Ken Black asked:


Home equity loans are especially useful for homeowners that want to free up some of their capital tied up in the investment of their homes, and use it to their advantage. Here are the details.

These home refinance loans come in two main types, either of a one lump sum payment, or a line of equity credit that can be drawn on anytime.

Equity is up to 85% of the market value of your home, less what you already owe on it from your mortgage. For those who bought their homes some time ago and their homes have increased in value, this can be quite a considerable amount of money.

So let’s look at some of the advantages of having a home equity loan secured by your home:

1. Free Up Money - with a home equity loan, you can free up money that is tied up in your home, without having to sell it, giving you the opportunity to have things that you normally wouldn’t have the money to fund.

2. Flexibility - a home equity loan can be tailor-made to suit your personal needs, and budget. Some of the choices that you have include having ARM or fixed interest rates, lump sum equity paid to you, or a line of credit allowing you to use the money only when you need it, and pay interest only on what you have borrowed.

You can also negotiate the terms in years for your equity loan. This means that the longer that you take the loan out for, the less your repayments are.

3. Consolidate Debts - by having a home equity loan, you can consolidate all of your debts in the one loan, which means that you will be paying less on interest rates, and charges. Home equity for debt consolidation can also be used to lower monthly repayments on consolidated debt by taking the loan over a longer term.

Many people use home equity loans to consolidate consumer debts such as student loans, credit cards, store cards, and personal loans, which are unsecured credit that attract high interest rates.

4. Repair Credit - home refinance loans are also a great way to repair your credit. If you are unable to get credit because of a bad credit history, chances are, if you are able to afford the monthly repayments, you can still get the funds you need. This is because this kind of financing is secured by your home, making you, as a borrower, less of a risk to lending institutions.

Over time, you can repair your credit history by making regular repayments on time, which will increase the likelihood of being able to get more credit in the future.

5. Investments and Improvements

If you are looking for a way to improve the value of your home by doing some renovations, additions, or get deposit money to invest in other assets, an equity loan can be ideal.

Additionally, if you are planning to sell your home, but need to do some improvements prior to putting it on the market, an equity loan is also a wise choice.

As you can see, a home equity loan can enable you to do the things you want and need to do and make your life better. Look into this today.



EDDIE

Alan Lim asked:


You may have heard the term home equity loan but are not really sure whether this type of loan will work for you. The first step is to understand the concept of home equity. Equity is the difference between the current appraised value of your home and the amount that is owed on the home. So, for example; if your home has recently appraised for $200,000 and you only owe $100,000 on it then you have $100,000 in equity in your home.

Many homeowners like the idea of taking out a home equity loan when they need to fund a home improvement or make some other type of purchase because they can often obtain the money they need at an interest rate that is lower than charging it to a credit card. In addition, there are also possible tax advantages as well.

When you take out a home equity loan you are taking out a second mortgage that gives you the ability to convert the equity in your home into cash. You can then spend that cash on any number of expenses including college education, medical expenses, debt consolidation, home improvements and much more.

You will generally need to decide whether you wish to take out a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. These two terms are different. A home equity loan provides you with a one time lump sum of money that you will then pay off over a specified period of time at an interest rate that is fixed. It is much like your first mortgage.

A home equity line of credit, commonly referred to as HELOC, is more similar to a credit card. Instead of receiving the sum of money at one time, you will then have the ability to borrow up to a specified amount of money for the duration of the loan. That time period is set by the lender. As you pay off the principal amount of the loan, you can once again use the credit. In this regard, a HELOC is much like a credit card.

There are advantages to both a home equity loan as well as a HELOC. Many homeowners prefer the flexibility of a line of credit over a fixed rate equity loan. If they do not need all of the money up front, they are able to maintain control over how much money they draw down from the loan. The disadvantage to a line of credit is that it frequently features an interest rate that is variable. This means that the payment amounts will vary based on the prevailing interest rate.

In most cases, the draw period for a line of credit is between five and ten years while the repayment period ranges between ten and fifteen years. You will usually be able to access the funds of a line of credit with a credit card, check or electronic transfer that can be ordered by phone. Typically, an initial advance is required when the loan is set up.



