| |
| |
|
|
Real Estate |
|
Crossing the Gap from this Home to the Next: Bridge Loan
So you're thinking of getting into a bigger house. You call up the real estate agent and make an appointment to go see what the market has to offer. Then you find it, the perfect "move-up" home. It's everything you've ever wanted in a home unless your married, in which case it's everything your wife has ever wanted in a home. You'd make an offer right then and there but realize you need to sell your old home before you can by this one. You haven't even put your old house on the market yet. What to do? The real estate agent advises that you could make what's called a "contingent offer"; buying the new house is 'contingent' on you selling the old one. "Oops", says the agent, "Your old home isn't even listed yet? You may have wanted to do that before we went house hunting. Your offer is a little too 'contingent' for most sellers?they probably won't take it." But before you give up all hope of getting into the home you want, first consider a bridge loan. A bridge loan is a form of second trust that is collateralized by your present home in a manner that allows the proceeds to be used for closing on a new house before the old house is sold. A bridge loan "bridges" the gap between the two transactions and is often the difference between getting the house of your dreams and missing out entirely. Bridge loans can also be setup to completely pay off the old mortgage or to add the new mortgage to your current debt. Usually people who take out a bridge loan will use the funds to pay off the old mortgage while putting the rest towards the new home's down payment, first deducting any closing costs and prepaid interest. Typically, the loan is structured with a relatively short term, usually six months to a year, and hefty prepaid interest. Because of the risk involved in making a loan on collateral with only possible future value (the future sale of the old house), most lenders charge high interest rates on their bridge loans. The borrower typically must begin making these payments after six months if the house still hasn't sold. Most often, a bridge loan is used to pay off the existing mortgage, with the remainder (minus closing costs and prepaid interest) going toward the down payment on the new home. If after six months the old home has not sold, the borrower begins making interest-only payments on the loan. When the home eventually sells, the bridge loan is paid off; if the house sells with in six months, all unearned interests are credited to the borrower. In a perfect world you would have your house on the market will potential buyers making offers before you make any offers yourself. However, because of fluctuating market conditions, getting the timing right can be difficult. If you're willing to pay the higher rates and fees that come with a bridge loan you can buy yourself some extra time. While a bridge loan can get you the house you want when you want it, it can be a pricey option in the long run. If it's an option for you, it may be a better idea to borrow against assets such as stocks or your 401(k). This can save you a considerable amount of money. Before you do anything talk to someone who has experience in the financing side of the real estate market. There are more options for borrowers every year and consequently the process gradually gets more complicated. It pays to take the time to understand what you're getting into. About the Author
MORE RESOURCES:
Real-Estate - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Find the Sweet Spot in Real Estate Investing Psssssssssst, Want to know a great way to make FAST money in real estate? Listen closely now because this tip is definitely cashable.. The Art & Science of Property Valuation -- Automated Valuation Models It is no secret that sellers want to sell high and buyers want to buy low. But they often arrive at the negotiating table with very different ideas on price. Mortgage Broker Training: How to Secure Loyalty From Realtors So you've just returned to your office after delivering an Oscar worthy presentation to a real estate agent. They're impressed and ready to do business with you. Purchasing Florida Investment Property And Various Considerations Purchasing Florida Investment PropertyConsidering researching the purchase of Florida Investment Property or properties for sale in central Florida? Do you find yourself wishing you didn't have that lawn to mow and the constant upkeep on a home? Purchasing Florida Investment Property can relieve you of all those household chores but purchasing a Florida Investment Property requires you do some homework. You need to know what you are looking for in a Florida Investment Property. Protective Covenants - Buying A Home In addition to zoning, some properties have covenants recorded at the courthouse that "run with the land." These "protective covenants" can put a serious pinch in your plans for a piece of property. Property Auction & Why You Should Run A Mile From Them That's A Funny Thing To Say About Property Auctions; They're All The "RAGE, Aren't They?"From The Desk Of Colm DillonHello Colm here .. Landscaping Adds Great Value to Real Estate And Helps You Sell Over the years several of our clients have had professional landscaping done and it's amazing to me how little landscaping, can be done for $5-10,000, by a professional Landscaper, and how little value it can add to your