If you are looking for a quick source of cash, you may have been told that you can tap into the equity in your home. If you have at least 20 percent equity in your home, you can borrow against that equity at a relatively low interest rate for a quick source of funding. You might be deciding whether to apply for a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit, which is usually shortened to HELOC. Home Equity Loan A home equity loan is a loan that you will receive based on the equity you have in your home. It is often termed a second mortgage, and it comes with a fixed interest rate. … [Read more...]
Which Home Equity Loan Is The Best Option?
There are a number of significant advantages that come with homeownership, and one of the biggest advantages is the ability to take out a home equity loan. As homeowners pay off the mortgage, the amount of equity in the house increases. Homeowners can borrow against the equity in their house to fund other projects. For example, homeowners could borrow against home equity to complete a home renovation, pay medical expenses, or pay down student loans. The most common home equity loans include cash-out refinances, a traditional home equity loan, and a home equity line of credit. Which is the best … [Read more...]
Three Hot Renovations That Will Boost Your Home’s Value Without Breaking the Bank
Are you feeling the "renovation itch" or perhaps looking for a fun project that you can take on which will provide you with a return on your investment? There are numerous home upgrades and renovations that can add value to a home without costing a large sum of money to complete. Let's take a look at three popular home renovations that can increase your home equity without draining your bank account. Paint Your Home Inside and Out Painting the interior or exterior of your home costs very little when compared to how much it can freshen up your home's appearance and increase its value. Painting … [Read more...]
Over 5 Trillion Dollars In Home Equity May Lead To More Cash Out Transactions
US homeowners now have over 5 trillion dollars in home equity which is a very large amount of money! So this year may be the year for a lot of cash out refinances and other home equity mortgage products. Most often, when you are purchasing a home, you are buying at or below the appraised value and you are making a down payment. The good news is this means you have "instant equity" in your home. And over time you build more equity as you make your monthly mortgage payments as well as any potential home price appreciation. This build up of equity gets some homeowners thinking about taking … [Read more...]
How to Smartly Leverage Your Home Equity
So you've been a homeowner for some time. You've been faithfully paying off your mortgage for years, and you have a fair bit of equity built up in your home – and that makes you proud. But now, you're wondering what good equity is if you're not using it. How do you actually use home equity? And how do you leverage it to get a high return for low risk? Here are just a few options you may want to consider if you're looking for something to do with your equity. Use A Home Equity Loan Or HELOC To Pay Off High-Interest Debt If you have a certain amount of money invested in your home, you can … [Read more...]