ARTICLES

What Exactly Is A Bridge Loan?

A bridge loan is a loan that a person (or sometimes a business) takes out for only a short time--no longer than one year. The purpose of the bridge loan, or bridging finance, is to give the borrower needed cash until he secures a more long term loan or receives funding. The immediate cash flow that is provided by the bridging finance allows the borrower to meet current financial obligations while a deal or contract is still in process or being negotiated. You can expect your bridge loan to carry a high rate of interest, and you will need to secure it with collateral. Bridge loans work by bridging the gap between the time a borrower meets his immediate financial obligations until such time he can avail of a more permanent and long term loan. People use bridge loans in numerous financial situations. Business owners may acquire bridge loans to finance the needed working capital of their business while awaiting equity financing deals which could only be completed after several months. People commonly use bridge loans when they are selling a home. There can be times when the real estate market in a given area is moving slowly, or there...
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Credit Crunch Hits Brits Hard

A great many people will probably tell you that financial worries such as trying to find or pay back a loan or the rising cost if living gives them a headache. It could however be even worse than that. According to new research from financial service provider Friends Provident along with UK charity the Blood Pressure Association, Britons' health is genuinely suffering as the credit crunch bites. Nearly 29 million people, or almost two thirds of the population, feel more stressed, less fit and less healthy than they did three years ago, according to the findings. The Britain Under Pressure report found that the economic downturn means 37 per cent of people are more stressed, 19 per cent are losing sleep and 15 per cent are working longer hours. In addition, seven per cent are drinking more and six per cent are smoking more as they attempt to cope with the financial pressures facing them. In addition, nine per cent expect to start drinking more in the next six months. And a majority of 1 in 4 brits do not think they are doing enough to care for their health. That is not all. More than half of people (56...
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