Selling a home while you still live there is less than ideal and often leads to frustration and accepting a low ball offer just to get it over with. There is a better way. With a bridge mortgage, Arizona sellers can buy a new home before their current home sells.
If a bridge mortgage sounds like a good option for you, it is important to understand how it works. If you are selling your home and still owe $200,000 on your mortgage but your home is worth $250,000 you can use a bridge loan to borrow against the equity in your home. This will allow you to make a down payment on a new home before you sell your current home. Once your home sells, you use the proceeds from the sale to pay off your bridge loan.
There are a few risks with a bridge mortgage Arizona borrowers need to be aware of. Since a bridge loan is a short term loan, you will pay a higher interest rate than you would on a home equity loan or traditional mortgage. You can minimize this risk by selling your home quickly and paying off your bridge loan before any interest comes due. You can work with your lender to determine a grace period that would be long enough to avoid accumulating interest.
A second consideration with a bridge mortgage is that they are financed through a private lender. Most banks will not loan money on a home that is actively listed for sale so a private lender is a better option. There are many, many reputable private lenders but there are some that are not. Do your homework, check reviews, and ask family and friends for recommendations. Finally, make sure that your lender has a licensed mortgage broker because you know that he will play by the rules and keep your money safe.
Finally, keep in mind that while a bridge mortgage is a great way to finance your down payment, you still will need to get a mortgage on the property. Since you will own both properties for at least a short time, you will need to be able to qualify for two mortgages.
Dennis Dahlberg Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
23335 N 18th Drive Suite 120 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
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