Category: Finance

Bridging Finance Basics

Guest post by Callum Scott of Scott Finance

Buying Your Next Home

. . . .  but haven’t sold your current house?

You can put your home on the market, sell it, settle and then rent while waiting for your new home to be built. For some people this can be a real hassle!

The Alternative

You can obtain bridging finance.

In simple terms, it means that your lender can increase the amount of your loan to cover the purchase of your next one before the sale, or settlement, on your current one. On settlement of your original, funds are then applied to reduce the total loan outstanding.

Of course, over this period you will be paying out a lot more in interest payments, but it is usually for a short period such as six months for an existing property, or one year where a new property is being built.

One possible disadvantage with this facility is that if your home takes longer than expected to sell, interest repayments will be larger than expected. Therefore it makes sense to build this possibility into your planning. You will also need sufficient equity in your existing home to qualify for this type of loan.

Some lenders will charge a higher rate for this facility whereas others will simply apply their standard variable rate.

 

Saving Costs During Bridging Period

Most lenders will offer an interest-only option with the loan reverting to principal and interest once the funds of the sale have been applied to the total loan amount.

Some lenders will capitalise interest payments during this period. This means you make no interest payments, with the interest amounts being added to the amount that you owe.

At completion you then recommence repayments which would be typically higher as the principal you now owe is larger.

 

For no cost advice about new house finance contact: Scott Finance

 

 

Construction Loans

Guest post by Callum Scott of Scott Finance

Before looking at the difference between a construction loan and a standard mortgage, it is important to realise that the criteria for obtaining a construction loan are pretty much the same as those for a mortgage.

Therefore you need to approach the borrowing process in the same way. The amount you can borrow will depend on your deposit, income, assets, liabilities and savings or investment history.

A finance broker or lender will help you assemble the necessary documents and make the application for the loan.

The important difference between a construction loan and a standard mortgage is that whilst the home is being constructed, your only payments are for the interest being charged on the amount you currently owe at any given time.

Payments start with the purchase of the land, and then the amount you owe would gradually increase as you pay the builder for the completed stages of the build. Usually the interest is charged monthly or fortnightly.

A good guide to  fair stage payments is found in a Victorian Government Act which lay down the following percentages of the full contract price:

    1. Deposit 5%
    2. Base 10%
    3. Frame 15%
    4. Lock Up 35%
    5. Fixing 25%
    6. Completion 20%

See How Much Should Stage Payments Be for more information

Once the loan is fully drawn down, the construction loan is converted to a mortgage. This may still be interest-only if negotiated, or more likely a principal and interest mortgage at the standard variable rate or a fixed rate.

 

For no cost advice about your housing contact: Scott Finance

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