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[I517]Is A Bridge Loan

by Cameron Brown, Cam

You have to move fast in today's housing market if you want to get into the home of your dreams. In cities such as Seattle or San Francisco it's not uncommon for a buyer to receive half a dozen offers within the first day or two after putting the house on the market.

Unless you have enough excess income to buy a second home without selling your current abode, you will have to play the timing game; finding a home to purchase while finding a buyer for your own. This can be especially sticky if you are buying in an area with a hotter market than the one you're leaving. Most sellers won't be willing to accept ‘contingent' offers (you buying their home is ‘contingent' on you selling your home) because of the overwhelming demand in the area manifest by the numerous potential buyers beating down their door.

Under these competitive conditions, a bridge loan may be just what you need to avoid missing out on a time sensitive real estate purchase. Not sure how to go about securing a bridge loan? Eventually you'll go through a bank or private lender to get a bridge loan, but it pays to know the basics before you set foot into the local loan office.

Bridge Loan Basics

Strictly defined, a bridge loan is a form of second trust that is collateralized by your present home in a manner that allows the proceeds to be used for closing on a new house before the old house is sold.

The fact that you are not immediately required to sell your old home makes a bridge loan the logical solution for people in relatively cold markets who need to act quickly in order to close on a new home.

Most people who get a bridge loan will use the extra cash to pay off the mortgage on the old home, deduct any closing costs and prepaid interest, and put the remainder towards a down payment on the new home.

A bridge loan entails substantial risk for the lender because the old home may not sell for some time. Therefore, you can expect relatively high interest rates and short terms of six months to a year. The borrower usually begins making interest payments after the end of the term if the old house still hasn't sold.

After the old home sells, the bridge loan is paid off. If the house sells within the term limit, all unearned interest is credited back to the borrower.

Get Professional Bridge Loan Advice

Before you sign on any dotted lines, make sure the lender you're working with has taken all the time you need to explain bridge loan details to your satisfaction. Depending on your individual situation, securing a bridge loan can be somewhat complicated. Having a relationship of trust with your lender can help simplify the process.

A short term bridge loan may be just what the doctor ordered if you are having trouble making ends meet. A short term bridge loan helps you to “bridge the gap" between your expenses and income. A bridge loan is not a long term solution, but it is an excellent short term solution to your money problems. If for some reason your income has been eclipsed by your expenses, you may need to borrow money to pay for those additional expenses until you get paid again.

It happens. For example, maybe a once-a-year payment has come due that you have simply not had the money to save up for it. House insurance, property taxes, or annual life insurance are all examples of when this can happen. Unfortunately, paying those things is not optional… especially if you want the service! Or maybe it is simply a mistake in your monthly budgeting and you find yourself short of cash one month. This happens to people during the Christmas season. Or maybe there was a once in a lifetime opportunity you couldn’t pass up… but now you’re paying for it! No need to worry about it! There’s a solution.

Instead of defaulting on your expenses, you can now pay them with a short term bridge loan, then pay back the short term bridge loan over time.

A short term bridge loan allows you to take control of your finances again. But it comes with a warning!

Be sure that repaying your short term bridge loan is possible within your current budget! You don’t want to have to take out a bridge loan to pay for your bridge loan! Secondly, if you are taking out bridge loans every month or two (even if you are paying them off regularly) that should be a warning sign that you have a budgeting problem that needs to be addressed. And when you have a budgeting problem, you either need to increase your income or decrease your expenses.

No one wants to live their life in poverty. There’s no need to be hit hard by being a week or two short between your budget and your income. If that’s the case, you can simply apply for a UK short term bridge loan as your solution!

Article Source : Pg. 150

About Author

Both Cameron Brown & Bob Benson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Cameron Brown has sinced written about articles on various topics from Debts Loans, Property Investment and Finances. . Cameron Brown's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.

Bob Benson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business and Finance, Buying and Selling Home and Finances. Jeff Lakie is a contributing author at our website where You can get a free right now. Take a moment and see for yourse. Bob Benson's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.