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Bridging loan volume dips in Q3

Bridging volumes fell by 4.9% in Q3 but remain some 2% higher than last year, data from Bridging Trends has shown.

The firms that contribute to Bridging Trends reported that gross lending had dropped to £142.75m

The split between first charge and second charge lending stood at 82% and 18% respectively indicating consistent investment in residential properties-to-let.

And Joshua Elash, director at MTF, said in regards to unregulated bridging continuing to dominate the landscape: “The implementation of the Prudential Regulatory Authority’s rules relating to the treatment of portfolio landlords means this upward trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

“Increasingly larger number of professional property investors will consider bridging finance when purchasing a new property which they otherwise intend to refurbish and sell.”

Chris Whitney, head of specialist lending at Enness Private Clients, added: “I think when you keep in mind the fact that this was over the summer holiday, a drop of only about 5% in lending volumes compared to the last quarter is actually quite impressive.

“I was surprised the average interest rate hadn’t fallen further than it has. We have seen pricing under quite a bit of downward pressure as certain lenders fight to increase market share and protect what they already have from new entrants.”

Additionally the data found that mortgage delays were the most popular reason for taking a bridging loan and the average duration of a loan stood at 12 months.

Average LTV levels reached almost 50% with the average monthly interest rate across first and second charge lending decreasing to 0.82% from 0.84%.

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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Bridging in probate

Bridging loans are incredibly flexible and may be put to a variety of uses including resolving probate issues when concluding a will.

When a will is presented between various parties, it can throw up financial hurdles. There are numerous benefits to be gained by fast tracking the settlement process and using a short-term finance solution to meet resolution.

Annual bridging lending grows for third consecutive quarter

By using bridging, beneficiaries of a will are able to pay legal fees and inheritance tax straight away, releasing 70% of the value of the property immediately without making any interest payments which are covered by the loan facility.

This ultimately allows the beneficiary to market the property for a longer period of time to maximise its value which will be far greater than the interest payments on a bridging loan, rather than discounting the property for a quick sale or through auction.

Resolving debts

Carrying out someone’s will is not always as straightforward as we might like. Although the ownership of their various assets might be easy enough to resolve, the average person will take on a network of debts and credits which must be resolved in their will.

Bridging finance offers a person’s family some breathing space and they can use the loan to pay off debts instead of being forced to sell assets as quickly as possible. Bridging lenders are also highly flexible and quick to put solutions in place. There’s no red tape and it’s possible to create a loan structure that’s perfectly suited to individual circumstances

In many ways, a bridging loan for probate finance is very similar to a standard bridging loan. The loan will generally be for a short fixed term, commonly less than 12 months (though longer terms are available), and can be of any value from tens of thousands to tens of millions of pounds.

Inheritance tax

When concluding a will, beneficiaries will inevitably face tax implications which must be factored into the overall process. Again bridging can help streamline and manage this inevitable challenge by providing a quick fix solution.

Many estates in the UK become liable for inheritance tax, which must be paid within six months and typically a 40% share of the estate upon liquidation. Again, this financial pressure can be eased through the use of bridging finance, as it enables the will’s executors to restructure and refinance to meet the cost of inheritance tax.

Conclusion

Without bridging finance it would be very difficult to resolve the financial affairs that can be brought about in a deceased person’s will.

The time pressures that quickly become apparent would require that many estates be quickly broken down and sold, rather than being realised at their full value. Bridging loans are therefore a helpful tool that enables individuals to pass on their wealth through generations, and allows inheritors to benefit more from their parent’s estates.

Source: Mortgage Introducer