A bridge loan is basically a short term loan — usually repaid in less than a year. The reason for a bridge loan, or bridging finance, is to cover the expenses of the borrower until a more long term loan or funding is secured. Bridge loans provide immediate cash flow for borrowers as payment for various abrupt financial obligations while waiting for the approval of standing deals or contracts.
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.
Another use for bridge loans is to repair one's credit. A person may borrow the money needed to pay off creditors so as to increase one's credit score, making it more probable that one can then get a larger, more permanent loan or be able to be approved to rent a new apartment. People also use bridge loans when they are in between jobs but fully expect to be hired very soon or are just waiting to start. Along those same lines, these types of loans may be used to finance a relocation for work related purposes.
Often, you can receive a bridge finance in just 24 hours, since the need for extensive background checks and risk consideration are minimized by the high interest rate, short duration, and collateral backing required.
