Bridge Loans: Everything You Wanted To Know


As the name implies, bridge loans fulfill a vital need for active developers by giving life to a new project in the months before lenders feel confident enough to make available a construction loan, or a repositioning loan in the case of an existing project. But real estate bridge loans have other uses, both tactical and strategic, that make them indispensable in today's New York marketplace.

For new development projects, bridge loans provide financing for property assemblages, site acquisition, and development expenses. Not only do such loans provide the developer with the funds to acquire a site, they also supply the breathing room that the developer needs to create the architectural designs and analyses for new construction projects. Just as important, bridge loans offer an opportunity to refine the developer's property repositioning or acquisition plan in the case of an existing project.

During the development--or repositioning--planning stage, the developer's financial advisor has the time to arrange senior construction and mezzanine loan financing. For example, in recent months our firm has arranged highly competitive financing for projects under the 80/20 Bond Financing Program, and other projects under the recent Liberty Bond Program for downtown Manhattan. Still others have been condominium or office projects in which the fiercely competitive New York marketplace requires developers to move extremely rapidly to acquire control of desirable locations.

Bridge loans have other strategic uses for developers. By enabling construction to commence before a formal construction loan is in place, a developer may time construction to avoid a heavy winter schedule with the attendant extra costs, or plan the completion of construction to coincide with the primary rental and sales months beginning in the spring and continuing into the summer season.

A typical bridge loan has a term of 12 months or less, with spreads ranging upwards from 225 over 30-day LIBOR depending upon the lender's view of the location, viability of the project, and reputation and financial strength of the developer. Commitment fees of 1% are common, although lower fees can sometimes be negotiated. In some instances, commitment fees on bridge loans can be credited against fees on subsequent loans from the same lender. Guarantees required for such loans are highly negotiable.

Our firm, The Singer & Bassuk Organization, has recently arranged over $250 million in bridge loans for seven separate transactions. In each instance, these loans have enabled developers such as The Moinian Group; Nathan Berman; a joint venture consisting of Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers, a wholly owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Adellco LLC; and a joint venture comprised of Jeffrey Levine's Douglaston Development and Continental Properties owned by the Fisch family, to acquire site control and arrange for the orderly start of construction.

I expect bridge loans to play an increasing role in New York financing and see a trend where lenders providing the ultimate financing for a project's development to provide bridge loans in order to cement the business and the relationship at an early stage in an increasingly competitive market.

Marc Sylvester is based in Edison, NJ. He holds expertise in the banking and finance sector and is a consultant to leading business houses.

http://www.imdollar.com/bridge-loans/
http://www.imdollar.com



RELATED LINKS

Accept Credit Card Payment Online

Accept credit card payment online and increase sales by 400% or more.... Find out how ...

 

Advanta Credit Cards

Apply for an Advanta credit card with 0% APR, rewards and cash back.

 

American Express Credit Card Application

Apply online for a new AMEX rewards credit card. See special offers.

 

Best Airline Miles Credit Card

Earn Frequent Airline Miles for Every Dollar Spent with No Annual Fee.

 

Best Cash Back Credit Card

Earn Up to 5% Cash Back on Every Day Purchases. Apply for Yours Today.

 

Best Reward Credit Card

Compare & Apply for the Best Reward Credit Cards with Up to 5% Cash Back Rewards and more.

 

Business Credit Card Online Application

Compare Business Credit Cards from All Major Banks. Apply Online Now

 

Chase Credit Card Application

Find Credit Card Applications from Chase & Apply Online in Seconds.

 

Citi Credit Card Application

Citibank offers credit cards that have 0% APR balance transfer options, Rewards, Cash Back, and much more

 

Credit Card Application For Bad Credit

Great card for bad credit just got better. 8.9% APR, instant decision.

 

Credit Card Balance Transfer Deal

Great Rates: Balance Transfers and Purchases. Capital One Credit Card

 

Debit Cards

Control Your Spending with a debit card. Guaranteed Approval.

 

Discover Credit Card Offer

Discover Credit Card Offers with 0% for 12 months, no fees & cash back.

 

Gas Credit Card Application

Save money at the gas pump with a new gas credit card. Apply now.

Fast Easy Payday Loan

Get the fast cash you need with an easy payday loan. Compare and apply

 

Hotel Rewards Credit Card

Earn Free Stays with a Hotel Rewards Credit Card. Apply Online Now.

 

HSBC Credit Card Application

Get 0% Intro APR, No Annual Fee, Great Service, Benefits. Apply Now.

 

Low Interest Credit Card List

Compare & Apply for Credit Cards w/ 0% Intro APR for Up to 15 Months

 

Master Card Application

Apply for MasterCard Credit Cards with 0% APR, Cash Back & No Fees.

 

No Annual Fee Credit Card

0% APR with No Annual Fee. Compare No Fee Credit Cards & Apply Online.

 

Online Car Loan Application

Loans and Refinancing for New and Used Cars. Online Approval.

 

Online Debt Consolidation Services

Consolidate your debts today - ease the strain of monthly bills.

 

Online Foreign Currency Trading

FOREX is a serious game. Play it with the pros. Start with just $50. The best trading platform available today. Start Trading and see why.

