Deposit Bonds: What are they and how do they work?

Are you looking at buying a property but worried about not having enough cash handy for a deposit? You could consider a deposit bond as an alternative. We examine some of their pros and cons.

Deposit bonds could help you solve the perpetual owner-occupier property conundrum – how do you find the money to buy a new house when you haven’t yet sold yours, and don’t want to sell it until you can find one to buy?

The thought of selling your house and having no home to move into on settlement day is a complication many homeowners would dread. That’s why some might consider buying a house before they sell their home, only to find funding that scenario difficult, especially if there’s a mortgage on their existing property.

While there are other options available – such as bridging finance or buying a home subject to the sale of yours – there are many companies offering deposit bonds as an alternative solution.

Lawyers Conveyancing principal lawyer Peter Mericka told Canstar that, in his experience, many home buyers were not aware of deposit bonds until they find they can’t come up with a cash deposit, and are then “told by loan brokers or they find out via the internet”.

But he said home buyers need to do their homework before considering deposit bonds as an option. It’s wise to talk to the person selling the property or the real estate agent and seek expert financial or legal advice before signing any deposit bond agreements.

We take a look at some of the possible pros and cons of taking on a deposit bond:

What is a deposit bond?

The Australian Government’s Moneysmart website defines a deposit bond as a financial agreement that can be used “in place of a deposit when a buyer exchanges contracts on a property”. It guarantees to the seller that the buyer will pay the full deposit on an agreed date.

Although they are sometimes offered by banks and financial institutions, deposit bonds are generally issued by insurance companies.

Deposit bonds are used instead of cash to pay a deposit when buying a home, usually providing cover for up to about 10% of the purchase price. The person taking out the bond has to pay the money – plus fees – back to the bond issuer, and not the property vendor, by an agreed date. Some lenders also offer lender-issued deposit bonds on certain loans, dependant on the buyer taking a loan with that lender.

Mr Mericka said a deposit bond could make it possible for a purchaser without ready access to cash to secure a property by using a deposit bond in lieu of cash.

“The bond is really an insurance policy under which the insurer will pay the vendor the value of the deposit if the purchaser defaults, and it is then up to the insurer to chase the purchaser to recover the funds,” Mr Mericka said.

“If all goes as it should, the bond is surrendered at settlement, and the full purchase price of the property is paid at settlement as well.”

How does a deposit bond work?

Deposit bonds are used in place of handing over a cash deposit when buying a home. Here’s how the process works:

1. Application

Anyone wanting to obtain a deposit bond has to apply to the insurer or lender issuing the bond, and pass financial tests, much like the credit application process that applies for other loans. The bond issuer will ask for financial information and check your credit score, in most cases, or it may use information provided by your bank, if you have been referred that way.

For example, the company Deposit Bonds Australia (DBA, which is underwritten by QBE Insurance Australia) says its deposit bonds are “only issued to qualified purchasers who have met QBE’s credit criteria and DBA’s assessment process of their financial capacity to settle the full property purchase price”.

2. Given to seller as the deposit

Once approved, the deposit bond issuer will provide the vendor with the bond, which is an agreement to pay the full deposit in cash at the time of settlement. If the buyer defaults on the contract, and the vendor is eligible under the contract to keep the deposit, the buyer still has to pay the issuer the value of the deposit, plus any fees.

Why would a vendor not accept a deposit bond?

A deposit bond is a piece of paper that’s given to the vendor, rather than cash being handed over, as is typical for the property sales process.

It’s important to bear in mind that a deposit bond may not be the right solution for every situation. For example, Rams Home Loan says some vendors may not consider a bond as appropriate collateral, and the vendor may say that they will not accept it.

If you’re considering using a deposit bond, it could be a wise idea to check with the seller’s agent to see if the vendor is okay with the idea of accepting one before you make an offer. It’s also a good idea to check the contract terms and conditions carefully, to see if deposit bonds are excluded. Sometimes, a contract will stipulate that deposits must be paid in cash.

How much does a deposit bond cost?

Different issuers charge different fees for deposit bonds. The total amount typically depends on the value of the house being bought and the value of the deposit bond being taken out, as well as if you have been “pre-approved” for finance.

A review of several deposit bond companies suggests you could expect to pay from between 1.2% and 1.5% of the total deposit purchase price. Many deposit bond issuers have an online calculator that allows you to get an estimate of costs before you investigate further.

It could be a good idea to compare the cost of alternatives to a deposit bond before taking one on. For example, you could compare what a short-term loan could cost against the total cost of a deposit bond.

It’s also a good idea to check in advance if the deposit bond fee is refundable, partially or fully, if the purchase does not go ahead.

Explore: What if I change my mind about buying a house?

How long does a deposit bond approval take?

It can take a matter of hours from the time you return an application with payment for a deposit bond to be approved and available for you to use on a contract of sale.

For example, Deposit Bond Australia sayss applicants could receive their bond within four to 48 hours, depending on the complexity of the application. Deposit Assure offers bond applicants a turnaround time of less than one business hour.

What are the pros and cons of a deposit bond?

What are the possible advantages of a deposit bond?

Deposit bonds could help people buy property when they didn’t have “ready cash”, Mr Mericka said, which is “to the benefit of both vendor and purchaser”.

“Some young purchasers may want to call on parents for a cash deposit or family guarantee, and a deposit bond saves the embarrassment of asking and of a refusal in such circumstances,” he added.

What are the potential risks of deposit bonds?

Refusal by vendor: Mr Mericka said risks associated with the use of a deposit bond may include the unwillingness of a real estate agent or vendor to accept one as part of the contract conditions.

Financial checks: Another risk of using a deposit bond is that applicants must pass financial checks by the issuer, by law. Like home loans, deposit bonds are a form of credit and are covered by the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Cth) (NCCP Act), which includes the National Credit Code (NCC).

Fees and charges: Anyone using a deposit bond is usually required to pay fees and charges on top of the amount covered by the deposit. It’s generally a good idea to find out exactly how much a deposit bond will cost before entering into any agreement, or to seek professional legal and/or financial advice on whether a deposit bond is right for you.

What are alternatives to deposit bonds?

There are other alternatives to deposit bonds available to you as a potential buyer, such as:

• • bridging loans,
  • parental guarantees
  • taking out a different type of home loan offering a higher loan-to-value ratio (LVR) and paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

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