Listed below are some of the reasons for choosing a bridging loan. A bridging loan is a short term mortgage which is secured by your property. This is usually arranged by getting a mortgage on the new property, and taking out a second mortgage on the property being sold.

In effect, this type of lending is a kind of mortgage. It is secured on your home, but without the low interest rates usually associated with a mortgage. You must be aware of the risks associated with this. If you fail to sell your existing home, there is a chance you'll have to sell your new home just to pay off the lending.

Probably the most common use of a bridging loan would be connected to buying a property. A bridging loan gives you an agreed amount to help you bridge the gap between selling and buying your property.

Being self employed or having an adverse credit history or CCJs need not be a problem. A bridging loan can even enable people who have an adverse credit history to build a track record before applying for a conventional mortgage. A successful bridging loan can have a positive effect on a borrower's credit score making future finance more attainable.

Bridging loans can be used to purchase properties at auction, fund short-term commercial or residential renovations, and to safeguard a property purchase if the mortgage is delayed.

A useful feature of bridging loans is that the client can repay capital at any time, thus reducing the outstanding balance and monthly instalments.

A bridging loan can be used for a variety of purposes such as:

To enable the purchase of one property before the completion on the sale of another.

To fund the purchase of a property abroad.

Provide temporary funding for the purchase of a 'defective' property, pending completion of repairs. To fund the urgent purchase of a property, pending arrangement of a long-term mortgage.

To raise capital for any purpose, pending a sale of the security property.

These are some of the benefits of a bridging loan:

An easy and manageable route to generating extra cash.

No survey, valuation or solicitors fees to pay.

You can use the cash for any purpose.

Bridging finance is increasingly used for property development including site purchase, self-build projects and property conversions. In the property investment market bridging loans can be used for completing purchases quickly; for example, when property has been secured at auction. They can also be cost-effective for clients wishing to acquire property for refurbishment and re-sale.

In fact, bridging finance can typically be used for any genuine commercial purpose as a short-term measure. Because of the short-term nature of the loan however you should expect to pay more interest and higher fees than with a long-term loan.

Some lenders offer fast in-principle decisions and may be able to release funds for clients very quickly. This 'quick' element allows clients to secure a property speedily, and with the minimum of stress.

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