 

Online Mortgage Application

Apply online for a mortgage for your home. It's fast and easy. Great Rates!

 

Online Visa Credit Card Application

Compare & Apply for Visa Credit Cards with 0% APR and No Annual Fee.

 

Prepaid Credit Card

Get a Prepaid Credit Card with Free Direct Deposit. No Credit Check.

 

Shopping Reward Credit Card

Shopping Reward Credit Card. Fast Online Credit Card Application ... You have found the best shopping reward credit card site on the Internet!

 

Student Credit Card Application

Pay 0 Interest for 6 Months & Earn Rewards with a Student Credit Card.

 

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Apply Now and Start Earning Miles.


MORE RESOURCES:

New York Times

Carmakers Deserve Loan Guarantees, GM Official Says
New York Times, United States - 13 hours ago
“The American auto industry is deserving of government loan guarantees,” Mr. Lutz told reporters at an event near Chicago where GM showed off its 2009 ...
GM's Lutz calls for $50 billion in government-backed loans MarketWatch
GM says automakers deserve $50 billion in federal loans: report Reuters
General Motors calls on US government for help over green cars Telegraph.co.uk
Edmunds.com/Inside Line - CNNMoney.com
all 77 news articles


SBA Disaster Loans Available Following Secretary of Agriculture ...
MarketWatch - 11 hours ago
ATLANTA, Aug 29, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The US Small Business Administration announces today that federal economic injury disaster loans ...
SBA offers disaster loans The Central New York Business Journal
Disaster assistance available for private non-profits Winchester News Gazette
Time Running Out For Disaster Assistance WHO-TV
PR Web (press release) - Daytona Beach News-Journal
all 35 news articles


HispanicBusiness.com

Fees rise on government-backed loans
CNNMoney.com - Aug 28, 2008
Effective Oct. 1, the Federal Housing Administration will raise its mortgage insurance fee to 1.75 percent for a new mortgages and many refinanced loans. ...
FHA(In)Secure Forbes
FHA regaining market share Inman.com
5 questions about the new housing bill Statesman Journal
The Evening Sun - Housing Wire
all 39 news articles


US loans to automakers key for union
Chicago Tribune, United States - 20 hours ago
The United Auto Workers said congressional approval for low-interest loans to help US automakers develop more fuel-efficient vehicles is a top priority for ...
US loans for car makers a top priority, UAW says Toledo Blade
Auto Makers to Make Public Push for Loans Wall Street Journal
Chrysler VP: Gov’t loan program to automakers ‘not a blank check’ St. Louis Post-Dispatch
just-auto.com (subscription) - Wall Street Journal
all 12 news articles


Detroit 3 say potential US loans wouldn't be bailout
Detroit Free Press, United States - 20 hours ago
"All the government is doing is underwriting the loan." Detroit's three automakers and their suppliers have been lobbying Congress in recent weeks to fund ...
No auto industry bailout, says Bob Barr Dowagiac Daily News
all 3 news articles


Fewer Loans, But Still More Fraud
Washington Post, United States - 7 hours ago
By Kenneth R. Harney You might assume that with home purchases and new mortgage volume off by 30 percent or more in many markets in the past year, loan ...


NEWS.com.au

ACCC to probe CBA's Aussie Home Loans purchase
ABC Online, Australia - 20 hours ago
The corporate watchdog says it is investigating the Commonwealth Bank's (CBA) purchase of a third of the mortgage company Aussie Home Loans. ...
CBA grabs stake in Aussie Home Loans NEWS.com.au
UPDATE 1-Australia's CBA to buy 33% stake in Aussie Home Loans Reuters
CBA confirms buying stake in Symond's Aussie Home Loans The Australian
ABC Online - Reuters
all 65 news articles


Best Syndication

Freddie Mac Overhauls Underwriting System
Computerworld, MA - 7 hours ago
To fund the mortgages, Freddie Mac buys loans from banks and then turns them into securities that are sold to investors. The custom-built application, ...
The Chicken and the Egg Town Hall
Housing fix backfires CNN
Need More Proof That FICO Credit Scores Matter? Best Syndication
all 6 news articles


Boston Globe

Fannie, Freddie Expand in a Bright Spot
Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - 1 hour ago
By APARAJITA SAHA-BUBNA and DAWN WOTAPKA NEW YORK -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are demanding higher returns from lenders in exchange for buying loans that ...
Agency Mortgage-Bond Yield Spreads Reach Lowest in a Month Bloomberg
Critics blast Fannie, Freddie decision on NY mortgages Lower Hudson Journal news
Fannie, Freddie shun NY subprime loans Inman.com (subscription)
Asia Times Online - The Age
all 711 news articles


Banks shying away from personal loans
Hindu Business Line, India - 9 hours ago
Take the instance of some banks offering you personal loans. The advertisement hoarding makes it seem easy. And the face on the hoarding seems positively ...

Loans - Google News

home page | article index | site map
Credit  |  Currency Trading  |  Debt Consolidation  |  Debt Relief  |  Insurance  |  Investment  |  Leasing  |  Loans  |  Mortgage and Refinance  |  Personal Finance  |  Real Estate  |  Stocks and Mutual Funds  |  Taxes

 

Copyright 2006 - SmarteCredit.Com. All rights reserved