Loans that are secured in nature are popular loans because they are approved without fusses. Various high value assets can be pledged as collateral. The equity of your home is one that can fetch you a big loan amount at low interest rates. It is the market value of your home minus any kind of obligation or claims upon it. When you placed this value as collateral against a loan, you are said to be availing a home equity loan.
There are two types of home equity loans. The classification is based on how you prefer to withdraw your loan amount:
* Closed home equity loan
Under this scheme, you can have your home equity loan granted as a lump sum. Interest rate is calculated according to this total amount.
* Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
If you don’t need a large sum of money right away but would be requiring smaller amounts over a period of time, this option will be more feasible for you. It allows you to withdraw the necessary amount from an agreed total. The rate of interest will vary according to how much you are withdrawing at a particular instance.
Home equity loans allow you to borrow up to 100% of the equity of your home. To speak generally, an amount in the range of £3000 to £100000 can be obtained. The repayment period is accordingly long. Depending on how much you are borrowing, it may last up to a period of 25 years.
Home equity loans are made viable loans by the following features:
* Low interest rate
* Interest rate is also tax deductible
* Payment in the form of easy monthly installments
* Large amounts can be loaned
A home equity loan can be the solution to any of your financial crisis. But it is better to apply for them when you are in serious need and when you require a large sum. Having said that, while applying for a loan, request for a loan quote first and ascertain whether the total repayment amount is within your capability of paying back.
By: Dina Wilson
Posts Tagged ‘Sum Of Money’
Home Equity Loans: Providing Optimal Service
October 10th, 2009Home Equity Loan – Understanding the Basics and Advantages
October 2nd, 2009You may have heard the term home equity loan but are not really sure whether this type of loan will work for you. The first step is to understand the concept of home equity. Equity is the difference between the current appraised value of your home and the amount that is owed on the home. So, for example; if your home has recently appraised for $200,000 and you only owe $100,000 on it then you have $100,000 in equity in your home.
Many homeowners like the idea of taking out a home equity loan when they need to fund a home improvement or make some other type of purchase because they can often obtain the money they need at an interest rate that is lower than charging it to a credit card. In addition, there are also possible tax advantages as well.
When you take out a home equity loan you are taking out a second mortgage that gives you the ability to convert the equity in your home into cash. You can then spend that cash on any number of expenses including college education, medical expenses, debt consolidation, home improvements and much more.
You will generally need to decide whether you wish to take out a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. These two terms are different. A home equity loan provides you with a one time lump sum of money that you will then pay off over a specified period of time at an interest rate that is fixed. It is much like your first mortgage.
A home equity line of credit, commonly referred to as HELOC, is more similar to a credit card. Instead of receiving the sum of money at one time, you will then have the ability to borrow up to a specified amount of money for the duration of the loan. That time period is set by the lender. As you pay off the principal amount of the loan, you can once again use the credit. In this regard, a HELOC is much like a credit card.
There are advantages to both a home equity loan as well as a HELOC. Many homeowners prefer the flexibility of a line of credit over a fixed rate equity loan. If they do not need all of the money up front, they are able to maintain control over how much money they draw down from the loan. The disadvantage to a line of credit is that it frequently features an interest rate that is variable. This means that the payment amounts will vary based on the prevailing interest rate.
In most cases, the draw period for a line of credit is between five and ten years while the repayment period ranges between ten and fifteen years. You will usually be able to access the funds of a line of credit with a credit card, check or electronic transfer that can be ordered by phone. Typically, an initial advance is required when the loan is set up.
By: Alan Lim
Tips 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
