Buying a Home? Dont Get Saddled with Two Mortgage Payments

I have a lot of friends and family who are currently buying houses. Many of them have had a problem with timing. In other words, they buy a house and sign a contract that says that they have to pay the seller in 30 days. (Incidentally, it's never wise to go less than 45 days.) Now, it takes two to three weeks to sell their house, and they sign a 30-45 day contract, so they don't get their money in time to help finance the down payment for the house they are buying. The answer to this problem is simple. Get a bridge loan.

Now, in order to make this strategy work, you need a considerable amount of equity in your current home. Let's say, for example, you are selling a $200,000 home, and you owe $110,000. You have $90,000 in equity (200,000 value minus your debt of 110,000). A bridge loan uses the equity in your home to "bridge" the gap between the sale of your home and the purchase of your new home.

Here's how it works. A bank will loan you 80 percent of the value of your current home, or $160,000 in our example (200k times 80% is 160,000). $110,000 will go toward paying off your current lender, the one you owe $110,000. The remaining $50,000 is yours to use for down payment money on your new purchase and moving expenses, or for any reason you like. The beauty of these loans is that they are treated like home equity lines by the lender. In other words, you pay interest-only on the loan (probably 4-6 percent). So, if you had to pay 4 percent, interest-only on a $160,000 bridge loan, your payment would be $533.00 per month.

Wait one more minute, though. Another thing about bridge loans that makes them a truly marvelous tool is that your payments are deferred for up to 90 days. Imagine getting $160,000 from a lender to help you pay off a mortgage, put money down on a new house, and have left over expense money, and you don't make a single payment for three months. Wow, this is true power! So, in the long run, you may wind up never making a payment on your bridge loan. Outside of some small fees to get it, you are basically getting free money, because you will sell your house for $200,000 and pay off your bridge loan.

Meanwhile, you now have just your new first mortgage on your beautiful new home.

Mark Barnes is the author of the new novel, The League, the first work of fiction, based on fantasy football. He is also an investment real estate and home loan finance expert. Learn more about this suspense thriller at http://www.sportsnovels.com Get his free mortgage finance course at http://www.winningthemortgagegame.com

In The News:


Reuters

US housing agency expands mortgage aid program
Reuters - 14 hours ago
WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) - The Federal Housing Administration will loosen its mortgage refinance program to help more delinquent borrowers and those ...
Facing foreclosure? Help on way Bradenton Herald
all 16 news articles

Refinance.com Expands National Footprint
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jul 7, 2008
Refinance.com is one of the nation’s leading mortgage companies with nearly twenty years of mortgage refinancing expertise. The company has assisted ...

Los Angeles Times

Mortgage Fears Cast Shadow Over 2 Agencies
New York Times, United States - 7 hours ago
One of the strongest warning signs came as the week began, when shares of the nation’s most important mortgage companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ...
The Cracks in Congress’s Housing Rescue FOXBusiness
Shares in top US lenders plummet BBC News
GSE's Falling Into the Abyss Financial Sense Online
International Herald Tribune - New York Timesall 976 news articles

The Money Times

IndyMac depositors pull cash as mortgage woes grow
guardian.co.uk, UK - 7 hours ago
But as rates rose and home prices fell, many borrowers found themselves unable to refinance, and defaults surged. IndyMac shares have skidded 99 percent in ...
IndyMac to exit most home lending, slash 3800 jobs Los Angeles Times
Most IndyMac deposits FDIC insured Pasadena Star-News
IndyMac Downsizing Likely Los Angeles Business Journal (subscription)
Los Angeles Times - guardian.co.ukall 333 news articles

Fed preparing to tighten mortgage lending rules
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 hours ago
... preparing to adopt new rules designed to curb irresponsible mortgage lending and help some struggling homeowners refinance into more-affordable loans. ...

