Home Equity Loans – second mortgage

Jon Arnold asked:




What is a home equity loan? A home equity loan is where you borrow money using the equity in your home as the collateral. Many people use home equity loans for refinancing their home, their kids’ college tuition or unexpected medical bills. Be aware that using a home equity loan will reduce the actual equity of your home.

Your home equity is the value of your property. Your home value will increase as you pay your mortgage or do home improvements that benefit the value of your home.

Collateral is property that you use as a guarantee that you will repay the money. If you do not pay this is where your collateral comes into play. The lender can use your collateral to obtain the money you owe. Using your home as collateral is risky if you do not know one hundred percent that you can pay the loan back because you will lose your home if not.

A home equity loan is like a second mortgage some might say. You can use this money to improve your home furthering its value or pay for other expenses you might have. In order to get this type of loan you will probably have to have great credit history. It is even possible to have your loan interest deducted from your income taxes.

There are two types of home equity loans; closed and open end. Closed end loans means you will receive one lump sum when the loan is closed and will not have the option of borrowing more. The lenders will base the amount you can borrow on things like your credit history, the appraised value of your collateral and your income.

Closed end loans usually have rates that are fixed for up to fifteen years. You can also refinance this type of loan if needed. You want to try and always pay the minimum amount if not more every month.

Open end home equity loans are sometimes called a line of credit. This means you can decide when you want to borrow and how often against the equity of your property. The lender will still set a limit to your credit line. You might be able to borrow up to one hundred percent of the value of your home, however some states are only allowed to loan up to eighty percent of the value.

There are certain loan fees you should be aware of that may apply as well, depending on the laws in your state. These include title fees, stamp duties, closing fees, appraisal fees, originator fees, and surveyor fees.

While you may have to pay all these fees, if you do your research before obtaining this type of loan, you will know if it is worth it. You don’t want to chance losing money or value on your home.

If you are uncertain if a home equity loan is right for you, speak to your financial consultant. Discuss all your concerns and questions so you can both decide what is best for your situation.

Darryl

babygrldog asked:


Is the higher rate of interest charged by the lender the only reason for them to do a second mortgage?Why would the lenders lend more money than the property is appraised for?

MICHEL

Veritas et Aequitas () asked:


Okay I asked this question before, however I wasn’t clear on some things.

My mother passed away recently and there is a home that I have been making payments on using her money from a joint account. That money has run out. I will be named executor in a few days, however a mortgage payment is due at the same time.

I do not want to put any money into the home not having any security. She has massive medical bills (even with insurance) and some other unsecured debt.

I want to keep the home and it has supposed equity however it wouldn’t sell for more than what is owed on the home so there is no actual equity, more so because last in 2005 she took out a second mortgage for home improvements.

I want to keep the home and I will pay off the home in full, however not at the expense of being held liable for her debts. It would break my heart to not have time to grieve and go through her belongings.

I will be talking to counsel soon however I am losing my mind in the moment, it’s too much.
They can take everything if they want, because my mother’s soul doesn’t reside in her belongings. I just know in the end they won’t get anything because of obligations before them such as tax and court fees, etc. There is no money to pay them.

DAVIS

Crystal Mate asked:


In a November, 2007 report, the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP) stated that in the previous 12 months, 17% of mortgage holders took out home equity loans or increased their mortgage. The average equity loan was $35,400.

What are people doing with all this money? Paying down debts, sending the kids to school, investing in their homes – there are many possible answers to that question. If you’ve ever considered tapping into your home’s equity, the following FAQs can help you decide whether home equity loans are the right strategy for you.

What Are Home Equity Loans?

Home equity is the difference between the market value of your home and what you still owe on the mortgage. So if your house is valued at $300,000 and you still have $260,000 outstanding on your mortgage, your equity would be $40,000.

Home equity loans enable you to borrow against that equity. These loans are also known as second mortgages because they are a second loan (the primary mortgage being the first) that uses your house as collateral.

How Much Can You Borrow?

With most home equity loans you can borrow anywhere up to 85% of the amount of your home equity. For the case above, with $40,000 in equity, the homeowner could borrow $34,000.

Some lenders have more generous options, even offering to lend 100% of the amount of equity in your home.

How is a Home Equity Line of Credit Different?

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is much the same as a standard line of credit, but it uses your home’s equity for security. With a HELOC you can typically borrow up to 90% of your home’s equity. With $40,000 in equity, you could obtain a HELOC for $36,000.

With a HELOC, you do not necessarily have to use all of the credit at once. You can use it as needed and pay back what you borrow, just like a standard line of credit.

On the other hand, home equity loans are one-time, lump sum loan. If you need more money, you’ll need another loan.

