If you have a mortgage loan and you have requested a home equity loan too, you can refinance both loans and get a single loan and a single monthly payment with the same or better terms than the average of both outstanding loans. This can be achieved by applying for a refinance mortgage loan. Home equity loans, also known as second mortgages, are secured with the same asset as the primary mortgage loan, thus, when refinancing the home loan, you can include your home equity loan. This can provide you with many benefits like getting fewer monthly payments, saving thousands of dollars on interests, getting lower installments and reducing your overall debt exposure. Refinancing: ConceptAs you probably know already, refinancing consists on acquiring a mortgage loan in order to repay an outstanding mortgage. This can be done because the loan contract specifies that the money will be used to cancel the outstanding loan so the new loan will be the primary beneficiary of the security. The home equity loan is, in this case, also replaced with the new loan and the new loan amount will be determined by adding up the previous mortgage loan amount and the home equity loan amount. Saving Money? Getting Ease?By refinancing you can save thousands of dollars on interests. Home equity loans generally come with higher interest rates than mortgage loans and thus, by obtaining a lower rate refinance home loan you will not only be saving money on your mortgage loan but you will also be saving even more money on your home equity loan. Also, by refinancing you will unify both loans and get a longer repayment program and lower monthly payments. The resulting loan installments will be undoubtedly lower than the combination of mortgage loan payments and the home equity loan payments. Thus, even if you are indebted for a longer period of time you will get a lot of ease on your financial situation and income. Refinancing Other Debt: Cash-Out Refinance LoansA cash out refinance loan is a refinance loan with a higher amount than the outstanding mortgage loan and in this particular case than that of the mortgage loan and home equity loan combined. Once both loans are cancelled, the surplus can be used for any purpose you may think of, including reducing your overall debt. If you have other debt like credit card balances, personal unsecured loans, pay day loans, student loans, car loans or any other loan, you can use this surplus to cancel your debt and thus, you will be saving money due to the lower interest rate that refinance mortgage loans feature. This will improve your overall credit situation raising your credit rank and improving your credit history. Your debt to income ratio will also be improved just as your debt exposure. Using a cash-out refinance loan in this way is a smart thing and will do a lot to enhance your whole financial situation. Your ability to get finance will also increase since on your credit report, only a single outstanding and affordable loan will show.
Posts Tagged ‘Thousands Of Dollars’
Refinance Both Your Home Loan and Home Equity Loan
December 25th, 2009Home Equity Loans – 3 Tips to Smarter Borrowing
December 16th, 2009There is no question that home equity loans have become the biggest tool for homeowners to get their hands on the cash they need. And used correctly, these loans are also a smart way to borrow needed funds for things like medical expenses, debt repayment and home improvements. With that said, here are 3 tips to help you in finding a great deal on a home equity loan.
1. Shop For Rates And Avoid Fees
Many home owners don’t realize that lending rates on loans are different. They mistakenly believe that all lenders will loan money at about the same interest rate. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Home equity loan rates could vary by up to 5% in some cases, and on a $100,000 loan that is serious money. Get at least 3 different loan comparisons before making a decision. Yes, that may take extra time, but it could be worth thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars of your money.
Also, be aware of loan fees. Lenders should not be charging you for an application fee or an appraisal fee. Nor should they add fees into the loan amount. Where a lender may add on a fee is with a home equity line of credit. They may charge an annual fee.
2. Understand Tax Rules
Many borrowers mistakenly believe that interest on any home equity loan will be tax deductible each year. This just is not true.
Interest on loans up to $100,000 may be tax deductible, but any amount over that will not be deductible.
Also, in order to deduct the interest you will have to be able to itemize your tax return. Will you have the deductions to be able to do this?
3. Understand Your Home Is On The Line
Not only are you putting your home on the line in the event you are unable to repay your loan, but you are also sucking out your home’s equity. Be sure that you are not planning on moving in the next few years or you could be in financial trouble.
Be careful in using the money for home improvements. Ask yourself if you will be able to get the value back out of your home when you go to sell it. In some cases the answer may be no.
By following these tips you can make a smarter decision in taking out any type of home equity loan.
Home equity loans tips guide 101
December 13th, 2009A Home Equity Loan is considered as the best friend for those with bad credit, however, this best friend can turn into a foe if not chosen judiciously. Selecting the right Home equity Loan is a tedious task that every borrower has to perform to ensure peace of mind and financial security.
Even though the lending companies decide the interest rates for the Home Equity Loans, these rates are also influenced by a number of factors such as market conditions, demand for loans, competition, inflation, credit score, and the Federal Reserve. Moreover the amount for which the loan is taken (which depends on the equity present in your home) and the period for which it is taken also determines the rate of interest.
The forces of demand and supply, also govern the market for Home Equity Loans, like any other market. The higher the demand for the Home Equity Loans, the lower is the rate of interest on them. Thus, it is better to opt for the loan when the demand is high. If you can afford the resulting monthly installments then you should always opt for short term Home Equity Loans that can save you thousands of dollars in interest payments over the life of the loan. Another way of securing lower interest rates is by giving a large down payment (if you can afford). The higher the down payment is the lower will be the rate of interest. A good credit score always helps in getting reasonable interest rates. If your monthly income is more than your monthly debt obligations, you will get a lower interest rate. Moreover, it is recommended that you should always choose the fixed rate loans instead of floating rate loans. The fixed rates Home Equity Loan may seem to be costlier option in the beginning but it ensures peace of mind and shields you from surprises in your monthly payment amount. If at all you decide to take an adjustable or floating rate loan, make sure you understand the periodic cap. This cap limits the amount your interest rate can change at once. Moreover, ask your lender, which index your interest rate follows and whether you can exercise the option of converting to a fixed interest rate at a later time.
The interest rates on Home Equity Loans vary widely between the lenders. Thus, you can save a lot of money if you select the right lender. While making a comparison between the lenders, compare the annual interest rates and all the fees involved including the closing costs, points paid upfront, and any annual fees you must pay. Also, make sure that you read and understand all the fine print contained in your loan contract and don’t hesitate to ask questions or negotiate the terms and stipulations.
Thus, if you follow these tips and do your homework industriously and shop around, you can certainly find an excellent Home Equity Loan that fulfills all your financial needs.