HispanicBusiness.com

Paulson Touts Covered Bonds As Way to Boost Homebuying
Wall Street Journal - 9 hours ago
... homeowners to refinance," Mr. Paulson said in the written text of his speech. Covered bonds, which are widely used in Europe, are a mortgage-backed ...
Paulson Says Collapse In Subprime Mortgage Market Adds Hurdles To ... Trading Markets (press release)
all 342 news articles

FOXBusiness

Fed Sees Turmoil Persisting Deep Into Next Year
New York Times, United States - 4 hours ago
Under the plan, homeowners would be eligible to refinance even if they have missed up to three monthly mortgage payments over the previous 12 months. ...
Bernanke grabs reins on economy Chicago Tribune
McCain says supports Fed move to extend lending guardian.co.uk
Business news briefs The Wenatchee World Online
all 1,475 news articles

CNBC

UPDATE 1-US mortgage refinance applications plunge -MBA
Reuters - Jun 18, 2008
... rates choked off refinancing opportunities and soured the housing outlook, an industry group said on Wednesday. The Mortgage Bankers Association said ...
US MBA's Mortgage Applications Index Fell 8.8% Last Week Bloomberg
Mortgage applications down 8.7% last week: MBA MarketWatch
Weekly mortgage applications fall 8.7% as rates rise BloggingStocks
Housing Wire - WFMJall 61 news articles

Keep ARM now? Good way to get hit with high rates
Boston Herald, United States - Jul 7, 2008
It went like this: “Refinance your adjustable-rate mortgage now, if you can.” That’s the logical interpretation of the Fed’s current position. ...

Mortgage rescue plan draws Senate support
The Associated Press - 22 hours ago
There is broad agreement on using the FHA to help struggling homeowners refinance into mortgages they can afford. The Bush administration has twice ...
mortgage refinance - Google News

Poor Credit Home Equity Loan Tips

A home equity loan can help repair your poor credit... Read More

Option ARM ? The World?s Most Dangerous Mortgage

Home prices have reached record levels, and in many parts... Read More

Refinancing Your Home - How and Why?

Chances are you may need a little extra money to... Read More

Choosing a Mortgage Lender

Just as there are many types of mortgages and mortgage... Read More

Mortgage Loans Explained In Plain English

With the many different kinds of mortgage loans out there,... Read More

Mortgages - Which Loan is Right For You

When buying a home, you need to take a home... Read More

What is a Tracker Mortgage?

A tracker mortgage 'tracks' the Bank of England base rate,... Read More

Mortgage Pre Approval - Getting Pre Approved For a Home Loan Online

A pre-approved mortgage is a must in a competitive housing... Read More

Kingsland Saint Marys & Kings Bay Real Estate - VA Mortgage Information For Home Buyers

A VA guaranteed mortgage is the usually the best way... Read More

Reasons To Get A Home Equity Loan

Using a home equity loan really depends on what your... Read More

Refinance Mortgage Loan ? Tips on Refinancing Your Home Mortgage

Refinancing your home mortgage can come with some great perks.... Read More

Need Mortgage? Alternative Finance Often Masks Predators, Who Want to Steal Your House

So, your bank had just turned you down for a... Read More

Buy To Let Mortgages ? To Let in Reasonable Capital Growth with Financial Obligation

Every individual needs a home and every home needs an... Read More

Life of an Escrow

Escrow is one of the last stages in the purchase... Read More

First-time House Buyers: to Buy or Not to Buy; that is the Question

Buying your first house is always a difficult time. There... Read More

Obtaining a Home Equity Loan Online

Private lenders, banks, and mortgage companies are all setting up... Read More

Remortgage To Release Equity By Improving Interest Rate

You have been paying on your mortgage for quite sometime... Read More

Jacksonville Florida Real Estate Mortgage Home Loans - Get the Best Rate Everytime

There are hundreds of mortgage companies in the Jacksonville real... Read More

Home Loans and Mortgages ? Beware of New ?Mortgage Elimination? Scam

The booming real estate market has allowed many Americans to... Read More

A Simple Way to Save Thousands on Your Mortgage Charges

How many times do you check you restaurant bill? If... Read More

Mortgage Questions to Ask Your Lender

Buying and financing a home today can be overwhelming. Here... Read More

Debt Counseling ? Healing Touch for the Ailing Finances

The financial stories remain similar over the months and the... Read More

Bad Credit Mortgage Lenders - Things You Should Know About Subprime Lenders

Interest rates and fees vary between subprime lenders just like... Read More

To Refinance or not to Refinance -- Here is the Answer

I have written many articles on refinancing a fixed rate... Read More

What is a Self-Certification Mortgage?

A Self-Certification mortgage is a mortgage designed for people who... Read More