Perhaps we are not completly mad then.
Yes, he has a good relationship with the Bank Manager. He's never had a loan and always in the black. Is a branch loan the same as a bridging loan and if so what are the interest rates like? A branch loan for this amount has to be approved outside the branch though, I was told.
In an ideal situation, which is far from realistic - a loan for 100% interest only for 2 years would be perfect. We have no cash so to speak for deposit etc but I would be putting all the cash from my settlement into the house so that we would have very little or no mortgage eventually. In the meantime, my sister would live there and we would rent it out. Its 5 bed and close to where she shares at the moment so they would all just move over the road.
I have not contacted the Bank Manager as yet, as I want to be sure that he will not be in hysterics at us!!!