Home Equity Loans – second mortgage

carpediem104 asked:


When I bought my condo, it came with a home equity line of credit exclusively for home repairs and upgrades. Come next March, the remaining balance is rolled into my mortgage and the line of credit goes away. My plan is to live here for another 3-5 years and I’m wondering which upgrade is the better investment. I know neither will recoup it’s full cost and the reason I ask is that I have only enough available to do one or the other:

1. The living room and dining room have carpet and the kitchen has linoleum flooring. Our thoughts are to replace all of this with hardwood. It doesn’t have to be top of the line and we’re open to the nail down kind or the snap together kind.

2. The bathroom is separated into two parts: the first has the toilet and tub/shower with linoleum flooring and the other part has the counter, sink, and mirror with carpet. We’d like to move the carpet back to the hall and replace all the flooring with ceramic or porcelain tile. In addition, replace the cheap shower kit with actual tile on the shower walls. We’d also like to replace the current sink/counter with a nicer material and install a second sink.

CURT

Epreneur asked:


I was reading in www.hopenowmortgages.com details about the new program that will help us to avoid Foreclosures and I found very interesting things ( I will list just a couple but you can visit them to read more)
* The bank will have to forgive you the late payments, penalties and second mortgages you may have
* The bank have to give you a new loan for the ACTUAL appraised value
* If you refinance with the Hope for Homeowner Program you have to share the equity with the FHA when you sell your home.
* You cannot get a Home Equity Line of Credit or any other aditional loan using your house
* You need to have 10% equity to apply for the loan
It sounds very interesting… go tho Hope Now Mortgages dot com

ANDERSON

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:


Even with poor credit, your options for getting a home equity loan are numerous. Home equity loans are different from other types of personal loans. For starters, these loans are secured. Lenders prefer this factor because it’s easy for them to recoup their money if the loan defaults.

Understanding Home Equity Loan Options

When applying for a loan using your home’s equity as collateral, there are several options. Homeowners with poor credit may take advantage of a home equity line of credit. Similar to credit card cash advances, homeowners are approved for a line of credit up to a dollar amount not to exceed their home’s equity. Homeowners are free to withdraw funds as needed. The money can be used to payoff debts, repair an automobile, or make home improvements.

On the other hand, a home equity loan is disbursed as a lump sum of cash. Similarly, the funds may be used for large expenses or major home repairs. Both home equity options must be repaid. Home equity loans have fixed terms, whereas home equity lines of credit are available for a specific length of time.

Pros and Cons of Home Equity Loan Options

A home equity loan and line of credit are beneficial because they provide extra cash when you need it. Furthermore, if you have bad credit, maintaining regular payments will boost your credit score. If the funds are used to consolidate debt, homeowners can get on the road toward becoming debt free and boosting their credit score. In fact, many people obtain a home equity loan as a means of improving their credit rating.

The pitfall most common of home equity loans is the inability to repay the money. Sadly, some people cannot handle credit or money responsibly. Thus, once debts are consolidated or paid off, some people accumulate additional debts. The smart maneuver would be to close paid accounts, which would alleviate the temptation to use a credit card.

After incurring additional debts, some people are powerless to continue regular payments. If you acquire a home equity loan, there are multiple liens against your house. Consequently, either lender may foreclose. By defaulting on either loan, you risk losing your home.

Current Mortgage Lender vs. Sub Prime Lenders

When choosing a mortgage lender, do not rely on your current lender to offer the best rates. Getting a quote from your lender is ideal; however, you should also request quotes from new lenders. Banks or credit unions will not offer the lowest rates to persons with poor credit. Nevertheless, you can attain comparable loan rates by using a lender that specializes in bad credit loans. Sub prime lenders have convenient online applications and instant approvals. If using a mortgage broker, you will receive several sub prime loan offers within seconds.



