Bridging finance helps in making the home loan process easier. They enable the people to complete the purchase of a new home before they could sell the existing property. Arranging for funds can be a difficult task under these circumstances. But this can be well managed by having a good equity value for the property. A bridging finance loan is a temporary home loan which helps the purchaser to buy property of their choice without crossing too much of hurdles. Buyers may find this option very advantageous as they can successfully make a deal without waiting for the long process. Bridging finance can help the buyers to move in to their new home avoiding a rented house.
Bridging finance helps in fastening the process and can be used for generating funds for auction finance, first and second mortgages, home renovation, new construction development and much more process. Lenders may allow the users to pay the charges until the entire process is completed. This helps in cost cutting measures. There are some disadvantages that come with this type of loan. Buyers must have good equity in the current property which should support the purchase of both properties. Selling of the existing property must be done quickly. If not, the interest amount will be added up. This may push the users to sell the property at a lower price because of the pressure. The users will be charged interest on the entire amount of the loan taken. This kind of loan can be very useful to bridge the financial needs in the time period between a purchase and the sale. The period of loan may be between 6 and 12 months. When this period increases, users may have to pay more interest.
Bridging finance is seen as a risky move by the lenders. Hence borrowers are pushed to pay more amount as the interest. Large amount of paper works have to be done and most lenders do not prefer sanctioning these kinds of loans. A traditional mortgage loan can bring huge profits to the lenders. But bridging finance are risky and do not come up with huge profits for the lenders. Hence the lenders are reluctant and the availability is low. From the borrower’s point of view, it is always a safer option to think about the nitty-gritty of the loan and circumstances. Every move should be well planned to avoid such hindrances.
By: Jitesh Arora
Archive for September 16th, 2009
Equity method accounting is used when an investing company owns stocks of another affiliate company. There are several different ways of accounting for this ownership, but this method is perhaps the most popular.
Equity method accounting factors in the increase or decease in profits of the invested company. These differences are usually unrealized and not actually obtained by the investing company. The increase or decease is, of course, calculated on the percentage of stocks owned and does not account for dividends paid. For example, if an investor owns 100 shares of an affiliate’s stock. And if that stock increases 10%, only those 100 shares will reflect the 10% increase. The investing company will then record that increase as profit on their ledger.
Before going further, it is important to note that if a parent company owns over 50% of a subsidiary company, equity method accounting is not allowed. Consolidated companies are required to combine the financial figures into one statement for the group of entities.
This information, found through equity method accounting, can be very helpful to a company. If understood correctly, the profits or losses of affiliate companies can help forecast the total equity of the company. This total equity can show trends of upward or downward value of the investing company.
If this information is wrongly considered, the effects can leave the company high and dry. Dry, in this case, meaning out of money. If the profits found with the equity method are considered physical liquid assets, the company’s operating capital will be wildly off the mark. This is why it is very important to understand that equity method accounting determines value of investments, but rarely shows finances that can be readily used.
Equity method accounting highly increases the appearance of financial standing. Including all investment gains as profit really boosts the income side of the balance sheet. A major advantage to padding this stat is the likelihood of getting loans, raising capital, or getting investors.
Just think, as a loan officer, if a company showed records of $100,000 in profits instead of $75,000. That makes a big impact on whether or not to give a loan and how much to loan out. This scenario works the same for the decision of an outside investor or joint venture opportunity.
Other factors exist as to whether or not an investing company uses equity method accounting or not. There are tax requirements for the amount of investment in the affiliate company. If the investor has significant influence or not and the percent of ownership plays a role in using this method of accounting as well.
By: Joe Coffee
Experience has shown it’s essential you review your finances regularly. Equity release schemes are no exception.
Who would have thought that 8 years ago, with essentially a handful of providers; namely Norwich Union, Northern Rock, Hodge & Mortgage Express were the only companies in the market. How times have changed!
The equity release market now has over 20 companies competing for business. This has proved a healthy scenario given the inflexibility & higher interest rates of the earlier plans & enabled such schemes to develop towards the more flexible & competitive plans they are today. But complacency must not prevail.
Competition with the equity release providers has developed new strategies of releasing equity & consequently driven interest rates lower.
It is one of these former companies; Mortgage Express that is of concern.
Customers of Mortgage Express who have equity release schemes with them have received communication over the past months detailing an interesting scenario.
Mortgage Express were one of the earlier companies to recently suffer from the credit crunch after mainly being caught out in the buy-to-let market of which they were a major player. They are a subsiduary of the Bradford & Bingley.
Due to the lending difficulties they have experienced they have now closed to new business & consequently have written to its mortgagors including holders of its equity release schemes. They are willing to release these mortgages, without penalty to a new equity release company of your choice.
For plan holders of the aforementioned it is a big decision to make as some of their schemes have interest rates as low as 5.99%, but some as high as 8%.
So would it be worth remortgaging?
The answer lies in the following factors; current property value, age, interest rate at inception & the increased balance of the equity release plan. This is where independent financial advice is essential.
Analysis can show where any break even point is. This will confirm whether there would be any benefit in transferring your Mortgage Express scheme to a new lender. Research is conducted from the whole of the market & dependent on your requirements, a recommendation can be made from a panel of over 20 companies.
Costs are an important factor in the equation as they can detract any obvious gains of moving to a lower interest rate. This is where specialist deals with lenders are of assistance, as the lower the transfer costs are, the earlier the break even point is for justifying a remortgage.
The lowest interest rate at the time of writing is 5.79% with LV=, hence for some people major savings can be made, however this rate is not available to everybody & independent advice must always be sought
By: Mark Greggs