Bridging finance is a short-term loan lasting from a few weeks to three years. You can use bridging loans to buy US real estate quickly or without a mortgage. You can also use US bridging loans to buy a new property before you have sold your old home. Here, your existing property is used as security, and your bridging lender will give you a loan to purchase your new property. You will repay the loan when your old home has sold.
US bridging loans are also a way to release equity from real estate you own in the US. Enness is an expert in brokering high-value equity release secured against American real estate.
Request a CallbackYou can use US bridging finance if you don't want to buy property using a mortgage or if a mortgage does not fit with your plans. You can also use this type of finance to complete US property transactions at short notice. Because you can usually draw down bridging loans in as little as two weeks, they are much faster financing products than a mortgage, which typically takes longer to arrange.
Bridging loans can also be used if you want to purchase a new US property before your current home has sold. In these cases, your lender will secure the loan on the property you plan to sell, and then you will repay the bridging loan using the proceeds from the real estate you are disposing of.
You can also use bridging loans to release significant equity from a property you own in the US – this is available to property owners regardless of whether or not you reside full-time in the US. Here, lenders will secure your bridging loan against unencumbered real estate you own in America. Lenders are open to different scenarios regarding US equity release: you can purchase more real estate, invest, grow a business, consolidate debt and so on.
Bridging lenders will offer you a short-term loan secured against property you own in the US. There is no minimum or maximum loan amount that Enness can broker, although the team specialise in significant bridging loans and equity release – loans of $10 million or more are possible, including against a single asset.
US bridging loans are available to US property owners, regardless of whether you are an American citizen, resident or non-resident. If you are a non-resident and unfamiliar with US bridging loans, you need to remember that local laws and regulations can be different than in your home country or country of residence.
These differences are important because they can influence your financial situation: you must consider taxes, ownership, liabilities and responsibilities, and the local legal system. Enness can explain more about how US bridging finance works and explain what you need to know – this will be helpful if you have previously bought American property in cash or have opted for a mortgage arrangement in the past, but you have not used bridging finance before. You should always have expert advice, especially around tax implications and liabilities. If needed, Enness will connect you with advisers to support you if you do not already have a team in place.
Enness will always be working on your side to deliver the best bridging loan for your circumstances and liaise with all parties involved in the transaction to ensure the plan remains on track and your desired outcome is delivered on time.
You can use US bridging loans to:
Bridging loans provide a host of benefits, and they are exceptionally flexible financing arrangements, given you can use loan capital in various ways. That said, you will always want to use a bridging loan to achieve a specific outcome or to solve a problem: in short, there must always be a defined reason for using this type of finance. Enness will always explain the benefits and potential drawbacks of using bridging finance and alternative financing options that would allow you to achieve your goals, so you can make an informed decision if US bridging finance is the right choice for you.
You can use bridging finance to achieve various outcomes, from completing property transactions quickly to buying real estate without a mortgage and releasing significant equity from a property you own in the US. While lenders are open to seeing the loan used in different ways, they will want to understand your rationale for using a bridging loan and how you will repay what you have borrowed – also known as your exit. You will also need to have a clear and documented action plan showing how you will manage loan capital.
A bridging loan is more expensive than a mortgage and other long-term types of finance. As a result, it is a financing mechanism that should be considered carefully. This type of finance is also more expensive than conventional property finance because it can be used flexibly and is so fast to arrange. Because you will use bridging finance to achieve a specific outcome or generate capital to solve a problem, they are often well worth the cost. Lenders can offer aggressive rates, and US bridging loans are competitively priced based on your intended use for the loan, the amount you wish to borrow, and how quickly you need to draw down funds. It is also worth noting (particularly for high-net-worth individuals) that some lenders can consider aggressive plans and exit strategies.
How much you can borrow will depend on several elements. The value of your property will be key here, as well as how liquid the real estate market is where your property is located. The reason you need the loan and what you will do with the loan capital will also play a part. The deal's complexity can also influence what you can borrow, as US bridging lenders will be looking to manage risk. A simple bridge to buy property before your current home has sold may mean you can borrow more than if you want to release equity from your property to pursue a project or high ROI investment, for example. LTV in the range of around 60 or 65% for a US bridging loan is standard, but some lenders are flexible on this point. The stronger your financial situation, the higher your net worth and assets (in the US or globally) will make it easier to maximise LTV.
Not every lender offers US bridging loans. However, those who do can provide everything from $100,000 to several million-dollar loans. Many lenders are happy to offer large bridging loans (including high-value bridge loans against a single asset), especially if you are a high-calibre borrower or have an exceptional property in a liquid real estate market. Large loans against high-value real estate in Switzerland, including large bridging loans against a single asset.
Lenders offering US bridge loans can also provide loans structured via entities and various ownership structures – high-value bridging lenders, in particular, will specialise in this space. You will also not need to reside in the US full-time to be eligible for this type of finance. Your nationality or country of residence will not usually prevent you from accessing bridging finance as long as you meet compliance and AML requirements.
US bridging loans will almost always need to be personalised to your needs and requirements. This will be especially important if you want to borrow a significant amount, use loan capital outside the US, use structures, or have a delicate or complex financial background.
As an independent broker, Enness has access to all the lenders that offer US bridging loans. Your broker will shop the market for you to negotiate LTV, terms and loan size. Your broker will always work to maximise the amount you can borrow and negotiate the most competitive rates. Enness will then work with all the parties involved in the deal to ensure everyone is working towards the same goal and the transaction is completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.