home.Small shrubs, trees, and plantings add almost nothing, or actually nothing at all, to your home value on the open market -- until they are several years older! There is another way!Some savvy investors look for good homes that are poorly landscaped and after spending a couple of thousand dollars or less put the property right back on the market for much more money and sell it. Will a 1031 Property Exchange Solve Your Problems? If your problem is listed below, a 1031 exchange may or may not be your solution.1. For Sale By Owner: The Inside Scoop On Selling Your Own Home If you're thinking about selling your home perhaps the 'for sale by owner' signs posted on neighborhood lawns have intrigued you. When you browse the newspaper listings you see ad after ad boasting 'for sale by owner' as an added incentive for buyers and you envy the owners that are confident enough to try it. How to Attract Clients in Residential Real Estate Doesn't it seem like everyone you know has a friend, relative, or acquaintance that is a realtor? How could anyone, especially someone new to the industry, possibly achieve success when faced with this much competition?The answer begins to appear when you consider the following questions: How many licensed real estate agents have the talents required for success in sales? How many have been trained in effective selling techniques? How many know how to prospect effectively? How many know which questions to ask to determine the factors that are most important to each prospect's buying decision? How many take their profession seriously and are willing to put in the effort and hours that are required to build a successful business? How many of them regularly sell multiple houses per month? The 80/20 rule definitely applies to residential real estate. In fact, some statistics suggest the ratio is more like 90/10 (where 90% of home sales are made by just 10% of realtors), with the vast majority of home sales by the top 1%!So, how can a novice realtor attract clients? By building his or her credibility and relationships. Do Open Houses Work? What are the odds that you'll find your dream at a Sunday open house? What is the likelihood that your home will sell at an open house? Open houses are an integral part of the home sale business. But, do they work?There are two types of open houses. Big Discounts With Property Investment Clubs? A stagnant stock market, low interest rates and booming property prices over recent years have lead to more and more personal investors deciding to join property investment clubs.Property investment clubs are organisations that either buy property in volume and resell it to their members at discount prices or negotiate the purchase of large numbers of properties from developers, again ensuring discounted prices. Empty Nesters Flock To Inner City Babyboomers whose children have left home, commonly known as "empty-nesters" are buying inner city apartments in record numbers.Director of Acton Special Projects, Marc Drexel says the trend is towards quality rather than mass developments. How to Use Color Psychology to Prepare Your Home for a Top-Dollar Sale (Part 1) You've decided to prepare your home for sale. Whether you sell by owner or hire a real estate agent, you want to get as much money as possible without spending your profits. Real Estate Professional in the Palm of Your Hand GETTING THE MOST FOR THE LEASE-TRACKING YOUR REAL ESTATEIf you own rentals and/or investment properties, you know that you have to keep track of your portfolio, maintenance profiles, property managers, and related financial matters. There are a multitude of programs for the Palm-Pilot system to keep up with lease dates, lease expirations, and rent due dates. The Listing Contract: Its All in the Details Now that you've chosen a real estate professional to sell your home, you'll need to work together to complete a listing agreement. This legally binding contract authorizes a broker and his or her real estate professionals to find a buyer for your home, according to the conditions specified in the contract. Finding The Perfect Maui Home For Sale If you are thinking of relocating to Maui, this article will hopefully guide you to making a positive decision when thinking of buying a home there. Hopefully, by the end you will be one step closer to finding a Maui home for sale, and being able to purchase it. Relocation Humor: Why I Bought A House The Rental Experience in South FloridaReaders: This is based on a true experience -- only slightly exaggerated -- part of my life of adventure.If I had read my own book, Making the Big Move, and followed my own advice, none of this would have happened! A word to the wise . The Most Sensible Investment Decision Youll Ever Make So much advice is bandied about on the internet and even on the street about what makes a sensible investment, what makes a good investment and what makes a secure investment.Well - when you consider that for most of us our own home is actually our number one asset and that it is a strong capital appreciating asset, surely the most sensible investment decisions we can make will be locked into that real estate. Why Mobile Homes? There are mobile homes for sale, for much less than stick-built houses, in most areas of the country. Despite persistent predjudice against them, and sometimes the people living in them, mobile homes are the cheap housing choice of millions.
|
||||||||||||||||