ISRAEL

Greg Smith asked:


Home equity is the value that your home has due to the payments that you have made on your mortgage. A home equity loan will enable you to borrow money using the equity that your home has as the collateral. It can be confusing to deal with all these terms but the reality of the situation is that you have to arm yourself with the knowledge of these terms. It is important to learn the definitions and understand what they mean when you are thinking of sourcing a home equity loan.

One of the first terms is collateral. This is the property or asset that is put as the guarantee that you will repay your debt. If this debt is not repaid then the lender is able to take the asset and use it to attain their money. With home equity loans the asset on the line is your home and you can be forced to move out of the home and lose the home if you default on the loan. The equity simply of your home is calculated simply as the difference between the worth of the home and the amount you owe on the mortgage.

You can use a home equity loan, which is a second mortgage to turn equity into cash, and this money is made available to spend on many items such as debt consolidation, home improvements, college or any other expense that you may have. There are in reality two main types of home equity debt. These are known as home equity loans which we mentioned previously and home equity lines of credit. These are often confused but they are not identical even though they are both secured by your property.

The typical home equity loan or line of credit is repaid in shorter times than mortgages. They are set up to run 15 years rather than 30 years but can be significantly shorter or longer depending. A home equity loan is a lump sum that is paid off over a set period. This is at a fixed interest and steady installment per month. This is one time and you cannot borrow again. The home equity line of credit operates a lot differently. There is a revolving balance that lets you borrow a certain amount for the duration of the loan or other set time limit. You withdraw as you need and pay off the principal and reuse.

There are various benefits and disadvantages of these two but this really depends on your unique situation. While there is more flexibility with the home equity line of credit there can also be some downsides due to the fluctuating interest. The home equity loan also has its disadvantages as it is possible to pay only interest and not principal and remain in debt. Whichever you opt for you must be aware of all the possibilities and how to avoid the downfalls. This can help you use either to your advantage and assist in keeping you away from the possibility of losing your home.



OTTO

Joseph Kenny asked:


When you are looking for the cash you need to fix up your home, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) may be just the thing for you. This would be especially true if you have a project in mind but are not sure what it may cost. A HELOC could be just the solution you are looking for – because it offers you cash with different options than a traditional mortgage. Here are some of the benefits.

A home equity line of credit is to be considered as a second mortgage. After you fill out the paperwork, and the lender looks over your credit report and your ability to repay the loan, you will be given a credit limit. This means that an account is set up for you, and you will be given access to it either with a credit card or with checks. This way, you can draw out the money as you need it, and only as much as you need.

A home equity line of credit is usually based on a 25 or 30-year time frame. There is a draw period and a payment period. The draw period could be up to 11 years, and the rest of the time period is used for repayment.

You only pay interest on the amount that you draw out. This is an excellent way to save some money, because you still have access to more if you do need it. During the draw period, you will be paying interest – adjustable rate, on the amount of money you have taken out. The interest rate does not amortize the loan in any way – since you are only paying interest.

At the end of the draw period, however, the amortization period starts. Your payments will be calculated on how much you have withdrawn and your payments will be determined at that time. These payments will fully amortize the loan within the time remaining – most of the time. Some lenders do not calculate the payments to fully amortize the loan. Obviously, you will need to watch for this before you sign the agreement.

Home equity lines of credit can come with a number of repayment options. These range from balloon payments at the end of the draw period, to simply monthly payments for the rest of the term. Other options that may be included is the possibility of renewability. Some lenders give this option for those who want an ongoing line of credit.

Before you sign up for a home equity line of credit, though, be sure to compare a number of quotes first. A home equity line of credit may have monthly fees, annual fees, and more, so be sure you know about them all first. By comparing several plans, you can find the one that will be the least expensive, have the lowest rate of interest, and will be the best for you.



