We know debt is bad. We know it could take us forever to pay off interest. But we make quick purchases to keep up with the Joneses, anyway. We go on a shopping spree because something looked good on TV, or simply to reward ourselves for getting through the workweek. We buy cars, home stereo systems, and self-twirling spaghetti forks we certainly could live without. By the time we find ourselves staring at a hefty bill less than 30 days later, we rue our impulsive decision to buy, buy, buy.
Some things, however, are worth getting into debt for. If you’re a wage earner, nothing spells security just as much as land or a house does. You need never fear being homeless again, and secured home equity loans make it possible.
The Basics
A home equity loan gives you the opportunity to use your home’s equity as collateral, in order to borrow money. Collateral is property that guarantees you will pay back a debt. To get your home’s equity value, you subtract how much you still owe on your mortgage from your home’s value. A home equity loan qualifies as a secured loan, as it is secured against a major asset. In this case, the asset is a home, although it may also include other properties.
The Second Mortgage
A secured home equity loan is also referred to as a second mortgage. Like the first mortgage, your property secures a home equity loan. In a nutshell, this loan transforms equity into cash, which people use for a variety of purposes. Home improvements, a popular choice, add equity to your home. Other common reasons for taking out a secured home equity loan include paying for your children’s college education, medical expenses, family emergencies, and huge purchases; or consolidating your debt.
The Terms
Before you take out a secured home equity loan, you should be aware of the terms. You receive the loan in one lump sum at one time. Also, once you take out the loan, you cannot borrow again from the loan. In addition, it is possible to take out more than one loan on the mortgage of your home. But if you do that, make sure to notify your lenders.
The Payback
The benefit of taking out a secured home equity loan is that you can make investments that will last a lifetime. The drawback is that you have to pay the money back. The payments remain the same every month. While first mortgages must be repaid in about 30 years, second mortgages must typically be paid back in half that time. Nonetheless, that figure is not carved in stone, and the repayment period can range from five to 30 years.
The Risks
If you take out a secured home equity loan, you naturally have every intention of paying it back. After all, you know that if you default on payments, you could lose your land or your house. Thankfully, lenders of secured home equity loans often understand when borrowers have short-term problems with their payments. Conventional wisdom says that if you are willing to put your house on the line, then you are willing to give your heart and soul to make payments.
Though debt has become a dirty word in society, repayment need not be a nightmare. Secured home equity loan can help give you a fresh start in life.
By: Rony Walker
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Secured Home Equity Loan Gives Debt A Good Name
December 14th, 2009Tips On How To Get A Home Equity Loan
September 21st, 2009There comes a time in many people’s life when we crave for more financial stability and wealth, but a limited fund prevents us from securing what we so earnestly desire. But if you are lucky enough to own a home already, this asset can provide you the means for furthering your dreams through the home equity loan.
You might have heard of people taking out home equity loans for various reasons such as for making home improvements or paying for medical bills or children’s college fees. These types of loans are also widely used for the purposes of debt consolidation.
Your home is the most valuable asset out of all that you possess. You can borrow money against your home on the basis of the value or equity of your house. But what does the term Home Equity actually refer to? In the United States, residential properties are most commonly bought through a mortgage. The mortgage amount can be paid over quite a long stretch of time. After you clear the entire mortgage amount, the property belongs to you. In the meantime, your property builds up a value of ownership; this value is the “equity” of the homeowner. This equity is worked out on the basis of the current market value of your property. The value of equity is calculated by subtracting the outstanding mortgage balance from the current market value of the home. You are eligible to get a home equity loan against this equity value of your home. One thing to remember though is that while your the equity of your home cannot be sold, the financial institutions do not mind lending you money against it.
You have to opt from two main types of loans, namely the traditional home equity loan, popularly known as second mortgage, and the home equity line of credit.
The traditional home equity loan will enable you to borrow a lump sum of money that is to be repaid over a fixed period. On the other hand, the home equity line of credit provides the borrower with a checkbook or a credit card which can be used to borrow cash against the equity of the home.
It is important to make an informed decision before you choose a financial institution from which to take out this loan. It is often not the case that the institution that granted you the first mortgage will offer you the best deal the second time around. So shop around on the internet and choose a bank only after making a thorough comparison.
By: Susan Jan
