There are moments in life when timing does not quite line up the way you hoped. You have found the home you want, but your current property has not sold yet. Or maybe you spotted the perfect place at auction and need to move quickly. This is exactly where bridging loans come in, and at FinancePath, we help everyday Australians in Melbourne and beyond understand how to use them confidently.
What Is a Bridging Loan?
A bridging loan is a short term loan that covers the gap between buying a new property and selling your existing one. Think of it as temporary finance that lets you buy before you sell, without the pressure of having to rush the sale of your current home. The bridging period is typically between 6 and 12 months, giving you enough breathing room to sell at the right price rather than accepting the first offer that comes along.
At FinancePath, we work with banks and lenders across Australia to find bridging finance that suits your situation. Whether you need a 6 month bridging loan or a 12 month bridging arrangement, we can help you compare your options and understand the real costs involved.
How Does the Bridging Loan Work in Practice?
When you take out a bridging loan, your lender typically combines your existing mortgage with the new loan into what is called a peak debt. During the bridging period, many lenders allow interest capitalisation, which means the interest is added to your loan balance rather than requiring you to make repayments straight away. This can make the temporary finance period much more manageable, especially if you are carrying two properties at once.
Once you sell your existing property, the proceeds go toward paying down the bridging loan. What remains becomes your ongoing home loan. The bridging loan repayment structure is designed to give you flexibility during what can be a stressful time, and FinancePath will walk you through every step so you know exactly what to expect.
It is important to understand the bridging loan LVR, which stands for loan to value ratio. Most lenders will cap the bridging loan amount based on the combined value of both properties. Our team at FinancePath will help you understand what your bridging loan security looks like and how much you can borrow.
What Are the Costs Involved?
Bridging finance costs can vary depending on the lender, the loan amount, and the length of the bridging loan term. The bridging loan interest rate is often higher than a standard variable interest rate, which is why having a clear exit strategy before you apply is so important. Bridging loan fees may include application fees, valuation fees, and ongoing account fees, so it pays to understand the full picture before you commit.
At FinancePath, we take the time to explain all bridging finance costs in plain language. We want you to feel informed, not overwhelmed. You can also use our loan repayment calculator to get a sense of what your numbers might look like.
The Benefits of Using a Bridging Loan
The bridging loan benefits are significant for the right buyer. You can buy your dream home without having to sell first, which means no need for temporary accommodation or rushed decisions. You avoid the risk of missing out on a property you love simply because your current home has not settled yet. For those looking at upgrading your house, a bridging loan can make the whole process feel far more seamless.
Bridging loans are also useful for auction finance, where you need to exchange contracts quickly and cannot wait for a traditional loan approval process. With fast approval options available through our lender panel, FinancePath can help you move with confidence when timing is critical.
Understanding the Risks
Like any financial product, there are bridging loan risks to be aware of. If your property takes longer to sell than expected, or if the sale price comes in lower than anticipated, you could find yourself carrying a larger debt for longer. This is why your exit strategy, meaning the plan for how you will repay the bridging loan, is so important before you submit a bridging loan application.
FinancePath will help you think through your exit strategy carefully. We will look at realistic sale timelines, current market conditions, and your overall financial position to make sure a bridging loan is the right fit for you. If a bridging loan is not the right match, we can also discuss a bridging loan alternative such as equity release or home loan refinancing.
How to Apply for a Bridging Loan
The bridging finance application process through FinancePath is straightforward. We start with a conversation about your goals, your current property, and the new property you want to buy. From there, we assess your borrowing capacity, review your bridging loan security, and match you with lenders who offer competitive bridging loan interest rates.
We access loan options from banks and lenders across Australia, which means you are not limited to just one or two choices. Our team does the legwork so you can focus on what matters most, which is finding and securing the right home. Once your bridging loan approval comes through, we stay by your side through to bridging loan settlement and beyond.
If you are thinking about selling after buying, or you simply want to avoid selling first and missing out on the home you really want, talk to the team at FinancePath. We are here to help you make a confident, well-informed decision. Book your appointment today and let us help you take the next step.
We begin by gaining a deep understanding of you - your goals, your lifestyle, your current position, and where you want to be in the future.
At this stage, we focus on asking the questions that matter to you, not just the questions lenders require. This allows us to build a strategy that supports your life today and your longterm plans, not just a transaction.
During this stage, we:
This first step ensures we're aligned and preparing a lending plan that's tailored specifically to your needs - not a one size fits all approach. It's all about setting the right foundation so the rest of the journey feels simple, informed, and stress free.
Next, we design a personalised lending solution around your unique circumstances and guide you through every part of the approval journey.
After analysing your position and reviewing the broader lending market, we provide you with a clear, personalised borrowing capacity and a lending structure that aligns with both your immediate needs and future goals.
In this stage, we:
You'll always know where things stand, what's coming next, and what actions (if any) you need to take. We remove the complexity from this step so you can move forward with confidence, clarity, and peace of mind.
Once approved, we support you through settlement and continue to work with you well beyond your loan being put in place.
Settlement is not the end of the journey - it's the beginning of an ongoing relationship designed to ensure your lending continues to support your life as it evolves.
Here's what this includes:
We proactively reach out to ensure your lending remains aligned with your goals - now and into the future - giving you the confidence and peace of mind that we have your back.
Your lending journey doesn't end at settlement, and neither does our support. Our ongoing approach ensures you're always well positioned to make the most of your financial opportunities.
















































Chris and his team have been a pleasure to deal with during the whole process. Very informative and got us a great result with our remortgage.
Nick Little
claire stronge
John Denier
Jake was amazing, so personable and an excellent broker!
kath brundell
Hands down the best broker experience we have ever had. Mark, his team and network of property professionals made our experience 10/10. Have already told all my family and friends, can’t recommend FinancePath more!
