Explain Home Equity Loans

Explain Home Equity Loan Types

Home equity loans are a way of using the money that you've invested in your mortgage by borrowing against it. Essentially, a home equity loan is a 'second mortgage' - a loan secured by your property. If you don't make good on your payments, the lending company or bank can force the sale of your house to recover their money.

There are two major types of home equity loans - home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, also called HELOCs. Most lenders that offer home equity loans offer both kinds. A home equity loan for $10,000 and a home equity line of credit for $10,000 are two completely different animals though they have a lot of similar features.

Home Equity Loan

If you apply for and are granted a home equity loan for $10,000 at 7% APR for 15 years, you will receive a check or a deposit to your bank account of $10,000. That is the full amount of the loan that you can ever draw on that particular application. Depending on the terms agreed upon, you may have one to several months before you have to begin repaying the loan. You'll pay a fixed amount every month until the full amount of the loan and the interest charge is paid off. You'll know from the very start how much you'll be repaying.

Home Equity Line of Credit

A home equity line of credit - a HELOC - is much more like a credit card. When you apply for and are granted a home equity line of credit, the bank establishes a 'line of credit' - which functions just the way that a 'credit limit' does on your credit card. You may receive special checks or a plastic card with which to access your line of credit - but you don't receive the full amount at one time.

In fact, you don't have to take any of it immediately. You can draw on the line of credit at any time, up to the full amount of the line of credit throughout the agreed-upon life of the loan. Suppose that you're doing some home repairs. You can use your home equity line of credit to pay for $2,000 worth of roofing tiles. That leaves you $8,000 in your line of credit. Three weeks later, you can use your line of credit to pay for $4,500 worth of windows - and still have $3,500 left that you can borrow against.

If you then start paying back on your home equity line of credit, that money becomes available to you again. If you pay back $1,000 of what you've borrowed, you now have $4,500 on your line of credit.

A home equity line of credit has two 'phases' - there is the draw period, during which time you can draw against the credit limit as long as you stay below the limit. During that time, you can elect to only pay the interest that accrues - or you can make payments on the principal to free it up. Once the draw period is over, you go into the repayment period. During the repayment period, you can't draw against the line of credit any longer, and must make full repayment.

About the Author

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the loan information sites http://www.selectloans.co.uk/ and also http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk.

Home Equity Loans Online - Types Of Home Equity Loans

A home equity loan allows you to tap into your property's value to pay off short-term debt, remodel, or pay for college. There are several options for drawing on your equity, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. No matter which option you choose, interest is still tax deductible.

Refinancing Your Mortgage

By refinancing your mortgage, you can withdraw all or part of your equity. With this type of loan, you have one monthly payment with a low interest rate. If your mortgage originated when interest rates were high, you may find savings by refinancing now.

However, refinancing is costly with loan origination fees. You will have to go through the whole loan process again. You may also find that you may not find a better interest rate.

Opening A Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan allows you to take out a second loan based on your home's equity. With this type of financing you have lower loan costs and can usually choose shorter loan terms.

With a home equity loan, you find interest rates slightly higher than mortgages. Monthly payments are typically larger than with a refinanced mortgage. But in the long term, you will probably pay less in interest charges.

Creating A Line Of Credit

A line of credit based on you home equity provides the greatest amount of flexibility. You can choose to withdraw all or part of the available cash as you need it. You payments are much like a credit card payment. You can pay off a portion, then use that credit later on.

Lines of credit have low to no fees, but interest rates are higher than any other type home equity loan.

Picking The Best Option

When you pick a home equity loan, you need to take a look at your budget first. Decide how much you can afford monthly to pay. Also, look at how much you can save with each financing option. For example, if you home loan has a high rate, refinancing may save you money even with loan
fees.

No matter which finance option you choose, research rates from various lenders. Even a difference as small as 1/8% can save you hundreds. Don't be afraid of asking for quotes. This way you can get information on rates without getting hit on your credit report.

About the author:

See my recommended Home Equity Loan Lenders online. Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, which offers help with loans for people with low credit scores.

Get the cheap, low cost home equity loan that you need. Improve your credit history with home equity loan on-time payments. Get great deals on home equity loans with the best lending institutions available. Lower the monthly payments on your home equity loan. Get a low interest home equity loan. Find the best alternative lending institutions. How to get finance companies to lend you money at the best possible rates.