All About the Knock HomeSwap™ Loan

In life, sometimes you need help getting from Point A to Point B. When it comes to buying a home, bridge loans are one way to, well, bridge that gap. NFM Lending and the Family of Lenders have partnered with Knock to offer borrowers a streamlined way to sell and buy a home. Learn how their unique HomeSwap™ program works and whether it’s right for you.

What is HomeSwap™?

HomeSwap™ is a bridge loan offered by Knock through NFM Lending and its divisions. A bridge loan is a short-term loan that provides temporary financing until more permanent funds can be acquired. Also called swing or gap loans, bridge loans often last from 6 months to a year. They’re frequently used by home buyers who want to purchase their next home without having to wait for their current home to sell, and HomeSwap™ was designed exactly for such scenarios.  

How Does HomeSwap™ Work?

When you’re trying to buy and sell a home simultaneously, sometimes the timing doesn’t align, and you end up “between homes.” Many homebuyers worry they’ll temporarily be without permanent housing until their first home sells, and adding a selling contingency to an offer could reduce the chances of it being accepted. Using the HomeSwap™ loan helps prevent both from happening. First, make sure you’re already working with NFM or one of our divisions for mortgage pre-approval. Your loan originator will assess whether you’re eligible for the HomeSwap™ program, and the Knock team will check if your current residence qualifies for their services. If you have at least 30% equity in your existing home, you can leverage up to $650,000 of it, interest-free for up to six months, to put towards the purchase of your new home. This gives you the advantage of preserving more of your savings simply by using the equity you’ve already built! The more equity you’re able to access, the lower your interest rate can be. 

Once you’ve been determined eligible, the Knock team will get started on pre-approving you for a fully underwritten, interest-free* bridge loan. One benefit of the HomeSwap™ loan (and bridge loans in general) is that the underwriting process happens much faster than for a regular mortgage. Since the short-term loan will be based on the value of your current home, you’ll need to take numerous photos of the inside and outside of the property so the Knock team can judge the property’s condition. 

After the bridge loan is pre-approved, go out and find a new home! Because you’re pre-approved for a mortgage and the HomeSwap™ loan, you can shop with confidence. When you’ve found a home you love, you can make a competitive offer without tacking on a sales contingency. Don’t worry about selling your existing home now—that will come later. HomeSwap™ gives you breathing room to buy and move into your new home without also going through the stress of showing your old home, finding and moving into temporary housing, or having the buyer’s financing fall through. 

Now that you’re more settled in your new place, you’re ready to sell your old house! To help sell your home faster, and ideally, for more money, HomeSwap™ offers up to $35,000** in Pre-Imbursement to help with repairs, upgrades, or staging costs. These funds are already factored into the loan cost, saving you additional money on such expenses. Another stressor that’s off your plate? Paying the mortgage on your former home while waiting for it to sell. HomeSwap™ can cover up to 6 months of your old mortgage payments so you’re only paying the one mortgage of your new home! After your home sells, you use the profit to pay off the HomeSwap™ loan. Any leftovers can be used towards your new home’s mortgage or debt payoff.

Is it Right for You? 

HomeSwap™ streamlines the buying and selling process for homebuyers, especially in a seller’s market. It works well in a seller’s market because there’s a higher likelihood that your current property will sell quickly. Be sure to speak with your lender and real estate agent so they can gauge the health of your local housing market and discuss your options. In addition to regular closing costs, there is a contract fee based on the estimated list price of your old home for using Knock’s services. This cost can be paid at closing or rolled into your HomeSwap™ loan. Additionally, it will be easier to be approved if you have a strong credit score and low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. 

Don’t have to let market uncertainty keep you from selling your current home and moving into a new one! The Knock HomeSwap™ loan offers you peace of mind that you can cover the expenses of your new home while waiting for your old one to sell. 

If you have any questions about the Knock HomeSwap™ advantage, contact one of our licensed Mortgage Loan Originators. If you’re ready to begin the home buying process, click here to get started!

*Interest-free for up to six months. **Actual amount is based on client’s individual equity position. This is a co-marketing piece with Knock Lending LLC, NMLS #1958445. You are entitled to shop around for the best lender for you. Make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose, and that it meets your unique financial needs. Subject to Debt-to-Income and Underwriting requirements. This is not a credit decision or a commitment to lend. Eligibility is subject to completion of an application and verification of home ownership, occupancy, title, income, employment, credit, home value, collateral, and underwriting requirements. Not all programs are available in all areas. Offers may vary and are subject to change at any time without notice. 

These blogs are for informational purposes only. Make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose, and that it meets your unique financial needs. Subject to Debt-to-Income and Underwriting requirements. This is not a credit decision or a commitment to lend. Eligibility is subject to completion of an application and verification of home ownership, occupancy, title, income, employment, credit, home value, collateral, and underwriting requirements. Not all programs are available in all areas. Offers may vary and are subject to change at any time without notice. Should you have any questions about the information provided, please contact us.