Louie Latour asked:




If you are a homeowner considering a home equity loan, a second mortgage might be a better choice than a home equity line of credit. Second mortgages have several advantages in today’s economy. Here are the basics you need to make an informed decision regarding your home equity loan.

Interest Rates Are On The Rise

When you opted for a home equity loan with a fixed interest rate you are locking in this rate and payment amount for the duration of your loan. If you opt for a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), your loan will have a variable interest rate and will change when the lender adjust your loan. Locking in your interest rate will guarantee your payments will be fixed regardless of interest rate changes.

Borrow Only What You Need

Home Equity Lines of Credit are risky because of the temptation to keep spending. These loans provide the borrower with a debit card they can use to make purchases that is tied directly to the equity line. This ease of access to the equity causes many homeowners to overspend, borrowing more money than they intended. Using a second mortgage allows you to borrow a fixed amount, eliminating the temptation to overspend.

Fixed Payment Amounts

Because second mortgages come with fixed interest rates you can count on your payment staying the same for the duration of your loan. This will allow you to budget for the additional payment and keep better control over your finances. If you choose a home equity loan with a variable interest you run the risk of an ever increasing payment as interest rates rise. You can learn more about choosing the best home equity option for your financial situation by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.

Brittany

Juhani Tontti asked:




The target group of the senior reverse mortgage are seniors, who are cash poor but equity rich. They have paid the most part of their mortgages during many years but then for some reason, their financial situation have changed and they feel that the monthly cash does not cover all the expenses.

1. You Have The Right To Use The Equity.

There is one bad attitude, which resists some seniors to take this loan and that is that they feel that they cannot use the equity, which they have finally been able to pay away. But think about it. It is your money and now, when your home is perhaps too big for you and you really need more disposable money, it is clear that you can use the equity. It will go to a real, burning need.

2. What Kind Of Homes Are Accepted?

The requirement is that all properties must meet the FHA standards and flood qualifications. The accepted home types are single family homes, the HUD approved condominiums, the homes, which include from one to four units, when at least one unit is reserved to the borrower and the single family homes.

3. How Does A Loan Sum Fluctuate?

The reverse loan is quite similar with the usual mortgage loan. In this respect there are two loan alternatives, the loan with a variable interest rate and the loan with the fixed interest rate. If the decision is the variable loan type, then the interest rate will influence on the final payment especially when we think about the compound effect.

4. How Much You Can Borrow?

The maximum amount, which the law allows is $ 625.000. However, the sum depends on your age, the appraised value of the home and on the interest rates. We can say, that the older you are, the more expensive is your home and the lower the interest rate, the more you can get.

5. When Do You Pay All Back?

This is the sweet spot of this product. A senior has not pay back anything on a monthly basis, he can even pay away the traditional mortgage with the reverse loan and in this way to release more money for the daily use. The loan capital and all the expenses will be paid back, when the loan will be closed.

That happens, when the last owner or borrower, will move permanently away or die. Then the home will be sold and the selling price will cover all the costs. If this does not happen, then the mortgage insurance will pay the difference. This insurance is compulsory.

Gregory

Dave Badge asked:


Chicago home equity loans are the type of loans where the borrower uses the equity in his Chicago home as collateral. You can lose the home and be forced to move out if you don’t repay the debt. Such loans are often used by families in need of financing help to make major home repairs, pay medical bills or college tuitions. Chicago home equity loans create a lien against the borrower’s house. Equity is the difference between how much the home is worth and how much you owe on the mortgage (or mortgages, if you have more than one on the property). Such loans require an excellent credit score and reasonable loan-to-value ratios. An individual can apply for an equity loan, no matter the type of home he has. It can be a condo, house, apartment, or townhouse.

The maximum amount that you can borrow through a home equity loan depends on your credit score, monthly income, and the appraised value of the collateral, among others. It is possible to borrow up to 100% of the appraised value of the home. Chicago home equity loans can be of two types, closed- and open-end. Closed-end home equity loans generally have fixed rates and can be amortized for periods usually up to 15 years. The open-end loans, also known as HELOC (home equity line of credit) loans, are at a variable interest rate, but here the borrower chooses when and how often to borrow against the equity of the property, with the lender setting an initial limit to the credit line.

But when comparing the two, keep in mind that you cannot simply compare the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for a loan with the APR for a home equity loan because the APRs are figured differently. The APR for a regular loan takes into account the interest rate charged plus points and other finance charges. The APR for a home equity line is based on the periodic interest rate alone. It does not include points or other charges.

Here are the steps you should follow when considering a home equity loan in Chicago:

1) Check your options - home equity loans are not the only method of financing. Remember, if you decide to get a home equity loan and can’t make the payments, the lender may foreclose and you would lose your home.

2) Do the research - if you are keen on getting such a loan, then talk with several lenders, including at least one bank or credit union in your community. Compare their offers. Comparing loan plans can help you get a better deal. Beware of loan terms and conditions that may mean higher costs for you. Keep in mind the following parameters:

-Can you afford the interest rate and monthly payments?

-The period of the loan, or how long you have to pay it back

-Check the penalties for late or missed payments

3) Double check - think twice before signing the contract. Have an attorney review the loan papers and make sure the terms are the same ones you agreed on.



ERNEST

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

Joseph Kenny asked:


There are some alternatives available to the homeowner who needs financial help but does not want to refinance their present mortgage. There are however, at least two main options if some sort of equity loan is desired. You can obtain an equity credit line or a second mortgage loan and there are specific advantages and disadvantages with each one. Money can be saved over time if you take time to choose the loan that best fits your needs. Whatever you decide you will need to know the exact reason you want to borrow and the amount you need to make the loan for.

One of these loan options could be just the right thing to help solve your financial problem. You need to take a close look at both types of loan in order to see which one will give you the best type of service.

The most common form of equity credit is the Home Equity Line of Credit and this option gives the borrower the greatest amount of flexibility. If you want to do much needed repairs or renovations to your home, the best way to make this happen is to use the equity available in a loan that contains an equity line of credit. An equity credit line often comes with a debit card option that allows you to access more money when it is needed. Home improvements can often be estimated to be less expensive than they end up being, so the ability to draw on funds from the equity on your home is a very convenient option of a home equity credit line.

There are some disadvantages of the Home Equity Line of Credit. There could be a higher variable interest rate than with a second mortgage. The lender could make an adjustment in the credit rate at any time because the rates are variable and the changed interest rates could result in higher monthly payments. The interest is not tax deductible, so there are no tax advantages to HELOCs.

There are some definite advantages to a second mortgage. You may choose this option over the Equity line of credit. The interest rates on second mortgage loans are usually fixed rates and this is the main difference between the second mortgage and the equity line of credit. The second mortgage will allow you to borrow a fixed amount instead of having an open account from which to access funds and possibly put yourself into debt. The second mortgage loan can be used as a way to get out of debt. It can be used to consolidate outstanding debts and bring it all under one low monthly payment. You can also use the interest on a second mortgage as a tax deduction.

The biggest risk you encounter with a home equity loan is the fact that you are using your home as collateral for the loan. This is to protect the lender in the event that you fail to meet your loan payment requirements. The decision could be made to foreclose and you could end up loosing your home. Be sure you know just what is at risk when you take out a home equity loan of any type.



DENNY