Home Equity Loans – second mortgage

Sonal Kaur asked:




A home is like the most treasured possession of a homeowner. It is the most comfortable, secured and sheltered place anyone can think of. At the same time it can be an overt statement to your wealth, social status and prosperity. As a matter of fact, the financial worth of the home is useful in providing loans or fulfilling refinancing needs. In a home equity loan (sometimes abbreviated as HEL), borrower uses the equity in their home as collateral. This is the reason why home loans are secured loans.

It is also known as second mortgage as they are secured against the value of the property. Lenders are not averse and are open-minded in giving money as they are assured of getting their money back.

It is different from home loan as it is taken for various requirements of the borrowers or the homeowners. They are as follows:-

1. Remodeling or renovation of the house.
2. Pay for college education
3. Refinancing the purchase of second home.
4. Debt consolidation
5. Home improvement

A home equity loan can be repaid over a fixed period of time at a fixed interest rate. This loan has a low interest rate. They are generally of two kinds:- home equity credits and Line Of Credit.

For people who have bad credit score, a home equity loan is easier for them to qualify for. the borrowers must be well aware of the terms and conditions and stay informed to avoid any unlawful deal.

Alvin

Jim Aldridge asked:




What are the typical considerations when purchasing a real estate property? When a home for sale catches your attention, what do you have in mind? Is it the price of the house? Is it the money in your bank? Or will it be the money that you can make each month? Location, number of bedrooms; just exactly what runs in your mind? Well, all of these things are what goes in the mind of a home buyer. If you don’t have the money to pay in cash then you are probably thinking of applying for a mortgage loan.

If you are a typical buyer who don’t have the budget to purchase a real estate property or limited due to a bad credit then you will find home equity loan attractive. It is a type of home mortgage loan that will allow you to borrow even a huge amount of money provided that the house serves as the collateral. It makes it secured for the lender who will not worry about default payments. Thus, it also benefits the borrower for ensuring that the mortgage is the priority when budgeting.

Benefits

There are many reasons why the home loan equity is a smart choice. These include:

1. Good credit score is not a requirement hence qualifying is easier- you don’t need that credibility to avail this loan. After all, you can’t run away with the house.

2. It offers a competitive annual percentage rate- it lets you assess the mortgage loan cost in terms of percentage. Say for instance, the loan rate is 10% and the applied loan cost is $10,000. Your interest rate for the year will be $1,000 which you can then divide by 12.

3. Huge amount of loans is available- as mentioned earlier, this type of loan offers less risk in case of default payments. The lender can easily collect since the house serves as collateral

4. It usually offers mortgage loans that are tax deductible

Apart from the benefits of home equity loan, it can also offer different purposes that are not relevant to real estate property acquisition such as payment for college education, refinancing, consolidation of high-interest debts and it can only be used just for home renovation or remodeling.

Downside

You may find home equity loan very generous and helpful however, it is wise to know its downside. For one, you can be homeless the moment you default in payment. Thus, it is the most common type of loan that some scammers use to take hold of someone else’s valuable property. Make sure that every transaction is documented.

Some tips to remember when availing home equity loans include choosing from variety of sources such as credit unions, banks and brokers; reach out to friends and relatives for connections; and compare rates available. Also, remember that applying for a loan is a huge decision that requires logical analysis and considerations. Your real estate property is at stake. If your purpose of availing a loan is not as important as your house, consider looking around for other types of loans.

Cheryl

Jim Aldridge asked:




Need cash fast but can’t find the right resources? Or perhaps because you have a not so decent credit score? Whichever the case maybe, home equity loan might be the right fit for you. Of course, this only applies if you own a home.

Unlike the usual refinancing, these are just small loans which allow a borrower to pay an existing loan. While refinances take quite a while to process, home equity loans are more efficient. Since the equity of the borrower’s house serves as the main collateral, lenders feel more secured hence release the loan quickly. This means that in the event you are unable to settle the payment, you will be at risk of losing ownership of your house.

There are certain types of home equity loan such as Home Equity Loans, Home Equity Lines of Credit and Bridge Loans.

Home Equity Loans
Similar to conventional loans, it is a type of loan that uses equity as collateral. It is the difference between the value of your house and the total amount of money you have paid. To illustrate, if the appraisal value of your house is $300,000 and your mortgage balance is $200,000, your equity is $100,000. Equity is inversely proportional with your mortgage balance; which means that as your equity goes higher, your mortgage balance decreases.

