.png)
Bridge Loan
Bridge loans exist to meet immediate cash flow needs during the time between demand for cash and its availability. While this short-term loan is commonly used in business while waiting for long-term financing, consumers typically only use them in real estate transactions. Specifically, a bridge loan is used to eliminate a cash crunch and “bridge the gap” while buying and selling a home simultaneously.
How Does A Bridge Loan Work?
There are a couple of options for bridge loans. The two main ways that lenders package these temporary loans to meet the borrower’s needs are:
-
Hold two loans: In this case, you borrow the difference between your current loan balance and up to 80% of your home’s value. The funds in this second mortgage are applied to the down payment for your second home while you keep your first mortgage intact until you eventually are ready to pay it all off when you sell your home.
-
Roll both mortgages into one: This solution allows you to take out one large loan for up to 80% of your home’s value. You pay off the balance of your first mortgage and then apply the second toward the down payment of your next home.
The main reason most homebuyers turn to bridge loans is to allow them to put in a “contingency-free offer” on a new home, meaning that they are saying they can buy the house without selling their existing home. That can be an important factor in a “seller’s market,” where a number of buyers might be bidding on a home for sale. A seller is more apt to choose an offer without a contingency because it means they aren’t depending on your house selling in order to close the transaction.
It can also allow you to make a 20% down payment, which is known as a “piggyback loan,” a type of bridge loan specifically used to avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI). This insurance is required if you haven’t put at least 20% down as a down payment and it elevates your mortgage payment. That’s why some homeowners prefer to avoid it with a bridge loan.
​
How Much Can You Borrow On A Bridge Loan?
Your lender’s terms may vary, but in general, with a bridge loan you may borrow up to 80% of your home’s value, but no more.
Read More:
​
The Cost Of Bridge Loans: Average Fees And Bridge Loan Rates
Bridge loans can be a handy option to get you out of a jam, but you will pay for that convenience. That’s because the interest rate is higher than with a conventional loan. While interest rates can vary, let’s look at the implications of having a bridge loan with an interest rate that’s 2% higher than on a standard, fixed-rate loan.
On a $250,000 loan that has a 3% interest rate, you might be paying $1,054 for a conventional loan, an amount that would rise to $1,342 with a bridge loan that had a 2% higher interest rate.
The reason for high-interest rates on bridge loans is because the lender knows you will only have the loan for a short time. That means that they aren’t able to make money servicing the loan, as in collecting your monthly payment over the long term. They have to charge more interest upfront to make it worth their while to loan you the money at all.
In addition, you’ll need to pay closing costs and fees, as you would with a traditional mortgage. That likely includes administration fees, appraisal fees, escrow, a title policy, notary services, and potentially other line items that your lender will explain.
Finally, you’ll pay an origination fee on the loan, based on the amount you are borrowing. With each point of the origination fee (which your lender will arrive at based on the type of loan you get), you will typically pay about 1% of the total loan amount.
While those fees don’t seem enormous, remember that you can only keep your bridge loan for up to one year – that means that you are likely to be paying those fees again in the near term, when you get the new mortgage that will replace the one that you pay off when your old home sells. These fees are essentially money out of your pocket that you won’t recoup.
For an estimation of what your bridge loan might cost, try this bridge loan calculator that lets you consider different scenarios.
While a bridge loan allows you to buy a new home without delay, it comes at a cost – both in terms of interest closing fees, but also the stress inherent in needing to make two mortgage payments.
Alternatives To Bridge Loans
A bridge loan can appear to be a handy solution when you are in the situation where you want to buy a new home but you still have an obligation on your first one. But, as you can see, there are some true costs inherent in it. If you are in this situation and considering other options, here are some potential alternatives:
-
Home Equity Line of Credit: Also known as a HELOC, allows you to borrow money against the equity you have in your home. It’s a little like a credit card, in that you might be approved for a certain amount, but you are only paying interest on the amount you actually use at any given time. You may also qualify for a lower interest rate than you would with a bridge loan. However, you might have needed to acquire the HELOC before you put your house on the market, as some lenders won’t grant one to a house that’s currently for sale.