ELLIOTT

Kim asked:


I have debt that I want to consolidate into a home purchase, since I found a home that is priced well below appraised value. Since there is already equity is there a lender that will do a first mortgage and second at the same time? This would reduce my debt to income and put me into a better financial situation since I would only have one payment would be lower.

HUNG

Dina Wilson asked:


Home equity loan online is a loan which you can avail be pledging the equity on your home as collateral. Home equity is the market value of your home free from any mortgage claim or any other obligation on it. For instance, the actual cost of your home is £170000 and there is a mortgage claim of £70000 on it, then the equity on your home is £100000. By offering this value against the loan, you will be able to borrow substantial amounts of money at reasonable repayment terms.

Home equity loan online can be used for a variety of purposes. You can take one to fund your debt consolidation, home improvement, and medical or education fees, wedding and holiday expenses and a whole lot of other ventures. Home equity loan online can be availed under two options:

Closed home equity loan online

If you want to borrow your money as a lump sum, then you can choose this option. Interest rate will be calculated on the total amount that you are borrowing.

Home equity line of credit (HELOC)

When you don’t want to take out the loan amount at one go, you can opt for                 

HELOC. From an agreed sum, you can withdraw the desired amount when you need it. Interest rate is calculated on the individual withdrawn amounts.

Home equity loan online lends money based on a percentage of equity of your home. Most lenders offer up to 100% of the equity. Generally, loan amounts into the range of £3000 and £100000. Repayment tenure for these loans tends to be long and may be extended for a period up to 30 years.

Home equity loan online provides valuable service at low interest rates. The best thing about them is that they are available online. You don’t have to run around town in search of the perfect loan. Online lenders provide free loan quotes and non-obligatory application. So, you will be able to compare a variety of offers at your home.



DREW

Webmaster Home123 asked:


 

Home equity loans or lines of credit allows you to borrow money, using your home’s equity as collateral where equity is the difference between how much the home is worth and how much you owe on the mortgage. A home equity loan (or line of credit) is a second mortgage that lets you turn equity into cash, allowing you to spend it on home improvements, debt consolidation, college education or other expenses.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the home equity loans

Advantages: There are many other advantages of home equity loans. The loan payments on these loans are tax deductible. Home buyers can take bigger sum equity loans. These loans also carry a low rate of interest. But it’s best to heck the prevailing interest rates from many lenders and banks before you actually go in for a loan. It’s also important that the borrower check the credentials of the lenders before applying for a loan. They are many scam and con artists who can take away your home in lieu of giving you a home equity loan. The borrower also risks losing the home in case they default on the loan.

The two major advantages of borrowing with a home equity loan are lower interest rates and potential tax savings:

- The interest rate you will pay on the average home equity loan is generally lower than the interest rate you will pay on the average credit card or any other type of non-secured debt.

- For home equity loans, you can generally deduct the interest you pay. The interest you pay on credit cards and other types of personal loans is generally not tax-deductible.

Disadvantages:

Risk of losing home. If you can’t repay or refinance the loan, then you may be forced to sell or lose your home. Your home is the collateral for the loan. Being late or missing loan payments can trigger foreclosure within 60 to 90 days.

Rising interest rates. With a variable interest rate, most home loan rates change when the economy changes. This means your monthly payments can rise and fall. Be sure you know what the cap is on the loan’s interest rate. The cap sets how high your interest rate can increase each year as well as how much it can increase over the whole loan time period.

Fees. Lenders can charge a variety of fees including origination, application, and withdrawal fees. Be sure to ask about all possible fees.

The major disadvantage of a home equity loan is that you are using your house to get approved for the loan. For some people who have flawless credit this might not be a problem, because they can insure themselves that they will do whatever it takes to pay off their loan. However, instances have arisen where individuals have forgotten or were they are not financially able to pay for their loans. So at this point you’re wondering what happens if you cant pay your home equity loan? With all financial decisions come risk and the risk of losing your home wouldn’t be an option, especially if you have a family.