With home equity loans, the lender gives the complete amount of loan which will be paid back by the borrower in an installment basis. In most cases, it comes with a fixed interest rate.

Some of the many benefits of home equity loans include longer terms which could reach up to 15 years, it comes with a fixed rate so there is no guessing game, and you can borrow the full amount of the equity. People choose it to pay for college education, home improvement or to purchase any consumer goods.

HELOC
Unlike the home equity loan, the HELOC or home equity line of credit doesn’t involve a one-time release of the applied loan. It is basically like a credit card process; a line of credit. This means that if you don’t spend a dime, you won’t have to pay anything.

Some of the benefits of HELOC include adjustable rate, flexible terms of payment, and once the total amount of loan owed is repaid, and you will be able to borrow it again. Most people apply for HELOC to support emergency funds. As the money is available for withdrawal, it can somehow add financial security as need arises.

Bridge Loans
If you are planning to sell your house and you need cash to make improvements for your house before selling it, then you will be interested in availing bridge loans. So this type of loan is most used by typical home sellers.

Some of the features of bridge loans include having competitive loan costs which could reach up to 80% of the total market value, and payments can be settled after 3 or 4 months after release.

These loans can be helpful at times when you are in great need of money. However, take note that the risk of losing your valuable asset is at risk hence before considering to apply for any loan, try to find other resources which will put you at less risk or no risk at all.

Kelly

Derek Farley asked:




A home equity loan is a loan that is secured by the equity of the borrower’s home. Because the borrower’s home is used as security, the lender will usually offer an interest rate that is lower than it would be for an unsecured loan. The most common reasons for getting a home equity loan are paying for home improvements, paying off other debts that have a higher rate of interest, and paying for other expensive items such as a college education or medical bills.

A borrower should only seek a home equity loan if they are sure that they can repay it. If the borrower defaults then the lender could foreclose on the borrower’s home and sell it to recover their losses. A borrower must have equity in their home before applying. If the borrower’s home is worth less than the balance on their current mortgage(s) then there is no equity to borrow against.

There are two types of home equity loans – a closed end, and a line of credit. A closed end home equity loan is a lump sum that is repaid in monthly payments over five or ten years, and usually has a fixed interest rate. If the rate is fixed then it is easy to create a loan amortization schedule that shows the balance remaining on the loan after each payment. Variable rates are uncommon for this type of loan because the payments are fixed, so a change in the interest rate might mean that the payments are no longer enough to cover the interest expense. This would lead to a negative amortization, where the unpaid interest is added to the balance.

A home equity line of credit works like a giant credit card, except that there are minimum withdrawal amounts as well as fees for each withdrawal. The interest rate on this type is usually variable. Therefore, the monthly payment amount will change depending on the current interest rate and the current loan balance.

Currently, home equity loans are difficult to get unless the borrower has excellent credit and a lot of equity in their home. This is because the home equity loan will be in second position behind the first mortgage, which makes it difficult for a lender to recover any money if the borrower defaults. However, it is much easier to get if the borrower does not have a first mortgage because the equity loan would then be in first position. In that situation a borrower may find it easier to get than a traditional mortgage.

There is also a tax advantage to getting a home equity loan. The interest is usually tax deductible if the borrower’s primary residence is the home offered as security. The borrower should check the tax code or ask a tax professional for advice if they want to take advantage of this tax deduction.

Hazel

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.



MOHAMMAD

Carrie Reeder asked:


Refinancing your home equity loan can help you save cash through lower rates or lower payments. To get the most out of your home equity, use your second mortgage as part of your overall financial plan. That may mean consolidating debt, paying for home repairs, or investing in a college education.

Getting The Most Out Of A Home Equity Loan

Home equity loans offer low rate credit, lower than almost any other type of financing. Your home’s equity is also your investment, and ideally should increase in value over time.

When you choose to borrow against your home’s value, make sure that you are getting the most out of the deal. Trading in high interest credit card debt for a low interest second mortgage financially makes sense. So does increasing your property’s value through home repairs and upgrades.

Make sure that you also take advantage of any tax benefits that your home equity loan qualifies for. In most cases, paid interest can be deducted on your IRS return.

Refinancing For Increased Savings

Refinancing your home equity loan can further increase your savings through reduce rates. Most home equity loans have adjustable rates, which are susceptible to rate increases. Refinancing your loan can help you lock in lower rates and select better terms with fewer annual fees.

You can also reduce your interest rates and payments by picking a shorter loan period. Choosing to pay your loan every two weeks can also save you hundreds.

