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                 Bridge 
                  Loan can be considered as an 
                  easy and fast way to receive fast cash. Bridge Loan refers to 
                  a short-term loan taken by a company or an individual normally 
                  from commercial or traditional banks, Funding companies and 
                  Credit companies, pending disbursement of loans sanctioned by 
                  all such financial institutions. These are mostly backed by 
                  some form of collateral such as real estate, inventory, accounts 
                  receivable, as well as fixed assets.  
                
                
	
 
                 In 
                  case of a company, funds are usually supplied by the financial 
                  institution underwriting the new issue. On account of payment 
                  part, the borrower company will give a number of shares at a 
                  discount of the issue price to the underwriters for offsetting 
                  the loan amount. The loan amount under Bridge 
                  Loan generally do not exceed 65% of the properties value. 
                   
                  
                 
                  As the term suggests, these loans helps to bridge the gap 
                  between times when financing is needed. The term Bridge Loan 
                  indicates that it will bridge the borrower to the next transaction. 
                  In case of an individual, bridge loans are common in real estate 
                  market. Prospective home-purchasers who are ready to buy, but 
                  who have not yet sold their current home often use Bridge 
                  Loan. It can help to arrange cash for making down-payment 
                  on a new house and / or to pay off the mortgage on current home. 
                   
                  
                 
                  There are Two types of Bridge loans. In the first type, money 
                  is used to pay off existing mortgage and make down payment on 
                  new home. In this case, usually no monthly payments are made 
                  on Bridge Loan. Instead, monthly 
                  mortgage payments are made on new home and as soon as old home 
                  sells, outstanding interest and outstanding balance on the Bridge 
                  loan is paid back.  
                  
                 
                  In the Second type, money is borrowed against the equity in 
                  current home and this amount is used for 
                
                 
                  down-payment on new home.  
                  
                 
                  A bridge loan is similar to a mortgage. Under mortgage, an amount 
                  borrowed is secured on home. The rate of interest is much lower 
                  in mortgage as compared to rates on Bridge 
                  Loan.  
                  
                 
                  These loans are generally expected to be paid back very quickly 
                  as most Bridge Loans have terms as brief as 90-120 days and 
                  it may extend Six months to One year for certain purposes. It 
                  is a short-term loan used to finance an individual, enterprise, 
                  government until a person or company secures permanent financing 
                  or removes an existing obligation. A Bridge Loan is also referred 
                  to as Swing Loan, Interim Financing or Gap Financing. 
                   
                  
                 
                  It is to be noted here that these loans can be customized for 
                  many different situations. For e.g. ABC Ltd. is doing a round 
                  of Equity Financing that is expecting to close in Six months. 
                  An amount obtained with the help of Bridge 
                  Loan could be used to secure working capital until the 
                  round of funding goes through. Terms and conditions of taking 
                  a bridge loan may be riskier to consumer or businesses as these 
                  loans have to be re-paid in a very short time.  
                  
                 
                  Bridge Loans are normally secured by hypothecating movable assets, 
                  personal guarantees and demand promissory notes. In case of 
                  sanctioning the loan, cash flow and regular Sales history are 
                  of extreme importance to the lender.  
                  
                 
                  Generally, the rate of interest and fees on Bridge 
                  Loan is higher as compared with that on term loans and 
                  this rate could be fixed as well on account of duration of the 
                  loan, and therefore the risk of hike in interest rates is limited. 
                  In other words, the typical bridge loan is expensive in comparison 
                  with traditional bank financing. Interest rates are usually 
                  12-20%. Fees are charged with respect to;  
                  
                 
                  1) Legal charges  
                 
                  2) Underwriting and / or application charges  
                 
                  3) Appraisal charges  
                 
                  4) Environmental cost etc.  
                  
                 
                  Additional fees may include Feasibility Study charges in case 
                  of loan for the purpose of construction or development project 
                  scheme. Non-refundable high up-front fees may also be charged 
                  by some mortgage companies in this connection.  
                  
                 Advantages 
                  of Bridge Loan:-  
                  
                 
                  1) Competitive interest rates  
                 
                  2) Loan amount to be sanctioned depends on the confirmed source 
                  of repayment.  
                 
                  3) Pre-payment of loan amount at any time is not subject to 
                  any penalty as the case may be.  
                 
                  4) Start-up amd existing businesses find themselves in a position 
                  to keep their project moving so as to avoid costs of construction 
                  escalation.  
                 
                  5) Immediate cash flow to meet current obligations until permanent 
                  financing can be achieved.  
                 
                  6) Bridge Loan can also be obtained 
                  in the form of;  
                 
                  a) A lump-sum amount of personal loan with a fixed interest 
                  rate, with an option of lump- sum repayment at maturity; and 
                   
                 
                  b) A personal demand loan with interest-only payments.  
                  
                 Disadvantages 
                  of Bridge Loan:-  
                  
                 
                  1) Rate of Interest is higher on Bridge finance.  
                  
                 
                  2) Bridge loan is riskier in terms of the borrowers credit 
                  history, or in terms of the properties readiness for marketing. 
                   
                  
                 
                  3) Pre-payment penalties may apply if a bridge loan lender is 
                  seeks a specific yield and the borrower pays the loan off earlier. 
                   
                 
                  4) No Guarantee of a take-out apportionment means that bridge 
                  loan may become permanent.  
                  
                 Related 
                  Topics:-  
                  
                 
                  1) Venture Capital Financing  
                 
                  2) Lease Financing  
                 
                  3) Trade Credit  
                 
                  4) Leverage. 
                 
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