Home equity loans are best used for home improvements that will increase the value of your home. Some improvements, such as swimming pools, don’t usually increase the value upon resale. Others, such as additional bathrooms, living space, renovated or updated kitchens, etc., generally do increase the value of your home.

The bottom line is this: if your home is worth more than you owe on it, a home equity loan can be a great way to take advantage of this, but it can also get you into serious financial trouble, and should be used wisely. Why not use the equity in your home as part of your retirement fund instead of spending it on things that may not last?

Over the life of home loans - sometimes up to thirty years - your financial circumstances can change dramatically. Starting a family, changing jobs, children leaving home and many other factors can alter your financial circumstances over the term of the loan. A home loan that is right for you at the beginning has the potential to become the worse mistake you ever made.

Refinancing can be useful and financially rewarding but it can also carry risks. It takes time and costs money, so before you decide to change to another lender, ask yourself if it is really the right thing for you.

Are you happy with your existing lender? Have they been professional and helpful in all the dealings you’ve had with them? Are you happy with your existing loan? Is the interest rate comparable to other lenders? Could you use some extra features offered with other products?

Has your financial situation changed? Maybe you’ve started a new job or become unemployed.



HARLAN

Julian Lim asked:




 

A home equity loan is that type of home equity mortgage acquired with your home property taken in as collateral. The home equity value is actually the difference between your home’s current market and the amount of mortgage that you owe.

 

People apply for home equity loan for many different reasons. The most common of them is the serious need for some amount of cash money on hand to be used for purposes such as college tuition fees or perhaps home improvements.

 

What Are The Advantages

 

Debt Consolidation

 

Another simple reason that home owners consider when wanting to take a home equity mortgage of their property is to consolidate their debts. Therefore, instead of dealing with a number of personal loans, you will then have to deal with only one payment monthly because of debt consolidation. Thus, one due date needs to be remembered as well as the amount that is needed to be paid. One loan means a much easier planning of your financial and budgetary concerns.

 

Home Improvements

 

As already said, home owners likewise can use home equity loan for the improvement of their home properties. These types of loans do offer great interest rates when it comes to home improvement. They likewise help in improving the value of your property with the increase in equity and the writing off of charges in interests on tax returns.

 

Simply put, the main advantages of home equity loans are low and tax-deductible interests. It is likewise a quick and easy way to acquiring a sizable amount of cash.

 

What Are The Disadvantages

 

Where there is positive side, there must also be negative side. You must remember that your house will be used as the main collateral. Thus, the failure to refund the home equity mortgage loan certainly will result in foreclosure, meaning, you lose your ownership to your property if you fail pay your loan obligations.

 

Increasing interest rates

 

Another bad aspect of home equity loan is the ever increasing interest rates. Most rates of home loan vary according to the current economy condition. With a changing interest rate, your monthly loan payments may either increase or decrease in its amount. Therefore it is a must that you are aware of your interest rate cap.

 

The cap actually decides on how high the interest rates can increase annually and how much it can increase its amount over the entire duration of the loan. Likewise, it is best for you to inquire from your lender about whatever possible fees involved with the home equity mortgage loan.  It is possible that lenders will decide to charge you will simply all possible fees there is. Some of the fees include application fees and withdrawal fees.

 

Before you get a home equity loan, better consider how the overall economy and property market is doing. If the prices of home property are going down, it is advisable to not consider getting such type of loan as the home equity value will be lower.



TRACY

Lesley Lyon asked:


It is difficult to manage the finances with the ever-increasing default rates and delinquencies. The prospect to having to pay many bills of different amounts every month from the existing loans to medical expenses, credit cards and so on can be of great pain. It is not only difficult to have a track of all the expenses and bills but also the cumulative costs can sum up to a big amount. This is where the home equity loans might come to the rescue, as it helps to pay only one bill every month.

