Bridging loans, also known as bridging finance, are a short-term loan, secured against property. They are designed as a tool to bridge the gap between 2 events, for instance, purchasing a property and securing a mortgage.
There are a number of reasons why a first-time buyer may need to consider borrowing via short-term bridging loan as opposed to applying for a mortgage. The main ones are as follows:
We can look to fund most applicants, as long as they have sufficient deposit and a strong exit strategy.
We can lend to individuals, partnerships, LLPs, Ltd companies, offshore companies and pension funds.
Yes, lending to borrowers with bad credit isn’t usually an issue – as long as your credit history doesn’t affect your exit strategy.
Bridging loan lenders assess applications based on two main factors – the security property offered and your chosen exit strategy.
We can offer loans from £25,000 with no set maximum loan size.
The maximum loan to value that we can offer is 90% for auction purchases, although this is very rare and comes with very high interest rates.
At 80% LTV, we can offer more reasonable rates, with loans at 75% LTV and below seeing the rates offered begin to drop sharply.
When you’re looking to undertake a refurbishment project, we may also be able to provide the funds needed to undertake the works on the property.
The amount of bridging finance available will be limited by your chosen exit strategy and perceived ability to meet the repayment plan. When looking to refinance to a new lender to repay the bridging loan, you will be asked to provide an agreement in principle from your new lender.
Where this is the case, your maximum loan will usually be limited by the amount available according to your agreement in principle.
Rates can start at 0.43% per month, with rates of 0.48-0.65% being common for loans between 50-75% loan to value.
In addition to the interest charged, there are a number of fees that must be paid during the application process. They are the following:
Many, but not all bridging loan lenders will accept applications from first-time buyers. In many cases, context is key, so for a lender to consider an application from a first-time buyer, they will want to be sure that the transaction makes sense.
As such, they may delve a little deeper into the transaction to ensure that they aren’t putting the borrower into a high-risk situation.
A broker’s job is to find the most suitable product for your needs and to work with you throughout the process. Some lenders are happy to work directly with applicants, especially on applications where the borrower won’t be residing in the security property.
Whether you choose to work with a broker or directly with a lender is down to individual preference. For first-time buyers, the bridge loan process can be difficult to navigate, so there may be additional benefits to working with an experienced advisor.
Bridging loan lenders will need to know some basic information about you, which is usually taken down using an application form. In addition, you will usually be required to provide the following:
You may also be asked to prove your income, where you plan to exit your bridging loan by refinancing to a new lender.
For property refurbishment finance, you will also have to provide detail on the works you plan on undertaking, the costs of works and timescales for its completion. You can learn more about this in our guide on bridging finance for property developers.
Yes, this is possible, but when planning to live in the property after purchase, you would need to take out a regulated bridging loan.
Where the property is being bought as an investment, the loan would not be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and as such, an unregulated bridging loan would be the correct product.
Yes, commercial and semi-commercial properties aren’t a problem, although it would require a slightly different product. In this case, a commercial bridging loan would be needed and the you would need to meet the criteria for that product.
