How Does A Home Equity Loan Work?
Posted in Finance on 06/20/2010 08:31 am by admin
Sean Bailey asked:
You may know that a home equity loan is the possible answer if you urgently need cash. But are you aware too that this type of loan carries with it the danger of losing your home? Since your home is used as collateral, non-repayment of the home equity loan could mean foreclosure of your home. It is therefore necessary to have a deeper understanding on how does a home equity loan work. As mentioned before, if you take this type of loan you will use your home as collateral. What then is home equity? Let’s say you have purchased a house several years ago for a specified amount. Over the years you have made changes…you may have renovated the house; you may have added a wing or two. These changes have increased the market value of the house. The value that goes with the house is the home equity. Now, if you take out a home equity loan, you are in effect “using” your own money. It becomes a loan because it entails interest rates to be charged, monthly repayments to be paid in a specified period of time.
Basically, this type of loan would have a fixed loan term, a fixed interest rate as well as a fixed monthly payment. However, there is another type of home equity loan that has variable interest rates, monthly payments and terms – the home equity line of credit. Unlike the former type of home loan where the loan proceed is given in one lump sum amount, home equity line of credit can be withdrawn by the borrower as the need arises. Monthly payment varies as it would depend on the amount of money withdrawn.
One advantage of taking a home equity loan is the relatively low interest rates. The borrower is afforded savings opportunities because payment for this loan is tax deductible and interest rates can be written off from the taxes he/she has to pay. These type of loans are taken for a variety of reasons. The proceeds may be used to pay off credit cards with high rates of interests; it can also be used to infuse capital on a business.
If you have a good credit history and you have all the necessary documents, your loan will be approved in no time. The cash you urgently need will be in your hands but there is an important consideration you need to remember, your home ownership is at stake here. Non-payment of the loan could mean foreclosure of your home. As you can see, it is not as straight forward as you would like to think it is. I hope the article has given you some insights on how does a home equity loan work.
Bradley
You may know that a home equity loan is the possible answer if you urgently need cash. But are you aware too that this type of loan carries with it the danger of losing your home? Since your home is used as collateral, non-repayment of the home equity loan could mean foreclosure of your home. It is therefore necessary to have a deeper understanding on how does a home equity loan work. As mentioned before, if you take this type of loan you will use your home as collateral. What then is home equity? Let’s say you have purchased a house several years ago for a specified amount. Over the years you have made changes…you may have renovated the house; you may have added a wing or two. These changes have increased the market value of the house. The value that goes with the house is the home equity. Now, if you take out a home equity loan, you are in effect “using” your own money. It becomes a loan because it entails interest rates to be charged, monthly repayments to be paid in a specified period of time.
Basically, this type of loan would have a fixed loan term, a fixed interest rate as well as a fixed monthly payment. However, there is another type of home equity loan that has variable interest rates, monthly payments and terms – the home equity line of credit. Unlike the former type of home loan where the loan proceed is given in one lump sum amount, home equity line of credit can be withdrawn by the borrower as the need arises. Monthly payment varies as it would depend on the amount of money withdrawn.
One advantage of taking a home equity loan is the relatively low interest rates. The borrower is afforded savings opportunities because payment for this loan is tax deductible and interest rates can be written off from the taxes he/she has to pay. These type of loans are taken for a variety of reasons. The proceeds may be used to pay off credit cards with high rates of interests; it can also be used to infuse capital on a business.
If you have a good credit history and you have all the necessary documents, your loan will be approved in no time. The cash you urgently need will be in your hands but there is an important consideration you need to remember, your home ownership is at stake here. Non-payment of the loan could mean foreclosure of your home. As you can see, it is not as straight forward as you would like to think it is. I hope the article has given you some insights on how does a home equity loan work.
Bradley