Another option is to combine both your first and second mortgage through a refi. Merging the two loans into one saves you money on both application fees and interest rates.

Strategies To Find Refinancing

To get the best deal on your refinancing, take some time to research loan offers. You can get loan quotes online without hurting your credit score. By providing lending companies with some basic information, you get numbers that you can base your refi decisions on.

Take a look at a number of available loan terms. For example, compare the savings of refinancing both of your home loans and just your home equity loan. You can also adjust the payment period and rate terms. With this added information, you can be sure you are getting every advantage from your home’s value.



SYLVESTER

Daniel Roshard asked:


Your home can help you raise cash. How? Home equity loans have become a popular way of raising cash. The amount that you owe for your house subtracted from its current appraised worth is the equity on your house. Or simply put, it is the difference between the appraised value of the house and the amount you owe on the mortgage. As you pay off your mortgage or as the worth of your home increases, you build your home equity.

Your home’s equity can be used as a collateral to loan money. It can serve as a guarantee so that if you are unable to pay your debt, the lender can sell your collateral as a payment for your debt.

The home equity loan will serve as a second mortgage that will allow you to turn it into money which you can use to improve your home, for college education or whatever expenses that you are in need of.

There are two kinds, the home equity loan or the lines of credit. These types of debts are repaid in shorter time spans than first mortgages. If normally, a first mortgage may be repaid in 30 years, a second mortgage may be repaid in as short as 5 years to as long as another 30 years, averaging at 15 years.

Lines of credit is more flexible than the home equity loan because you can stay in debt with home equity loans. Interests are only being paid while the principal amount remains the same. The interest rate, therefore, varies as the principal varies.

These two types of debts have become common since the 1980s when values of properties increased tremendously and homeowners have taken advantage of this to pay off personal debts. Low interest rates and that fact that it could be deducted from your taxes are some of the reasons why they have become very attractive.

Though second mortgages have interest rates higher than first mortgages, it has lower rates than credit cards or other personal loans.

Homeowners usually opt for home equity loans when they are in need of a large amount of cash like debt consolidation or paying off hospital bills or even home improvement projects. Also, repayment terms are quite simple and consistent throughout the entire payment period, regardless of inflation rates.

Having discussed the plus points and pitfalls of home equity loaning and lines of credit, it is now possible for you to decide whether these types of cash conversion will work for you. You can now opt for the type of loan that would fit your very needs.



KEITH

KimberlyJ asked:


I don’t buy the idea that we are in a financial crisis because people used their home equity to fund inappropriate spending. I think that people took out second mortgages to pay for their kids’ overpriced college education, to pay off credit card debt accumulated as a result of job losses or health problems, etc. Many of these people simply would have gone bankrupt if the run up in housing prices had not given them lots of paper equity.

In short, I think the middle class is being scapegoated. People I know aren’t trying to keep up with the Joneses, they’re just trying to survive in a poor jobs market brought on by globalization.

Please share your thoughts, not parroting what you hear in the media, but actually sharing stories from your own life or people you know. Thanks.

HARRY

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.



JOEL

Meghna Arora asked:


Looking for a loan that will give maximized benefits on pledging your home as collateral? Home equity loans are the perfect opportunity that you may be looking for. With home equity loans, you can borrow an amount that is equal to the equity in your home. Equity is the market value of your home minus the pending mortgages on your home.

Home equity loans can be borrowed for any purpose like home improvement, car purchase, funding college education, clearing medical bills etc.

Since home equity loans involve keeping your home as collateral, these are secured loans borrowed for a longer term of repayment. On the basis of how the money is wished to be withdrawn, as a lump sum or in parts as and when the need arises, there are two categories of home equity loans.

The first category is closed end home equity loans which involve the borrowing of money as a lump sum. After this has been done, the borrower cannot borrow any further amount. The maximum amount of money that can be borrowed is determined by factors like credit history, income, and the appraised value of the collateral, among others.

The other category is open end home equity loans. This option is more of a line of credit and is thus called home equity line of credit or HELOC. It involves borrowing money in parts according to the need of the borrower. This borrowing of money extends to a certain amount and time period that has been initially fixed by the lender. This HELOC is more than just a one time loan and can be highly beneficial to the borrower.

Online search for home equity loans can reap more than usual benefits. A low rate of interest can be obtained by thorough research and comparison of quotes. Also the process of approval is speeded up due to online application.

Home equity loans can prove to the best way of borrowing money if you are opting for the secured loans option. A higher equity will fetch more money as a loan and a lower rate of interest to fulfill your needs.



AARON