Home equity loans may help get the finances organized and also to plan accordingly. Home equity loan makes debt consolidation possible. Home equity loan lets the person to have the flexibility of planning ahead for other living needs through debt consolidation. Outstanding loan amounts, credit card bills and other kinds of liabilities may involve paying high interest rates and expenditure. A home equity loan helps in paying off the entire debts and also allows keeping some cash in hand. This leaves the person with high earning balance, which is got after the deduction towards monthly repayment of home equity loans. Hence home equity loans are said to be the best method for consolidating loans with higher interest rates.

Home equity loan provides an opportunity for the house owner to borrow money by producing collateral in the form of pledging the house. The loan is obtained without any strain even if the applicant has a bad credit because the lender views it very safe to provide loans having the house as collateral. The money borrowed is also more making it very useful to clear off debts with higher interest rates.

The home equity loan comes with a lower interest rate than any other unsecured loans. The repayment term and the amount to be paid every month is known and budgeting can be done accordingly as it can be got with a fixed rate of interest. The home equity loans repayment term ranges from five years to twenty years. It provides the flexibility to consolidate debt and fits the budget. If the debt consolidation balance is more then the person can go for a longer repayment period plan as it will provide lower monthly payments so that other living expense needs can also be met along without difficulty.

Home equity loans are easy to obtain. To qualify for home equity loans a reasonable credit score is required along with a sufficient earning potential to handle the additional debt. Since a home equity loan is a second mortgage another payment will be added to the debts. With the help of debt consolidation the second mortgage with a lower payment will replace all the other debts making the same amount of debts to be handled easily. Home equity loans come with a adjustable rate mortgage or fixed rate mortgage. It is upto the person to decide the kind he would need. The person can get even more amount of equity loan than the amount required for debt consolidation.



BERNARDO

Terry Edwards asked:


While home equity loans have been popular in recent years the question is, are they right for you and your situation? The answer really depends on how you plan on using the money.

A home equity loan is a type of loan in which the borrower uses the equity in their home as collateral. It is an excellent source of funds as it can free up the equity you’ve built up in your home, and you can get the cash to use for any purpose you desire.

A home equity line of credit or a home equity loan is a second mortgage that many people take advantage of to pay off debts, or do that big home improvement project they’ve been wanting to do. But, it is also a serious transaction, and you should know that you will be putting up your home as collateral to secure the loan. If you default in making payments the lender has the ability to take over the loan and you can lose your home.

Another benefit of a second mortgage or home equity loan is that you can deduct the interest expense on your taxes. It is much better than having a credit card because it has a lower interest rate and it is tax deductible. That’s an important point to keep in mind.

Applying for a mortgage home equity loan online is quick and easy, and very convenient since you can do it right from home any time day or night. If you’re not sure how much you currently owe on your mortgage, talk with your lender and they’ll be able to help you out.

It is also important, as in any credit transaction, to compare the total costs of the loan to other types of credit available to the consumer. When you compare home equity loan offers compare all fees for the loans you consider, not just the interest rate or annual percentage rate.

Poor credit or good credit, a debt consolidation second mortgage or home equity loan is easily obtainable in nearly any situation. Lenders are more willing to loan you the money even with poor credit because your home is used for collateral. If you decide that this is for you, shop around for the best interest rate and lowest closing costs. Used properly, a home equity loan can help you get your household finances in better shape.

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PERRY

DavidB asked:


Many people do not realize that a home equity loan is available to many homeowners. However, some take advantage of them and get one whenever they can qualify. It just really all depends on your home and the equity in it as to whether or not you may or may not qualify for one. There are many places that offer loans against the equity in your home, and you may or not be aware of them.

Why you should get a Home Equity Loan?

There are so many reasons that you might want to take out a home equity loan. Maybe you need to do some home improvements around the house. On the other hand, perhaps you are ready to take that dream vacation that you have worked so hard for. Another reason that many take out a loan against the equity in their home is for debt consolidation. You will find that this is the most popular reason for this type of loan. Simply to be debt free. Taking out a loan and paying off your debt, so that you only have one single payment that is lower to pay every month is a great reason in itself.

Where can I get a loan against the equity of my home?

