Home Equity Lines of Credit

Alright, you've been a homeowner for some 10 years now, and you've decided it's time for improvement and expansion. What is the best way to obtain the funding for home improvement projects? A home equity line of credit is often the most feasible and profitable way to access extra cash for home improvement.

How do you obtain home equity credit? What lenders provide home-equity credit? And who qualifies for home-equity created? All these questions will be answered in the following paragraphs, and hopefully from the information below, you'll be at a more educated consumer.

All the equity lines of credit are obtained based on the amount of equity you have built into your column. If you had your mortgage for over 10 years you have established a considerable amount of equity and should be able to draw on that equity to improve and make repairs on your home.

Fixed rate mortgages or adjustable rate mortgages provide a consumer with the greatest opportunity for building equity in their home while paying for their home interest-only loans, 125 loans, and balloon notes do not help the consumer build equity over a very short time.

Quite often as we shop for mortgage products we don't stop to think about the "down the road" needs we might experience as a homeowner. That's why today's market of interest-only loans and 125 loans do not seem to operate in the consumer's favour. As you make your mortgage payment each month a portion of the payment is diverted to the interest, and the remaining amount is applied to principal; it is through this process that we build 'equity' in our home.

Over the course of the life of the home, say 10 years from now, we manage to outgrow our homes, we manage to overuse our homes and we manage to create a situation that is in need of repair. If you have a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage you have managed to build the equity in your home and you high on the opportunity to open a home-equity line of credit, provided you have also taken care to protect your credit rating.

The amount of equity of establishing your home and your credit rating will determine the credit limit you receive on a home-equity line of credit. Your lending institution, your local bank, or for whom ever holds your mortgage will be the entity you approach for a home-equity line of credit.

So long as your payments are up-to-date, your credit is good, and you have a substantial amount of equity in your home you will qualify for a home-equity loan that is comparable to an open line of credit. You withdraw from your line of credit as necessary.

If your loan limit is say $10,000, and you need $4000 for plumbing repairs, you simply write a check drawn on your line of credit account to cover the expense and you would begin to pay interest on the loan amount of $4000. Seems to be a very simple way to operate wouldn't you say?

Many of the leading institutions think so thus they created a home-equity line of credit; it's a benefit for the consumer and it's a benefit for the lending institution. The consumer has a quick way to draw on the equity in their home, and the late institution has a great way to make a profit. So what would be the downside of a home-equity line of credit? There doesn't seem to be one.

The only downside we've been able to find, with that of the consent of the purchases the interest only loan, the 125 loan, or any of the many variations from these bases that does not allow for the building of equity as the mortgage is paid. Quite often the consumer does not realize the potential danger when purchasing interest-only and 125s.

But the mortgage lender does, or should. It was for this very reason during the 1920s at the interest only loan was shelved and taken from the market. We seem to have forgotten the lessons learned. For the consumer a home without equity, is a home without protection. A home without equity is not a benefit for the consumer.

Home Equity Loans Canada- Your Questions Answered

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.

Fixed Rate Home Equity Loan

Pros And Cons Of Home Equity Loans