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Do you remember the heady days (and they weren’t that long ago) when a property would be sold within minutes of going on sale?

In some cases, the buyer hadn’t even seen the property – they just knew it would be a good investment, or they simply knew they had to stake their claim in order to be in with a chance to move and avoid upsetting their buyer by holding up the chain.

In both cases, applying for a bridging loan may have been essential in order to buy one property whilst still owning another.

This heated rush to buy property has cooled somewhat, arguably down to another word beginning with ‘b’, however the bridging loan (and an understanding of how to get a bridging loan) is still important.

So that you’re up to speed when it comes to short-term loans, here is a Complete Mortgages bridging loan briefing.

1. What is a bridging loan?

Let’s start with the basics. A bridging loan provides short-term finance so that you can, amongst other things, either a) fund the purchase of another property before the one you currently own has sold, or b) fund building works prior to accessing the cash via a traditional mortgage. A bridging loan will typically run for up to 12 months, although longer term products are available on the market.

2. What’s the difference between a bridging loan and a commercial mortgage?

Bridging loans are generally required for as little as a matter of months, weeks or even days. Commercial mortgages, on the other hand, are long-term loans taken by businesses looking to buy property.

3. Does that mean I can only get a bridging loan for residential property?

No. Bridging loans can be used to fund both residential and commercial properties – but only on a short-term basis. It’s simply used as an interim measure and a way in which to get access to finance when you really need it.

4. What are the restrictions on bridging loans?

Bridging loans are a flexible way in which to borrow money and can used to fund all types of property. They’re also a lot less restrictive than traditional loans and can even be used to fund self-build projects until a standard mortgage is agreed.

5. Does that mean that they’re easier to get?

In many ways, yes. If you’re a business applying for a bridging loan then the process is unregulated, which means the bridging loan application process is very quick. However, if you’re a homeowner looking to bridge the gap to your next property, then the lender will assess your income and outgoings as part of the application. As a Guildford bridging loan specialist, we can guide you through this process.

6. What about the monthly repayments?

Bridging loans don’t typically require monthly repayments as the cost is generally rolled up into the loan. However, as you might expect with a short-term loan that provides this degree of flexibility, the rates are higher than typical mortgages. The team at Complete Mortgages can provide you with a selection of products and discuss their suitability with you during the bridging loan application stage.

7. What are the next steps?

If you’re interested in applying for a bridging loan then contact a member of the team on 01483 238280 or email info@complete-mortgages.co.uk.

As a Guildford mortgage broker we also handle other specialist mortgages such as adverse credit mortgages, limited company buy to let mortgages and mortgages for teachers, too.

Commercial and bridging loans are processed through our subsidiary company, Complete Mortgages Property Limited.