The general guideline is that a HELOC is best for those who need access to varying amounts of money for ongoing expenses, whereas a home equity loan is better suited to those needing a specific amount for one large expense, like a home renovation.

What About Interest Rates?

Home equity loans typically have fixed interest rates, while HELOC rates are variable. The interest rates for both are typically pegged to an institution’s prime rate, and are often significantly lower than those charged for vehicle loans, credit cards and personal loans.

What is Mortgage Refinancing?

With refinancing, you pay off your existing mortgage and obtain a second mortgage for a lower interest rate. With a “cash-out” mortgage or refinance you can borrow more than what you owe on your mortgage. You can then take the extra money and use it for expenses like tuition, home improvements and so on. Refinancing may include costs for mortgage fees and prepayment penalties.

What are the Pros and Cons?

On the plus side, home equity loans provide low-cost credit for important expenses. In extreme cases, the risks are that the home market slows and you end up owing more than the value of your home, or that you overspend and default, which means the loss of your home.

For many people the pros outweigh the cons. To be sure if a HELOC or loan is right for you, it is best to consult with a mortgage professional.



ERICH

Joseph Kenny asked:


Preparing your home for sale in the near future may mean that you need to fix the place up before you sell it. If you have some major work that needs to be done to it, you may want to consider getting a home equity loan to pay for it. Here are some reasons why a home equity loan is a good option to get the money you need to fix it up.

Lower Cost

A home equity loan allows you to tap into the equity in your home. It is also looked at as a second mortgage and will provide you the funds you need to complete your home’s preparation for sale. Getting a loan this way provides you with a lower interest rate than most other type of loans, or credit cards.

Get As Much As You Need

Before you set out to get your money, you will need to know how much you want to get. Even before you do that, though, it would be a good idea to find out if the project you have in mind will actually increase the value of your home. If you are looking to raise the value of your home, talk with a Realtor or contractor beforehand, because some projects simply will not raise the value very much.

A home equity loan provides you with a one-time amount, so you will need to know what it will cost beforehand. If you are not sure of the cost, perhaps a home equity line of credit may be the better way to go for you. This will give you a line of credit, and access to it so that you can draw out money, as you need it.

Fixed Interest Rate

A home equity loan will usually have a fixed interest rate. This allows you to know exactly what your payment will be from the start. Since you are planning on selling your home as soon as possible, you want to keep your payments as low as possible. You will want to keep in mind, though, that a second mortgage does mean an additional payment – at least until sold.

Keep Payments Low

With a home equity loan, you are able to get low payment terms that will not fully amortize the loan. This usually requires a balloon payment at the end of the loan in order to fully amortize it. Since you are only borrowing the money for a short term, though, this would enable you to pay the least amount until your house sells. Then you can make your payment in full.

Make sure, though, that there are not any early payoff penalties on your home equity loan. This will allow you to pay the least and get the most for the short term. You also want to get a few quotes for your home equity loan and look around for the best deal. Compare the various offers you receive and find out which one will work best for your situation.



GARRY

Joseph Kenny asked:


A home equity line of credit can be a great help to you when you are looking for finances for your next project. Whether you have one project in mind – or several, this kind of loan may be the best way to finance it. Here are four ways that a home equity line of credit (HELOC) may be the best way to go.

1. It Has A Lower Interest Rate

A home equity line of credit, even though it is a second mortgage, has an interest rate that it just a little higher than prime rate. This means that it is much lower than a credit card, lower than a personal loan, and may be lower than just about any other kind of loan – except for a first mortgage.

2. Only Pay For What You Use

This kind of loan has another great benefit – while you do pay interest like on any other loan, you are only paying interest on the amount you actually use. This means, that if you are given a draw period of 10 years, and you have only used half of the designated money after five years, that you have saved yourself a lot of money – even though a much larger amount is still at your disposal.

With a regular loan, even with a home equity loan, you will be paying a set amount of interest – whether you use all of the money or not. You have money available for projects if you need it – and if not, why should you pay interest on what you do not need, or use? This kind of loan works especially great if you have several projects in mind, but do not know what the total cost will be – or if you may want to add another project somewhere down the road.

3. Lower Monthly Payments

During the draw period on a home equity line of credit, you will be making low payments each month. This is because you will be paying on the interest only – and interest only on the amount that you have actually used. So, during the draw period, which could be up to about 11 years, you will enjoy very low payments.

You need to be aware, however, that at the end of the draw period, one of two things will happen. You will either need to make a balloon payment for the full amount, which will probably require refinancing, or your fully amortizing payments will become much higher than they were – since your new payments will now include the principal, too.

