Home Equity Loans – second mortgage

Stefan Hyross asked:


A home equity can be a great way to to get some money fast. Home equity loans are also sometimes called second mortgage. They allow a homeowner to borrow money from the equity they have in their home. Home equity loans can be for as much as $100,000 allowing homeowner to borrow to do renovations, pay off debt, etc. The interest on a home equity loans is tax deductible which has made this type of loan quite popular in the 1990s. Let’s look at how they work. Home equity loans come in two types. There are fixed rate home equity loans and line of credit home equity loans. In both cases, the terms vary from five to fifteen years. However, in both cases, the loans must be repaid in full in the event that the house is sold. The fixed rate home equity loans option gives the home owner a lump sum payment from the equity. The home owner will then repay the loans over a pre-determined period of time at a fixed interest rate. In most cases, the repayment is made monthly and the interest rate and the monthly payments remain the same over the life of the loan. In the case of the line of credit home equity loan, the principle is much the same as with a credit card. In fact, this type of loan often comes with a credit card. The home owner will be notified of the maximum limit of the line of credit and he or she can spend the money either by using the credit card or the cheques that the lender provided. Just like credit cards, line of credit home equity loans work on a variable rate of interest, which is determined monthly. Repayment of the loan must be made monthly, based on the amount borrowed that month. Once the life of the line of credit is over, the outstanding balance must be repaid in full. Home equity loans are a great source of money for home owner that need access to cash quickly. The money can used for anything at all but most borrowers will use the money to do home improvements, send kids to college, pay off another loan, etc. Home equity loans can be very appealing as their interest rate are almost always lower than other types of loans and certainly lower than credit cards. Someone with a credit card loan would benefit from taking a home equity loan on their home in order to repay the credit card debt. Not only will the home owner reduce his interest rate, the loans will be consolidated into one month bill and the interest rate on the home equity loan is partially tax deductible. Home equity loans are a great financial tool. Particularly for home owners looking to do renovations or with unforeseen expenses. They provide fairly easy access to money at a relatively low interest rate. However, remember that the loan must be repaid and that if you sell your home, the amount that you borrowed will not be profit in your pocket.



MARTIN

Ray Tolley asked:


In this article, we’ll cover the benefits and disadvantages of home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and personal loans. Whether you’re looking for funds to finance a major expense or simply pay down consumer debt, this article can help you decide what type of financing is best for you.

Home Equity Loan

* Best for: Major, unexpected expenses or large investments.

* Not for: Ongoing or smaller expenses.

How it works: A home equity loan is like a mortgage – the borrower is given a lump sum of money up front and begins paying interest and principal payments right away to work off the debt. The amount of the loan extended to the borrower is based on how much equity has increased in the home after appreciation and mortgage payments.

* Pro: Home equity loans typically offer a lower, fixed interest rate than HELOCs and personal loans. This benefits the borrower over the term of the loan as well as in the short term.

* Con: Borrowers have to pay interest on the full balance right away.

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

* Best for: Ongoing expenses like major renovations, college tuition or having a baby.

* Not for: Single, major expenses.

How it works: A home equity line of credit is secured by the equity in your home, and you can draw on it as you would using a credit card or savings account. Typically, the rate is adjustable – meaning it can be changed periodically depending on financial market trends – and you’ll make interest payments on what you borrow until the term of the line of credit is over.

* Pro: You only pay for what you borrow, and these loans are often easier to qualify for and faster to obtain than home equity loans.

* Con: The interest rate is adjustable and often higher than a home equity loan. When shopping for a home equity line of credit, look for a low permanent rate.

Personal Loan

* Best for: Small single expenses like a new car or small business investment.

* Not for: Ongoing living costs, major projects like home renovations.

How it works: A personal loan is a one that is offered by the lending institution and is often secured by the piece of equipment (e.g. a car) or property (e.g. business) that you’re using the loan to purchase. Typically, personal loans are smaller and can often be obtained in the form of a line of credit.

* Pro: Simple application process without sacrificing home equity or risking the home itself.

* Con: Without the security of home equity, the interest rates on a personal loan are often higher, so it is advantageous to pay off the loan as quickly as possible.

In short, whether you obtain a home equity loan, a HELOC or a personal loan will depend on why you need to borrow the funds, the kind of interest rates you can afford and your own current financial situation.

Remember, always shop around for the lowest interest rate! Doing so can save you hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars over the life of the loan.



JAMAR

Andrew Obidowsk asked:


If you are a homeowner and are in need of some extra cash, you may want to consider getting a home equity loan. Equity is the amount of value you have paid off on your property. For instance, if your home mortgage is worth $150,000 and you have paid off $50,000 of your mortgage, you have $50,000 in equity on your home. With this equity you have in your home, you can take out a home equity loan on this money.

There are two types of home equity loans available; Standard Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of credit. With a Standard Home Equity Loan, your loan is assured by the amount of equity you have in your home. This is the type of loan option you should choose if you are in need of a very large loan. A Home Equity Line of Credit is akin to a credit card. With this option, you can withdraw money from an equity account that has been set up with your equity amount. This is a better option for you if you are not needing a large amount of money.

A Standard Home Equity loan generally is a little more difficult to obtain, only because it has a more complex process. These loans generally have a fixed term to them, meaning you will have a pre-determined number of payments over a set period of time. They generally will also have a fixed interest rate and fixed monthly payment. The amount of the loan you receive will be provided to you in one lump sum.

With a Home Equity Line of Credit, an account is set up for the money to be placed into. You can then make withdraws on the money as you need it, and then make payments back into the account. These types of loans generally have a fluctuating rate of interest, however you will only have to pay this interest if you have a balance on your account from the money you have borrowed.

There are many reasons why a person may choose to take out a Home Equity Loan. Many people take out these kinds of loans if their home is in need of repair or reconstruction. If there are large changes they want to make, such as a new heating and cooling unit or new windows, they will take out a home equity loan to pay for them. Others will use a home equity loan as a means to get out of other debts. They will use their Home Equity loan as a form of debt consolidation, to pay off some of their other debts and only have to make one monthly payment. And still others may take out a loan to pay for a new car, or even a large family vacation.

There are countless reasons why a person may choose a home equity loan. Once you get the money, it’s up to you what you choose to do with it. Just keep in mind that this is a loan you will have to pay back, and if you fail to do so, it could very well cost you your home and all of your equity.



PASQUALE