Bridge Loans Help You Buy When Selling

Overall, buyers who need to sell a home before buying a replacement home are better off in the long run by taking out a home equity loan instead of a bridge loan. That's because home equity loans are less expensive. The best way to get a home equity loan is to do it before a home goes on the market because most lenders won't fund a home equity loan if a home is for sale or has been for sale recently.

However, there are circumstances when it makes sense for a buyer to make an offer to purchase contingent on selling a home. In that scenario, it's wise to line up a bridge loan in case the seller issues a notice to perform. Because most sellers won't take a home off the market for a contingent offer and will try to kick out the contingent buyer when a better offer rolls around. It can be a gamble for a buyer. The buyer might need the bridge loan and might not. Maybe the buyer's home will sell quickly. Maybe it won't.

At least a bridge loan provides some breathing room, even if it means owning two homes for a while. It's sort of an ace-in-the-hole for some home buyers.

Ready to Read More Financing Articles? Click below:

• Combo Loan or PMI?
  
• Benefits of a Fixed-Rate Mortgage
  
• Getting the Seller to Buy Down Your Mortgage Rate

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_{At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, DRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.}