4. Few Closing Costs

One more reason why a home equity line of credit makes more sense than other loans is because it will have fewer closing costs and other fees. Some lenders charge very few, if any fees, when you take out a HELOC. This means a saving of possibly a couple thousand dollars, depending on how big the loan is.

Before you sign any HELOC agreement, though, be sure that you find out exactly what the margin is on it. This will be a rate of interest that is added to the overall APR, and you usually will not be told about it – unless you ask. Also, get several quotes for your home equity line of credit, look them over, and choose the best one for your needs.



KRIS

puppiesnmarshmellows asked:


This is going to be embarrasing, but i don’t know if we are doing ok or not. I don’t know what the norm is for money leftover after bills but according to a debt/income ratio i did today we are at 34% which is good, i guess.

My husband makes 1333 twice a month (that is what we see after taxes) there is a addtional 125 going straight to our savings account each month on top of the 1333 twice a month.

Our bills are as follows

first check
car-291
insurance-62
elecric,gas,water 200
credit card 170
cable-93
which leaves 517 left for gas and groceries

second check
mortgage 600
home equity 103
home phone and internet 100
cell phone150
which is a little tighter at 380 for gas and groceries

total for the month we have 917 left in our checking, including the 125 that is in our savings its 1042 a month.
I just am curious how we are doing financially? I’m scared to death about this kind of thing and fear we are doing something wrong. We are military so no health ins.
well we’re military so no job loss..and no unexpected medical bills. we really don’t have to worry about that because its a secure job.
no credit card is what we decide to pay on it..that isn’t the minimum payment. We have a home phone and a cell phone because up until a month ago we only had a home phone. Effective the 26th we will no longer have that home phone. The second mortgage was to redo our home, its almost paid off now, it was only 10,000.
oh and why don’t i work? I have two small children and noone to care for them. We don’t live near our families. There is NOTHING wrong with being a SAHM parent.

ARNOLD

stephanie5 asked:


We have a home that its rent is about half of the mortgage. My husband wants to get a loan with 3 year pre-pay penalty and take out some money as well. This way he wants to lower our monthly payments but at the same time, get the equity as cash. In 3 to 5 years if the housing market is still bad, he wants to let go of the loan and foreclose, and if the market is good, then he wants to sell. We are a little squeezed for money now and I think he is not thinking rashionally. Is this a good thing?? We have a great rate of 6% fixed now on the house, but we got a second mortgage on it that is making our payments a little high. What are the consequences of getting such a loan and should we just try and pay the high mortgage. Who knows what’s going to happen with home prices? This is a house worth 1.2 mil and we owe about 950 thous on it. Help me.

MILES

427 in dog years asked:


Was living in one condo and needed money for down payment on a larger one for my family. The first condo was for sale but is just sat, so I rented it, when the new one was completed. Now the payments on both are crushing me. $1650 on the first and $2,350 on the new one. I can handle the second one okay, that’s where we are living now.

On the first condo, I borrowed money on a home equity loan for additional down payment on the second. First mortgage is for $145K, the amount on the home equity is $35K. So I owe a total of $180K, the market is now $159K

On the home equity I can still write a check for $15K…….at the time they issued the loan it was worth more……..

Did I mention that my tenant just moved out, he was only good for $950 per month…….so $1650 minus his 950 left me $700 per month in the red. Now it’s the full $1650……..this is a seasonal community and the rental market is weak…..

Here’s the question, if I write the a check for the remaining $15,000, left on the home equity from the first condo……..then just let the bank have the unit back……..

what are they likely to do and
what will they do to me?

The $15K in money I clearly have no intent of paying off unless by some miracle the unit sells for $195 and I can wipe out everything and walk away…..

If you have any other input I’d appreciate it. Thanks

Thanks from Florida

BRADLEY

Aimee asked:


My fiance and I purchased a house 2 years ago, but we recently decided to pursue doctoral degrees in a different state. We need to move to the other state by mid May, and given the current state of our economy, we are concerned that our house will not sell in time. A good friend of ours is willing to rent our house if we can’t sell it, and the rental income will more than cover the monthly mortgage payment as well as taxes and insurance. I understand that mortgage lenders are getting stricter about who they lend money to. Do you think there’s any way that a financial institution will grant us a second mortgage so that we can buy a second house? We have roughly $25,000 equity in our current house, and the balance of the mortgage is only about $90,000. We also have just over $50,000 in savings (not including retirement), so we’ll easily be able to put 20% down. The kicker, though, is that I’ll be giving up my job for a graduate assistantship, so our total household income (not including potential rental income) will likely drop to about $40,000. My fiance is a master’s student right now, so his income will not change considerably. If we cannot sell our current home and we’re forced to rent to our friend, then will mortgage lenders include this rental income in our total household income when deciding whether or not we qualify for a second mortgage?

TYLER