What Exactly Is A Bridge Loan?

by: AlanHarding
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A bridge loan is basically a short term loan -- one that is repaid in under a year. A bridge loan helps the borrower to get the cash quickly while waiting for a long-term loan or other financing to come through. The instant money allows the borrower to pay for outstanding financial obligations while still waiting for a deal or contract.

Taking a bridge loan means you will be paying a high rate of interest, and you must back it with collateral. These types of loans, like their name suggests, bridge the gap from when the individual receives more long-term loan and his direct financial obligations. Bridging finance may be utilized in a variety of financial scenarios.

Business owners may acquire bridge loans to finance the needed working capital of their business while awaiting equity financing deals which could only be completed after several months.

Bridge loans are often used when selling real estate. This can be useful when the real estate market is slow or a particular house is not selling fast enough. Homeowners who want to sell their homes and buy a new one utilize bridge loans to finance their various obligations such as utility bills and food bills, while their old home is still on the market. Also, they may use the bridging finance as "chain breaking", meaning they use the loaned amount to purchase a new house while they are still on the process of dealing their current house to prospective buyers.

Bridge loans are often used to protect or improve one's credit record. A borrower may apply for a bridge loan to finance payment of an outstanding debt, thus making a good credit standing and allowing one to apply for other loans that are more permanent and larger in amount. While they are still moving from one job to another, or waiting to be hired, people may find bridge loans indispensable. Likewise, people can also use of these types of loans to cover cost of relocation demanded by a new job.

Bridging finance can often be acquired in just 24 hours, as the high interest rate, short duration, and collateral backing alleviate the need for extensive background checks and risk consideration.

About the Author

If you need short term finance then check out Alan Harding's website for more information on bridging loans  

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