The most important advantage of using Bridging Finance is that you can complete the purchase of a new property before the sale of your existing property has completed. As organising the sale of your existing property and co-ordinating the purchase of a new property can be extremely difficult and create stress and pressure. If there is enough equity in your existing property you may be able to incorporate the finance needed for all of the fees involved. A Bridging Finance Loan is a temporary home loan which enables a purchaser to buy the property of their choice without being held up by the lengthy sales process. This can be a huge plus when you find the property for you and you do not want to risk losing it through a lengthy chain in your sale. You can also use Bridging Finance to avoid moving into rented accommodation and move straight into your new home.
Bridging Finance also has the advantage of having a quick process and has many different uses. It can be used for funding auction finance, first and second mortgages, home renovation and refurbishment, new-build development and construction as well as debt consolidation. Many Bridging Finance providers offer a option to defer fees to be charged until the completion of your sale and then added to your new mortgage, this can be useful in keeping the costs down.
There are several disadvantages when using Bridging Finance that you should be aware of before choosing this route. You may be required to have sufficient equity in your current property to support the purchase of both properties. As well as this you should also note that until your existing property is sold your interest payments will keep adding up, this can lead to difficulties if you do not sell your property quickly. Taking out a Bridging Finance home loan may force you to sell your property at a price lower than you wish to due affordability. You will be charged interest on the entire amount of the new loan. A Bridging Loan is only designed for short term use to bridge the gap between your purchase and sale usually only between 6 to 12 months, obviously the shorter the term of the loan the less cost there will be to you.
When using Bridging Finance you will pay a higher rate of interest this is because Bridging Finance is seen as riskier by the lender. It can be difficult to find a bridging loan this is because the risks are high so not many lenders are involved in the bridging market. There usually is a large amount of paper work and money involved as the finance covers two properties. As the loan is short term lenders do not make the same kind of money as with a traditional mortgage. This makes providing Bridging Finance less attractive for lenders and subsequently results in there not being many available lenders in the market. So when you need a bridging loan quickly this can be awkward, if possible strike up a relationship with an institution that provides bridging finance before the time arises. As a bridging loan can be costly you should be absolutely certain that the property is worth it. If you really cannot do without the property then bridging finance could possibly be the best solution.