Brayden King
Lee Francois
We envision a world where financial stress is a thing of the past. Where everyone has a trusted partner guiding them through life’s biggest financial decisions—24/7.
We’re here to help you seize opportunities, avoid pitfalls, and live your best life. Not just for you, but for your family, friends, and future generations.
Book AppointmentMany brokers focus on how much you can borrow. We focus on how much you should borrow — and, just as importantly, why.
Rather than producing a generic borrowing capacity figure, our role is to ask the right questions upfront so your lending strategy actually fits your life. We take the time to understand your income structure, expenses, lifestyle priorities, future plans, and risk tolerance before discussing numbers. This ensures your lending position supports where you’re heading, not just what a calculator says is possible.
From there, we help you shape a personalised lending strategy — considering cash flow, tax implications, flexibility, and future opportunities — so your finance decisions remain sustainable and intentional over time. Our focus is on clarity and confidence, not maximising debt.
We also stay involved beyond settlement. That means helping you understand how your loan works day‑to‑day, keeping an eye on whether it still suits your circumstances, and checking in as your goals or situation evolve.
Unlike many brokers, we hold an Australian Credit Licence (ACL), which means we are required to meet strict compliance standards, maintain professional indemnity insurance, manage dispute resolution processes, and demonstrate adequate resources and systems. This provides reassurance that you’re working with a licensed professional held to high regulatory and ethical standards.
In short, we don’t just arrange loans — we help you make lending decisions that still feel right years down the track.
Instead, we’re paid through commissions by the fund provider when a loan settles and, in some cases, while the loan remains in place. This payment structure does not change our legal obligations to you.
As licensed mortgage brokers, we are required to act in your best interests and comply with responsible lending obligations under Australian law. That means we must take reasonable steps to ensure any loan we recommend is suitable for your circumstances, aligns with your objectives, and does not place you in financial hardship. Our duty is to you — not the lender.
Banks, by contrast, are only required to ensure a loan is not unsuitable for their customer. They are not held to the same best‑interests obligation and are limited to offering products from their own range.
Our process is designed around these higher standards. We focus on understanding your full financial position, asking the right questions, and recommending lending solutions that are sustainable over the long term — not simply what you might qualify for today.
This approach gives you confidence that your lending decisions are being made carefully, responsibly, and with your interests at the centre — both now and into the future.
Not at all. Whatever stage of life you are in or financial position you find yourself in, we can help bring clarity to your money matters. We may identify loan products with better rates, or help you build a smarter end-to-end money management strategy. It all starts with a free smart money management consultation. Whether you are looking to reduce debt, grow wealth, or simply get a clearer picture of your finances, our team is ready to help you take the next step. There are no obligations and no pressure, just straightforward, honest guidance tailored to your situation. Give us a call on 1300 780 440 to get started.
Interest rate movements are one of the most common concerns we hear from borrowers — and understandably so. Even small changes can affect repayments and your longer‑term financial position.
At FinancePath, you’re not left to navigate these changes on your own. Our role is to help you understand how rate movements may affect your loan and to be available when it makes sense to review your options. When you’re considering a change — whether that’s reviewing your rate, restructuring your loan, or exploring refinancing — we’ll walk you through the implications clearly so you can make an informed decision.
We also focus heavily on getting the structure right from the outset. That includes discussing fixed versus variable rates, split loan options, and flexibility features, so your loan is aligned with your goals and risk tolerance from day one — not just current market conditions.
Our approach is about long‑term suitability, not constant switching. As your circumstances or the lending environment change, we’re here to help you assess what still makes sense, so your loan continues to support your broader financial plans over time.
Missing out on a great property because your bank is buried in paperwork is frustrating — and avoidable. We work closely with a wide range of Australian lenders, including specialist lending teams that don’t deal directly with the public. This allows us to assess your situation efficiently and guide your application through the process without unnecessary delays.
Whether you’re seeking pre‑approval or need a fast turnaround on a purchase, we focus on momentum so you’re always ready to act. No sitting on hold. No waiting weeks for updates. When the right opportunity comes along, you’ll be in a strong position to move forward with confidence.
While every situation is different, most applications move from initial submission through to settlement within two to six weeks. Your first financial assessment and loan recommendation can typically happen within days of providing your details. From there, formal application and lender assessment generally takes one to two weeks, though complexity, document readiness, and the lender's current workload can all influence the timeline. Property valuations and legal checks can also add time depending on the circumstances. Pre-approval can often be obtained faster, sometimes within just a few days. At FinancePath, we work to keep things moving efficiently at every stage and will keep you informed throughout so there are never any surprises. The goal is always to get you to settlement as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Most people approach a bank only after finding a property they want. By that point, time pressure is working against you, and any gaps in your application become urgent problems.
We take the opposite approach. Getting your lending position clear before you need it means we can ask the right questions, gather the correct documents, and present your application accurately, without the rush. Approval timeframes ultimately depend on the lender and loan type, but our role is to remove every delay on your side, avoiding back-and-forth, last-minute surprises, and unnecessary bottlenecks.
The result is that when the right property comes along, you're already organised, informed, and ready to act. Not scrambling to catch up.
Being self-employed or running your own business should never be a barrier to building your property portfolio or securing the finance you need. Traditional lenders often apply a one-size-fits-all approach that puts self-employed applicants at an unfair disadvantage. At FinancePath, we work with self-employed borrowers and business owners every day. We know which lenders genuinely understand variable income, what documentation they require, and how to present your application in the strongest possible way. Whether you are using business financials, tax returns, or business activity statements, we help you put your best foot forward. Some lenders actively specialise in self-employed borrowers and offer more flexible criteria, and our job is to connect you with the right one while making sure you are getting a competitive deal.