Bridging loans, also sometimes described as a bridge loan, is a type of loan which is used for short-term purposes. It is usually made use of between the time the finances are primarily required and the time that a long-term loan is obtained. Whenever collateral is used to secure this type of loan, it may also be termed a hard money loan. This is because the volume of money that is acquired is dependent upon the value of the real estate used to guarantee the loan.
When considering taking out this type financial solution, it should be understood that there will naturally be higher costs and interest fees involved than with a short-term loan. This is why borrowers usually work to quickly obtain a lower-cost, permanent solution to their financial needs. The advantage to this type of loan is that in most cases, funding can be obtained over a relatively short period of time. There is also very little paperwork involved in obtaining approval.
A bridge loan can be used for a variety of different purposes. In most instances, such loans are used to resolve immediate financial needs. For instance, when purchasing real estate, a buyer may choose to use this type of loan when they need to close on a purchase within a short period of time. There could be a bidding war over the property in question, the property may be in danger of being foreclosed or the seller may require immediate cash. A buyer may also utilize such a loan when they wish to purchase another home, but their existing home has not yet sold. The bridging loan could be used to purchase the new property until the old home sells. In such instances, obtaining a short-term loan could be a viable solution.
Such a loan might also be used for business purposes. For example, when a business owner needs operating capital to keep their business running for a short period of time and they anticipate receiving sufficient funding to repay the loan in the near future, a bridge loan may be used.
When searching for a lender that offers these types of loans, there are several important factors to take into consideration. For many people, one of the most important factors to consider is the cost of the loan. You need to carefully consider the interest rate that is being charged. Typically, you can anticipate a higher interest rate when taking out this type of loan because it is for a shorter period of time. Also, some lenders may feel there is an inherent higher level of risk due to fact that less paperwork is required for approval and thus, may charger a higher interest rate.
It is also important to find out specifically how long the processing period will be to be approved. When there is a need for a hard money loan, the need to obtain necessary funding is often immediate. This means you may not have a large window of opportunity. As such, it is important to ensure your application can be approved in the shortest amount of time possible.
Finally, find out the duration of the loan. Remember, most such loans are designed for short-term use only, with the expectation that you will secure permanent, long-term financing within a short amount of time. Make sure that the duration of the loan will allow you sufficient time to obtain permanent financing. When all of the factors are taken into consideration, a short-term loan can be a viable solution.
Bridging finance or commercial bridging loans are generally used for time sensitive purchases of property.