Jack Krohn asked:


Millions of Americans are up to their ears in debt. They struggle every month just to meet the minimum payment which just prolongs the debt. Credit cards have high finance fees. Hence, it is difficult to pay down balances. In most cases, the minimum payment barely covers the finance charges. This makes it difficult to reduce the credit card balance.

One approach for eliminating or reducing debts involves acquiring a debt consolidation loan. Although debt consolidation loans will not miraculously eliminate your debts, these loans make is possible to reduce your debts faster.

In 2005 the value of home equity across the US was $11.3 trillion. The percentage of home ownership in 2005 was 69% down slightly from the record 69.2 % in 2004. Almost 124 million Americans own their own home. There is plenty of money available to lend.

If you obtain a debt consolidation loan, all your credit balances are lumped into one loan. Furthermore, debt consolidation loans have reasonable interest rates. This enables you to become debt free within a few years.

There are various ways to obtain a debt consolidation loan. Individuals with good credit may qualify for a personal debt consolidation loan. If you own a home, it may be possible to get approved for a home equity loan. Home equity loans are ideal because the rates are low and the terms fixed. Usually, homeowners are able to repay the money in five to seven years - sometimes less.

Just beware that home equity does not automatically go up every month like some would have you believe. Several factors far beyond your control determine the value of your home. Just within the last six months or so the value of homes in some parts of the country dropped by 10% in a month.

Before you get a home equity loan you should know these facts.

• They are secured by a second deed of trust on your house.

• If your financial situation changes your home could be at risk of foreclosure.

• Having to make two payments on your home can be a lot of financial strain.

• A lot of unscrupulous lenders could care less.

• Keep your eyes open to what the local housing market is doing. Just recently many areas experienced a 10% decline in values in one month causing many homeowners to owe more than their home was worth.

It is essential to use the funds wisely and borrow only what you can afford to payback. Most Americans who use their home equity to pay off their credit card debt refuse to change their habits and lifestyles, and actually see their zero-balance cards as an invitation to go shopping - perpetuating the cycle.

Before you put your home at risk with a second mortgage understand the risks. Explore all the possibilities. Just because a home equity loan for debt consolidation seems so easy to do and easy to get, doesn’t make it the right choice for you. Don’t press the EASY button.



MARION

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