MELVIN

Apurva Shree asked:


Second mortgage debt consolidation is a popular method of dealing with increasing liabilities. It is also called as a home equity loan that can help pay off your debts. You are taking a loan against the equity of your home. Equity refers to the amount you get after deducting the total mortgage payments made from the current value of the home. Such loans are ideal for homeowners who own homes of considerable worth with lot of equity. You can also opt for a home equity line of credit. With this option you borrow only as much as you need at any given time and pay interest only for that amount.

Dealing With Debt With A Home Equity Loan

Second mortgage debt consolidation is definitely better than having to deal with irate creditors who rightly demand to be repaid. Life can become insidious when you realize you have no way of making payments on time, it can be harrowing for you and your entire family when the creditors come calling.

Any of us can end in bad debt situation due to various reasons and some of them are beyond our control such as medical emergencies, accidents, loss of job or loss of income due to the unexpected death of a family member. At such times, it can be tough to find a solution unless you are lucky to have a home with equity that you can use to borrow funds to consolidate your debts.

Consolidating your debts into one single loan can be beneficial as you end up with a single loan, which most definitely has a lower interest rate. Instead of dealing with many creditors, you just have to work out a budget and make sure you make payments on your first and second mortgage loans. The crucial part is to select a reliable creditor who has experience in the field and can offer you a customized loan to resolve debts. Do some research and find out details by logging online.

In fact, you may also apply for such a loan online without having to leave the comfort of your home. Select a few firms and choose from amongst them. Be sure to select a creditor who is registered with the BBB and negotiate a loan that gets you lower EMIs at lower interest rates.

When you are securing second mortgage debt consolidation loan, remember it is being offered against your home and that if you are irresponsible and fail to make payments on time, you may lose your home. If you make payments on time you stand to gain a lot as not only have you paid off your debts but have improved your credit score too.



OLLIE

patricia b asked:


I would like to purchase a mix-use commercial space from the owner. I own all of my inventory. I need help locating a bank or mortgage company willing to work with a self employed entrepreneur. I have a equity line of credit already with a small credit union, however, they do not offer mix-use commercial loans. Can someone out there please help to steer me in the right direction? I need a second chance. Patricia

LINWOOD

Rebecca Noel asked:


With any remodeling and construction projects you do on your home there are many payment options available for most home improvement remodeling projects. For example, you can get your own loan such as a home equity loan or credit equity line or ask the contractor to arrange financing for larger projects. For smaller projects, you may want to pay by check or credit card.

For the larger projects a home equity loan, or a credit equity line also known as an equity home line of credit, can be a good solution because the interest rates are often better than other types of loans or credit and, depending on the amount of equity you have in your home, you might also be able to use it as a debt consolidation loan at the same time to pay off high interests credit cards and other high interest debt so you can be relatively debt free with just the equity home line of credit at a lower interest rate and improve your home and bring up its value at the same time.

What is the Difference between a Home Equity Loan and a Home Equity Line of Credit?

A home equity loan is a loan that is secured by your home. It is also sometimes referred to as a closed-end home equity loan or a second mortgage and is a fixed amount of money that must be repaid over a fixed term just like your original mortgage. You get the entire loan amount upfront all at once. You have predictable, consistent monthly payments.

A Home Equity Line of Credit in many ways is similar to a credit card. It is a a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral. You can borrow as much as you need, whenever you need it, by writing a check as long as your total borrowing does not exceed your credit limit.

Because it is a line of credit, you make payments only on the amount you have actually borrowed, not the full amount available. What makes a Home Equity Line of Credit so popular is that interest paid is usually tax deductible under federal and most state income tax laws.

Whether you use a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit for a home improvement project or as a debt consolidation loan or both it’s a great way to make your debt tax deductable and improve the value of your home at the same time.



HECTOR

Sunny asked:


When I bought my house it was with two mortgages. A regular mortgage and a home equity line of credit mortgage. Now that i am selling the home, the realtor and I realized that the second mortgage was never recorded with the mortgage company. Can I sue the mortgage company for the amount of the second mortgage since it was their error?

ERROL