What is a personal home equity loan?

Personal home equity loan basics

A home equity loan is a second loan on a property that gives the homeowners money based on the amount of equity in their property. Equity is the difference between how much the home is currently worth and how much is still owed on the mortgage loan. The money taken out can be spent on anything. Most people use it for home improvements, debt consolidation, college tuition and vacations. The interest that is paid on a home equity loan is typically tax deductible, which is a wonderful benefit to this loan.

Getting a home equity loan

The homeowner offers the home as collateral to the lender. Collateral is an asset offered to a lender as security for a loan. It gives the lender a guarantee that the borrower will repay the debt. If the debt is not paid, the lender can sell the home to get their money back. With home equity loans, you apply for a set loan amount and make payments based on a fixed interest rate. The amount that can be lent out is determined by variables such as your credit, income, first mortgage and the recent appraised value of the collateral property. Typically the loan will not exceed $500,000.

Refinancing for a home equity loan

If the interest rate or payment on any first mortgage is high, a home equity loan can be a beneficial way to refinance an existing home loan, take out money and make one combined monthly payment. Refinancing is when a homeowner applies for a new loan to replace their current loan.

There are two ways to refinance a mortgage: no cash-out and cash back. No Cash-Out refinancing lowers the monthly payment and remaining term of the loan. When a borrower refinances with cash back, they essentially take out a greater loan and pocket the money that was in excess of the existing loan amount. It can reduce the term and interest rate, but also cash out the equity earned when the property's value had increased.

Understanding home equity loans is not difficult and the loan process is very simple. Equity loans are available through banking institutions and brokerages. They have nominal costs, if any, and they typically can fund within two weeks time. Get free home equity loan quotes from any of our trusted home equity loan lenders.

Related Home Equity - Home Equity Loans articles

  • How To Use Your Home Equity
  • Home equity is a concept that many individuals are familiar with yet do not know the full extent with regard to its capabilities. Many people wonder what they can do with their home equity and the answer to this is a great deal of things. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit allow homeowners to tap into their available home equity...

  • Home Equity Loans
  • Advantages of a Home Equity Loan? Certainty of a fixed rate - You are able to lock in a fixed rate on a home equity loan for the period of time you want. It will not change at any time like the HELOCs change with Prime. Rates are usually higher than the HELOC simply because it is a fixed rate...

  • Home Equity Loan Terms
  • What are your options? Home Equity Loans are available in 10, 15, 20 and 30 year terms. You can synchronize the payoff of your new 2nd mortgage with your existing first mortgage.

  • Home Equity Loan Rates
  • What Home Equity Loan Rates will you get? The rate you would be offered from the lender is based on 3 categories: Your credit profile - if you are not sure how your credit profile currently stands, check your credit score. Ability to pay your monthly payments The equity available in your home ...

  • Home Equity Loan Payments
  • Typically home equity loan payments are set as a full principal and interest payment is utilized since the loan will be paid off in a specific time frame.


Related tags:

home equity home equity loan home equity loans personal home equity loan

Blog | Home | Ask a Question | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
AskMrMortgages All rights Reserved 2006 - 2010