Bridging the gap

That means that most sellers are faced with the daunting prospect of either shouldering the burden of two mortgages should they buy before their home has sold, or a stint in rental property while they find a new home.

If you can’t face the prospect of weeks or months living out of cardboard boxes in a short term rental or a motel, then a bridging loan may be the solution you’re looking for.

How does it work? In general terms a bridging loan can be used to cover your financing requirements if the sale and purchase settlement dates of properties differ by a short period. It can also offer you a solution for a longer period of up to six or 12 months, if, for instance, you’ve found a new property but are yet to have sold your existing home or perhaps haven’t finished building your new one.

Like any home loan you will accrue interest on the amount borrowed. Your repayment requirements will depend on the lender but in most instances it will be interest only. In some cases no repayments will be required at all, but it is always wise to make repayments to avoid your interest obligations spiralling out of control.

To bridge or not to bridge? While it may sound like an ideal solution, bridging finance requires careful consideration – just like any other financial decision. Be sure to seek professional, sound advice tailored to your individual circumstances and needs. We can help you determine whether bridging finance is your best option, or if perhaps another solution, such as renting between properties, will work out better – so give us a call.

BENEFITS OF BRIDGING • You can buy a new home without worrying about selling your existing home first

• If you’re building a new home you don’t have to worry about renting in between

• There is less pressure to sell your existing home quickly, meaning you won’t be pressured into accepting a lower sales price