Bridging Loans To Buy Before You Sell

Secure the new home first — then sell with confidence and the right exit plan.

Bridging finance helps you purchase your next property before your current home settles. We structure peak debt, interest capitalisation and your sale strategy so cash flow stays comfortable and the move is stress-free.

Family moving boxes into new home between sale and purchase
Specialist Structuring Peak & End Debt
5-Star Rated By Home Movers
End-to-End Valuations to Settlement

What Is A Bridging Loan?

A bridging loan is a short-term facility that lets you buy your next home before selling the current one. During the bridge period (commonly up to 6–12 months for owner-occupied moves), interest can be capitalised so you’re not making two full repayments at once.

Key Terms Explained

  • Peak Debt: Your existing loan + new purchase price + purchase costs + capitalised interest (less any savings/deposit).
  • End Debt: Peak debt minus the net sale proceeds from your current home. This is your ongoing loan after the sale settles.
  • Interest Capitalisation: Interest during the bridge is added to the loan instead of paid monthly (subject to lender policy).

Typical Lending Rules

  • LVR: Total peak position usually assessed to 80% LVR without LMI (varies by lender & security type).
  • Term: Bridge window typically 6 months (purchase established) to 12 months (build/new), with extensions by exception.
  • Repayments: Interest-only or capitalised during the bridge, then revert to standard repayments on end debt.

Quick example: Buy new home for $1,000,000 with $30,000 costs; current home loan $400,000; expected sale $800,000 with $25,000 selling costs. Peak ≈ $1,000,000 + $30,000 + $400,000 = $1,430,000 (plus any capitalised interest). After sale, End Debt ≈ $1,430,000 − ($800,000 − $25,000 − $400,000 payout) = about $255,000 (before capitalised interest). We’ll model exact numbers and buffers.

When A Bridge Makes Sense

  • You’ve found the right next home and don’t want to miss out waiting for your sale
  • You want time to present and sell for the best price (staging, marketing, flexible settlement)
  • You’re building and need funds prior to selling, or coordinating back-to-back settlements

Risk Controls We Put In Place

  • Conservative sale estimate using local data and valuation methods
  • Exit strategy if property doesn’t sell within the window (price review, refinance, longer bridge options)
  • Rate & cash-flow modelling including capitalised-interest buffer
  • Careful timing of marketing/auction to align with lender milestones

Common Bridging Structures

We compare lenders and exit paths to minimise interest and stress.

Standard

Open Bridging

Buy → Sell Later

No contract of sale yet on your current property. Requires strong buffers and a clear marketing plan.

  • Interest capitalisation often allowed
  • Conservative sale assumptions
  • Great when the purchase opportunity is time-sensitive
Low Risk

Closed Bridging

Buy ↔ Sell Settled

Your existing home is already under contract with a set settlement date. Lower risk and pricing with clear exit.

  • Precise end-debt known
  • Shorter bridge period
  • Smoother approvals & conditions
Build

Construction Bridging

Progress Draws

For knock-down/rebuild or new builds. We align progress payments, valuations and the sale timeline.

  • Stage payments & QS/val report
  • Often 12-month window
  • Capitalised interest to completion
Invest

Bridging For Investors

Rent & Buffers

Buy next asset while selling another. We factor rental income, tax advice and risk management.

  • Serviceability with multiple securities
  • LOC/offset for cash-flow
  • Clear hold-vs-sell scenarios

What Lenders Consider

  • Conservative value of your current home and local sale days-on-market
  • New purchase price, costs and any renovations required
  • Ability to service the end debt at assessment rates
  • Evidence of sales campaign (agent agreement, photos, auction date) for open bridging

Tip: Align settlement dates so your sale occurs shortly after the purchase. This reduces capitalised interest and shortens your bridge — saving thousands.

Your Bridging Loan Action Plan

A practical roadmap from offer to exit.

1

Scenario & Numbers

We clarify your target purchase, expected sale price and cash buffers. Early numbers = better decisions.

2

Valuations & Pre-Approval

Order up-front valuations and secure a bridging pre-approval that fits timing and policy.

3

Offer & Contract

Negotiate purchase terms and settlement date that match your sale campaign and lender conditions.

4

Launch Sale Campaign

Stage, market and set auction/private-sale strategy. Provide lender any updates to keep approvals seamless.

5

Settlement & Move

We coordinate both settlements to minimise overlap — and capitalised interest — on the bridge.

6

Exit & Reprice

After sale settles, we lock in sharp pricing on the end debt, structure splits, and set automation.

7

Review & Safeguards

Rate reviews, buffers and contingency plans if the sale takes longer than expected.

Bridging Loan FAQs

Clear answers to common concerns about buying before you sell.

Will I have two mortgages at once?

During the bridge, lenders combine debts into a single facility (peak debt). Repayments are typically interest-only or capitalised; once your sale settles you revert to end-debt repayments.

How long can I have a bridging loan?

Most lenders allow 6 months for existing property purchases and up to 12 months for construction or complex scenarios. Extensions can be requested with evidence of active sale marketing.

Do I need a contract of sale to apply?

No — that’s open bridging — but lenders need a realistic sale price and plan. Closed bridging (with a signed contract) may offer smoother approval and lower risk.

What happens if my home sells for less than expected?

We build conservative assumptions and buffers. If a shortfall occurs, options include price review, temporary extensions, partial refinance or injecting savings to meet the end debt.

Is capitalising interest more expensive?

Capitalisation increases total interest versus paying monthly, but it protects cash flow during the move. We model both options so you can choose the best fit.

Can investors use bridging finance?

Yes. We factor rental income, tax advice and exit timing across multiple properties to keep LVRs and cash-flow under control.

Quinto White - Q Financial Founder
Move Seamlessly Buy First • Sell Right

Navigate The Gap With Confidence

“The secret to a smooth bridge is clean numbers, realistic sale pricing and airtight timing. My team handles the lender conditions and settlement choreography — so your family simply moves in.” — Quinto White

We coordinate agents, valuations, approvals and settlements to minimise overlap and interest — and we negotiate sharp pricing on your end debt.

Peak/End Debt Modelling

Scenario plans with sale sensitivity, rate buffers and capitalised-interest calculators.

Aligned Settlements

Dates and clauses negotiated to compress the bridge window and reduce cost.

Policy Advantage

We place you with lenders that allow capitalisation, flexible LVRs and realistic sale timelines.

Why Choose Q Financial For Bridging

Experience that protects your sale price — and your sanity.

Sell On Your Terms

Bridge lets you avoid rushed sales. We help you stage, market and negotiate for the best outcome.

Cash-Flow Friendly

Interest-only or capitalised options reduce strain while you manage the move and sale.

Data-Led Decisions

We use suburb stats and recent sales to set realistic sale prices and lender-friendly projections.

Ready To Buy Before You Sell?

Get peak/end-debt modelling, conservative sale assumptions and a clear exit strategy — so the only thing left is the move.

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