Most banks or mortgage companies that offer second mortgages are known for home equity loans. Many of them will be willing to look at your information to in return give you the most for your equity that you have built up in your home.

How much will my loan be?

If you are like everyone else, chances are that you are wondering just how much of a loan you can get against the equity of your home. Well, that really all depends on the equity that you have built up in your home and how much of a loan you need. Maybe you do not need the full amount that you are offered, or perhaps you need a little more. Like stated earlier, this depends on the amount of equity as to how large or small the loan will be.

Something to Keep in Mind

If you just bought your home, and you have not made many payments on it yet, then chances are you will not qualify for a loan against the equity in your home. The reason for this is you have to make payments for a while and give the equity a chance to build up. You cannot go and get a loan against the equity in the same day or month you start paying on your home. Simply because there is, no equity built up at that time. You should at least pay on your home for a few years before you try to qualify for this type of loan.

As you can see, the home equity loan is one that can help you out if you were to get in a bind. You can get one to consolidate your debt, or to just help financially.



ADAN

Sachin A asked:


Home equity loans have become one of the most popular fund raising options for individuals.

Home equity loans are the loans taken using your home’s equity as the collateral. Thus they are a type of secured loan.

These loans are based on two facts - first, that you have repaid a certain portion of the home mortgage and thus should be able to reutilize that equity; and second that the value of your home has increased since you first purchased it.

The common reasons for taking an equity loan are home improvements, educational expenses, medical bills, debt consolidation etc. There are usually no restrictions on how the borrowed money is used.

The interest paid on such loans is usually tax deductible. Also the interest rates on them are lower than credit card other type of consumer loans. (They are higher than the first mortgage.)

Let’s understand what “home equity” is.

Home equity is defined as the difference between the market value of your home and how much you owe on the mortgage (or mortgages in case you have more than one.)

The market value of your home will be determined by bank’s appraiser or a licensed appraiser.

Suppose market value of your home is $ 100,000 and you have made a down payment of $ 10,000.

Then your equity

= market value - amount owed

= $ 100,000 - $ 90,000

= $ 10,000

After three years if you have paid back $15,000 more of the debt, you will still have $75,000 of the debt left. However after three years the market value of your home would have increased to $ 150,000.

Thus your equity after three years would be

Market value - amount owed

=$ 150,000 - $ 75,000

=$ 75,000

Besides home equity loans (fixed rate home equity loans), there is another type of home equity debt - home equity line of credit or HELOC.

Both of them are known as “Second Mortgages” as they are secured by your home just like the first mortgage.

“Second Mortgages” are repaid sooner than the first mortgages, which are usually repaid in thirty years. Home equity loans usually have a time frame of five to fifteen years.

Home equity loans are a one time lump sum loans, that are repaid over a time period decided beforehand.

On the other hand, home equity line of credit or HELOC allows you to borrow up to a certain limit for the period of the loan. The time limit of the loan is set by the lender. You can withdraw money any time during the time period and repay it any time. It works the same way like a secured credit card.

A HELOC has a variable interest rate that varies through out the period of the loan. The HELOC interest rate depends on the prime lending rate (prime lending rates are fixed by the federal reserve in the US.) The payments can vary depending on what is the amount that has been borrowed, the interest rates and whether the loan is in the draw period or the repayment period.

The credit rating of the borrower is also a factor in deciding the home equity loan interest rates.

The draw period of the line of credit is the period during which you can borrow any amount up to the limit specified by the lender. Also only the interest has to be paid during this period; however you may choose to repay the principal amount if you wish.

During the repayment period, no new debt can be taken and the existing debt must be paid back.

Usually draw periods are for ten years and repayment periods around fifteen years, but this varies depending on the lender’s policies.

Withdrawals for HELOC can be done by checks, credit cards or EFT. Lenders may have certain terms which make require you to take an initial advance when the HELOC is setup, borrow a minimum amount each time you use it and keep a minimum outstanding balance.

If you decide to sell off your home, you have to pay back full amount of the home equity loan.



CECIL