You can use US bridging finance to complete US real estate transactions quickly. You can also use this type of finance as an alternative financing arrangement to a mortgage. Bridging finance can also be used to release significant equity from property you already own in the US.
Other advantages of US bridging finance include:
Bridging loans are much faster to arrange than a mortgage, which is a huge draw for borrowers. Bridging finance is one of the quickest ways to access capital, and you can draw down funds in as little as 1-2 weeks, meaning you have the liquidity you need to make your plans or purchases come to fruition. Lenders can arrange deals quickly, even if you need a significant US bridge loan or if you have a complex situation.
If you want to buy high-value property using a mortgage, you may need to put assets under management to borrow from leading banks – this is often a requirement for high-net-worth individuals, families or non-residents. In many cases, this may not be advantageous to you, or you may not wish to enter a new banking relationship to get a mortgage. Bridging loan lenders will not require that you place AUM, which is often advantageous.
Bridging finance is one of the most flexible financial tools available, which means you can use it to bring plans to fruition or to solve problems. Where mortgages are financing products that only allow you to buy real estate, you can use US bridging loans in different ways, which include:
Regardless of your plans, you will need to approach lenders with a defined strategy, including details of how you intend to use your loan and how you will manage the capital you borrow. If you wish to release equity from a property or use the loan to finance cross-border projects (i.e., you will use loan capital outside of the US, which is possible), you will find these plans are critical to lenders.
Large Swiss Bridging Loans
US bridging loan lenders tend to specialise in one part of the market. Some will offer substantial loans, and others will provide smaller finance packages. Enness can broker US bridging loans of any size, including high-value loans of $10 million or more. As an independent broker, Enness has access to all the lenders that offer US bridging loans, including those that can offer high-value equity release and very significant bridging loans against a single asset.
Bridging loans are more expensive than conventional mortgage products. This is because of the speed with which lenders can execute transactions (1-2 weeks), the risk, the flexibility offered by bridging loans and because they often need more skill to complete – especially in large deals or where there are complex borrowers, properties or structures.
However, this doesn't mean these loans are prohibitively expensive or aren't good value. Bridging finance is the ultimate opportunity creator and should be used when you want to achieve a specific outcome. In many cases, it may well be the only way to raise the capital you require in the timeframe you need. In many cases, the benefits (in terms of being able to solve a problem, complete a transaction quickly, release equity, or long-term ROI generated via a bridging loan) will outweigh the cost of the loan.
You can use US bridging loans to release significant equity from real estate anywhere in the US. You can use loan capital to buy additional property in the US or internationally, consolidate debt and create liquidity to solve problems quickly. Your broker will carefully talk you through all the costs, benefits and potential drawbacks of bridging loans, so you have a complete understanding of costs. In many cases, this will help you analyse your ROI. Your broker will also advise you if there are other financing options you should explore that would also help you meet your goals.
On top of the cost of the bridging loan itself, you will also need to pay other fees, which usually include legal costs, lender fees, valuations and arrangement fees. In some cases, you may also need to consult tax advisers and other experts, depending on your financial background, residency, goals and the complexity of the deal. Enness will walk you through all the fees associated with a bridging loan, so you have a clear picture of what the whole finance package will cost to deliver.
Bridging finance is a type of secured loan, meaning if you can't keep up with repayments, you could stand to lose your property. It is vital to have a plan outlining how you will manage and exit the loan to ensure the whole transaction is a success from start to finish.
US bridging loans are always short-term financing products, and how you will repay the loan is unlike repayment practices for products like a traditional mortgage. With mortgages and conventional property finance, you will pay back the capital (and often the interest) over several years, but this is not the case with bridging loans, where the loan will be due as a lump sum at term. This means you will need a significant amount of capital available to settle your liability, and your lender will want to understand how you will undertake to do this.
There are plenty of options for paying back a bridging loan – this process is also called your exit. These include:
Refinancing is one of the most common methods of repaying a US bridging loan. Here, you will refinance via another lender, usually opting for a mortgage or conventional property finance product. Your new lender will pay off your US bridging loan to your lender. If necessary, Enness can arrange a refinance package at the same time as brokering your bridging loan, which will help you present your exit to lenders.
Bridging loans can also be repaid using the proceeds of the sale of the property the loan is secured against or another property in your portfolio if you have global real estate assets.
You can also repay a US bridging loan using capital from other sources. You can do this in many ways. You will find that lenders are open to different scenarios, such as the sale of other assets or property in your portfolio or a liquidity event. A liquidity event can be anything from an inheritance, capital generated via the sale of a business, sale of securities, luxury assets and other circumstances resulting in guaranteed income. If you intend to use this strategy, details of how and when you will receive the capital that you will use to pay off the bridging loan are imperative – expect lenders to examine these elements in detail.
Many lenders can consider US bridging loans secured against US real estate, but where you will use loan capital internationally. This opens the door to you being able to use bridging finance to buy property abroad, invest internationally (in securities or a business), consolidate international debt or create liquidity for a project outside of the US. You can borrow in US dollars for domestic projects, but many lenders offer multi-currency lending, and Enness can broker loans in pounds sterling, euros or Swiss francs, which can be useful if you plan to use the loan internationally.
Enness is a leading broker of US bridging finance. Get in touch to discuss your needs, and the team will talk you through your possibilities and give you more information about bridging finance tailored to your personal situation.
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