Chicago home equity loans are the type of loans where the borrower uses the equity in his Chicago home as collateral. You can lose the home and be forced to move out if you don’t repay the debt. Such loans are often used by families in need of financing help to make major home repairs, pay medical bills or college tuitions. Chicago home equity loans create a lien against the borrower’s house. Equity is the difference between how much the home is worth and how much you owe on the mortgage (or mortgages, if you have more than one on the property). Such loans require an excellent credit score and reasonable loan-to-value ratios. An individual can apply for an equity loan, no matter the type of home he has. It can be a condo, house, apartment, or townhouse.
The maximum amount that you can borrow through a home equity loan depends on your credit score, monthly income, and the appraised value of the collateral, among others. It is possible to borrow up to 100% of the appraised value of the home. Chicago home equity loans can be of two types, closed- and open-end. Closed-end home equity loans generally have fixed rates and can be amortized for periods usually up to 15 years. The open-end loans, also known as HELOC (home equity line of credit) loans, are at a variable interest rate, but here the borrower chooses when and how often to borrow against the equity of the property, with the lender setting an initial limit to the credit line.
But when comparing the two, keep in mind that you cannot simply compare the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for a loan with the APR for a home equity loan because the APRs are figured differently. The APR for a regular loan takes into account the interest rate charged plus points and other finance charges. The APR for a home equity line is based on the periodic interest rate alone. It does not include points or other charges.
Here are the steps you should follow when considering a home equity loan in Chicago:
1) Check your options – home equity loans are not the only method of financing. Remember, if you decide to get a home equity loan and can’t make the payments, the lender may foreclose and you would lose your home.
2) Do the research – if you are keen on getting such a loan, then talk with several lenders, including at least one bank or credit union in your community. Compare their offers. Comparing loan plans can help you get a better deal. Beware of loan terms and conditions that may mean higher costs for you. Keep in mind the following parameters:
-Can you afford the interest rate and monthly payments?
-The period of the loan, or how long you have to pay it back
-Check the penalties for late or missed payments
3) Double check – think twice before signing the contract. Have an attorney review the loan papers and make sure the terms are the same ones you agreed on.
By: Dave Badge
Posts Tagged ‘Home Equity Line Of Credit’
Chicago Home Equity Loans
December 27th, 2009Home Equity Loan Facts
December 26th, 2009A home equity loan is a special type of loan that is used by homeowners who wish to use their equity as collateral. It may be necessary for a family to obtain a home equity loan for things such as medical bills, college costs, or house repairs. In a nutshell, a home equity loan is basically a lien that is placed on the property. Obtaining a home equity loan requires the customer to have good credit, and they should be a low risk borrower. Home equity loans are divided into two types, and these are open end and close end. A home equity loan may also be referred to as being a second mortgage.
When compared to traditional mortgages, home equity loans tend to be shorter in length. In places like the US, homeowners may be able to deduct the interest the earn on their income taxes. With the closed end home equity loan, the homeowner will be given a set amount of money at the closing, and they will not be able to borrow any more money. The amount of money that they are given will be determined by their credit score, salary, and the value of the home. It is not uncommon for a homeowner to borrow 100 percent of the value of the house, and some lenders will go beyond 100 percent in a process that is called over equity. » Read more: Home Equity Loan Facts
Home Equity Loans: Financial Aid Against Home Equity
December 26th, 2009The equity of a house can at times come to the rescue of the owner. Without losing ownership, he can advantage from the equity of his home by taking home equity loan to meet urgent financial requirements.
Home Equity Loans are based on the equity of the home. In these loans the equity of the home is accepted as collateral. So a homeowner is only eligible for home equity loans. The equity of a home is the market value of the home minus the outstanding mortgages against it. So if the market value of a home is £200000 and the outstanding mortgages amount to £70000, then the homeowner has £130000 as the equity to get a loan.
Home owners can get these loans in two forms, as home equity loans and as home equity line of credit popularly known as HELOC. In home equity loans, the entire loan amount is given to the borrower as a lump sum. Interest starts accruing on the loan amount from the day it is disbursed.
However, in HELOC, borrowers can withdraw money according to his needs up to a maximum limit he is entitled to. The scheme acts like a credit card. Here interest is charged only on the amount used and not the entire amount.
In home equity loans, the borrower is generally entitled to get only 80% of the equity of the home. There are, however, borrowers who give loan amounts up to 125% of the equity. With home equity loans one can borrow money in the range of £5000 to £75,000. Repayment terms ranges between 5 to 25 years.
Home equity loans offer cash relatively fast and at low interest rates which control the cost of the loan. Another big advantage of these loans is that the interest is tax deductible.
Before taking a home equity loan the borrower should find out the equity of his home. For getting deals suitable to him, he should do proper research both offline and online. He should not rush in to grab whatever is nearer to his hand.
By: Dina Wilson
