property to close before the purchase of the new one.
Businesses can also utilize bridge loans to finance short-term costs or to take advantage of urgent real estate possibilities.
Hard money lenders, who finance loans using your property as security, and online alternative lenders are the most common sources of these loans for businesses.
The interest rates on these loans are greater than on other forms of company loans.
Business bridge loans are commonly used for the following purposes:
- Covering operational costs while a company waits for long-term funding.
- Obtaining the cash required to purchase real estate rapidly.
- Taking advantage of special discounts on inventory and other company resources that are only available for a limited period
>> More: Loan Terms: What You Should Know
Advantages And Disadvantages of Bridge loans
Bridge loans, like any other lending product, offer advantages and downsides for borrowers. It’s critical to understand and consider the benefits and drawbacks of any loan before applying.
Pros Of Bridge Loans
- Faster financing: A bridge loan generally takes less time to apply for and close than other forms of loans.
- Purchasing flexibility: A bridge loan might provide you with the money you need to close on a new property before selling your old one. That means that if you fall in love with a property, you may be able to purchase it without having to wait for your current home to sell.
- Remove conditions from your offer: Sellers are more likely to consider purchase bids that aren’t reliant on the sale of another property.
- Less housing hassle: You may utilize a bridge loan to help you buy a new home with less difficulty.
Cons Of Bridge Loans
Bridge loans are more costly than traditional loans, with higher upfront costs and interest rates.
- High interest rates: Because bridge loans have shorter durations, lenders have less time to earn money on them. As a result, interest rates on these types of short-term loans are often higher than on traditional loans.
- Origination fees: Fees for “originating” a loan are commonly charged by lenders. Bridge loan origination costs can be quite expensive, up to 3% of the loan amount.
- Equity required: Because a bridge loan utilizes your present house as collateral for a new home loan, lenders typically demand a specific percentage of equity in your current home to qualify, such as 20%.
- Sound finances: Strong credit and solid resources are generally required to get accepted for a bridge loan. Lenders can establish credit score and debt-to-income ratio requirements. In general, getting a bridge loan might be tough if your financial condition is precarious.
The greatest risk of a bridge loan is that you’ll still be accountable for the debt if your house doesn’t sell by the time you’re supposed to start repaying it.
You’ll be paying three loans until your old house sells: the two mortgages on the houses and then the bridge loan.
Because the bridge loan is backed by your first property as collateral, the lender may be able to seize on the home you are attempting to sell if you default on your bridge loan.
How To Repay A Bridge Loan
Typically, bridge loans must be returned in 12 months or fewer. The majority of individuals repay their bridge loan using proceeds from the sale of their present house, but there are other possibilities.
Bridge loans come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they always include a balloon payment at the end that must be paid in full by a specific date.
You may be allowed to postpone making payments for a few months after the bridge loan is closed, however, this will depend on the specific loan you were accepted for.
Bridge Loan Alternatives:
When you need money but don’t have access to a long-term loan, bridge loans might be a useful tool.
Bridge loans, on the other hand, put you in danger of losing your first property because they are only good for a year and have a hefty interest rate. Before taking out a bridge loan, think about the following options:
Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
A home equity line of credit allows homeowners to borrow money against the value of their property. Borrowers can use HELOCs on a revolving basis, with payback terms ranging from five to twenty years.
Borrowers will have considerably more time to repay their debts and will be less likely to fail and lose their homes as a result. In addition, HELOC interest rates are typically about prime + 2%, less than the 10.5 percent that may be charged to bridge loans.
Instead of taking out a bridge loan to fund a down payment on a new house, homeowners may utilize a HELOC to cover the down payment, draw on it as required, and then pay it off when their first home sells.
Home Equity Loan
A home equity loan, like a HELOC, allows homeowners to borrow against their house’s equity. A home equity loan is a flat sum payment, unlike a HELOC, which allows the borrower to draw against the line as needed.
Home equity loans, like HELOCs, generally start at around 2% above prime. This is a fantastic choice for homeowners who know exactly how much money they’ll need to make the down payment on their new house.
80-10-10 Loan
Homebuyers can acquire an 80-10-10 loan that covers 80% of the purchase price of a property and then piggyback on that loan with a second loan for 10% of the purchase price.
The 80-10-10 financing method requires a homeowner to put down just 10% of the purchase price as a down payment—hence the name.
The profits from the sale of the borrower’s first house can then be used to pay down the second mortgage.
Business Line of Credit
A revolving loan that firms can use to pay short-term expenditures is known as a business line of credit.
Lines of credit, unlike bridge loans, are not provided in a single sum, so the borrower only pays interest on what they actually use the line for.
Loan periods often range from a few months to ten years, with interest rates as low as 7% from established banks (interest rates vary by lender).
Keep in mind that getting a business line of credit from a traditional bank can be challenging, and internet lenders charge higher rates ranging from 4.8 percent to 99 percent.
As a result, company lines of credit should only be utilized for very short-term purposes like inventory replenishment or unexpected costs.
Conclusion
A bridge loan might be useful in some situations, such as when you need to buy a new house quickly before your old one sells.
However, although a bridge loan might help you get out of a tough situation or let you acquire a much-needed new home in a hot market more quickly, it can also make an expensive buy more accessible.
If you get one, you’ll have a lot more money to spend on real estate. However, if your present house does not sell quickly, you will add to your overall debt load and may end yourself paying off several loans at the same time.
As always, the ideal plan is to wait to sell your old property before buying a new one, assuming you can afford it.
Although a bridge loan may appear appealing, you should carefully consider the fees and dangers. Consider alternative choices before applying, such as a home equity line of credit, a personal loan, a 401(k) loan, or a home equity conversion mortgage.
These loans might also assist you in relocating from your present residence to your new one, perhaps without the danger of interest and costs connected with bridging loans.