-
Personal Loan: With a personal loan, you borrow a specified sum of money that has a fixed interest rate and a fixed term, meaning, the amount of time you have to pay it back. While often used to consolidate credit card debt, a personal loan can also be an alternative to a bridge loan.
-
No Loan: This option might not be appealing because it entails waiting to buy a new home.
Other Bridge Loan FAQs
Bridge loans are a complex financial product, which means you likely have many questions. Of course, so much depends on the borrower’s individual circumstances that it can be hard to answer every question, but here are some general answers to common concerns.
Who Is Eligible For a Bridge Loan?
If you are trying to purchase a second home before your first home sells and already have been a good mortgage candidate, you might believe that you are eligible for a bridge loan. However, the borrowing process might feel a bit different for a bridge loan than a mortgage loan. On the plus side, you are liable to experience a faster application, approval, and funding process than you would with a traditional loan, allowing you to get the funds you need to move forward with that second home purchase much faster.
But they are not available to everyone, fundamentals like low debt-to-income ratios, loan-to-value, credit history, and credit score (FICO) score matter. First of all, you’ll need to have a lot of equity in your current home in order to qualify. Since you’re able to borrow up to 80% of the value of your home, this math only works if your home has appreciated from when you purchased it or you’ve made a significant dent in the principal.
Your lender will also check your debt-to-income ratio, which is the amount of money you have to spend each month, taking into account existing debts like your current mortgage, compared with how much you make. It shows lenders that you are not taking on more debt than you can reasonably handle. Without a low debt-to-income ratio, it can be hard to qualify for a bridge loan, given the cost of two mortgages. These loans are typically reserved for those with the best credit histories and credit scores. While the minimum scores likely vary by lender, the higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate, not to mention the higher the chance that you’ll qualify for it at all.
What Are The Benefits Of Bridge Loans?
The main benefit of a bridge loan is that it can allow you to place a contingency-free offer on a new home, which might be your only avenue to having your offer considered, especially if there are multiple offers. It also provides convenience if your family needs to move quickly, such as for relocation or if your current living situation is inadequate for your needs. If you’re in a market where homes languish on the market, you might need to move before you have adequate time for your home to sell.
On the other hand, if your house should sell quickly before you buy another home, you might need to move into temporary housing while you find your second home, which can be expensive and inconvenient. By finding your new home before you sell your existing home, you can avoid that interim move with the bridge loan.
What Are The Drawbacks Of Bridge Loans?
As mentioned, bridge loans can come with a large expense, as you absorb a higher interest rate and the fees associated with an additional mortgage. There’s also the matter of the length of a bridge loan – as a short-term loan with a mere one-year payback time in most cases, stress can compound if you need to pay it back quickly, and your home takes even longer to sell than you had anticipated. Even if you anticipate being able to meet the short-term nature of the loan with no problem, unexpected circumstances can thwart your plans. And just having two mortgages to manage can be stressful in and of itself, no matter what your economic circumstances.
In addition, not everyone can qualify. You’ll need to have sizable equity and a fantastic credit rating in order to be a good candidate.
Finally, not every lender offers them as they are more of a specialty or niche product, so you might have to look for a different lender than the one who has your primary loan. Be sure to ask them first, of course, as they might be able to help you or at least offer a great reference.
Are Bridge Loans A Good Idea?
As with any financial vehicle, there is no right or wrong answer to whether a bridge loan is right for you. It depends on your financial situation, living situation, the economy, and more.
While a bridge loan can be a convenient way to “bridge the gap” if you find the house of your dreams and don’t want to risk a contingent offer, or if you need to move right away to take advantage of a new job or other reasons for relocation, it can be a great vehicle to help you meet those needs. However, having to pay the high-interest rate and closing cost is expensive, and it can be even worse financially if things don’t turn out as you had hoped, and your short-term bridge loan comes to an end before you are ready to pay it off.
Be sure to weigh all the pros and cons of any mortgage loan before making the decision. Make sure you work with a lender you have worked with or if you are looking for a new opportunity contact our team and we would love to help give the best information to help in your decision that is best for you, your family and or business.
