Home Equity Loan vs Home Equity Line of Credit

There are advantages and disadvantages to both home equity loans (HELs) and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), making the choice between the two dependent on your unique needs and circumstances.

Amount You Can Borrow

Both home equity loans and lines of credit allow you to borrow up to 100% of the equity in your home. In some cases, lenders will even allow you to borrow up to 125% of your home equity.

Qualifying Requirements

Both HELs and HELOCs require you show proof of the following:

* personal income;

* ownership of the home ownership (ie. Title);

* current mortgage;

* current value of the home (via a professional appraisal).

A home equity loan additionally requires proof that at least 20% of the home’s value has already been paid off. So, if you have yet to pay off at least that much of your home’s value, then your choice of which instrument to apply for is made for you.

Purpose for the Money

If you wish to use the money borrowed in a lump sum for a single, one-time expense (ie. a particular renovation, an emergency, a desired purchase, or to consolidate debt), then a home equity loan may be the better choice.

If you don’t have a single, particular use for the money in mind and don’t think you’ll need the money all at once but rather feel that you’ll be needing it on a periodic basis (ie. for lengthy and drawn-out remodels, medical bills, or college tuition payments that will be made in intermittent sums), then a home equity line of credit may be the better choice.

The HELOC gives you a flexibility that a home equity loan does not, allowing you to borrow however much you need, at the time that you need it, rather than taking out more than you need at once and, subsequently, paying interest on the whole amount from day one. Rather than receiving a fixed lump sum all at once, with a HELOC, you’re usually given checks or a credit card to use on an as needed basis. Part of the risk inherent in home equity lines of credit is that you could end up borrowing more over time that you can realistically pay off.

Interest Rate and Monthly Payments

Both HELOCs and HELs generally carry lower interest rates than conventional bank loans and credit cards, as they are secured by borrowing against your home. They both, however, commonly carry interest rates higher than that of your primary mortgage (or first mortgage). Interest on both instruments may be tax deductible (to find out, check with your tax advisor).

Interest paid on both of these instruments (HELs and HELOCs) is also usually tax deductible, whereas interest paid on conventional bank loans and credit cards is not.

The interest rate and monthly payments on a home equity loan is fixed, allowing you to budget accordingly, though in many cases you could opt for an adjustable rate (though that isn’t always advisable). The payment term on a home equity loan is also fixed, meaning that you must pay it off in full by a predetermined point in time.

The interest rate and monthly payments on a home equity line of credit is not fixed and will fluctuate over time, based on fluctuations in the prime rate, so budgeting accordingly can be much more challenging. The interest on a home equity line of credit is also typically higher than that of a home equity loan. The payment term on a home equity line of credit, however, is not fixed, and so long as you keep making minimum payments, you could conceivably stretch out the payment period indefinitely.

Closing Costs

Like other loans, a home equity loan comes with certain closing costs that must be covered in advance of receiving the loan.

There are usually no closing costs involved in a home equity line of credit, though you may have to pay an annual fee.

Collateral

Remember, that in either case, your home is considered the collateral for payment.

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Home Equity Loans Canada- Your Questions Answered

In a November, 2007 report, the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP) stated that in the previous 12 months, 17% of mortgage holders took out home equity loans or increased their mortgage. The average equity loan was ,400.

What are people doing with all this money? Paying down debts, sending the kids to school, investing in their homes – there are many possible answers to that question. If you’ve ever considered tapping into your home’s equity, the following FAQs can help you decide whether home equity loans are the right strategy for you.

What Are Home Equity Loans?

Home equity is the difference between the market value of your home and what you still owe on the mortgage. So if your house is valued at 0,000 and you still have 0,000 outstanding on your mortgage, your equity would be ,000.

Home equity loans enable you to borrow against that equity. These loans are also known as second mortgages because they are a second loan (the primary mortgage being the first) that uses your house as collateral.

How Much Can You Borrow?

With most home equity loans you can borrow anywhere up to 85% of the amount of your home equity. For the case above, with ,000 in equity, the homeowner could borrow ,000.

Some lenders have more generous options, even offering to lend 100% of the amount of equity in your home.

How is a Home Equity Line of Credit Different?

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is much the same as a standard line of credit, but it uses your home’s equity for security. With a HELOC you can typically borrow up to 90% of your home’s equity. With ,000 in equity, you could obtain a HELOC for ,000.

With a HELOC, you do not necessarily have to use all of the credit at once. You can use it as needed and pay back what you borrow, just like a standard line of credit.

On the other hand, home equity loans are one-time, lump sum loan. If you need more money, you’ll need another loan.

The general guideline is that a HELOC is best for those who need access to varying amounts of money for ongoing expenses, whereas a home equity loan is better suited to those needing a specific amount for one large expense, like a home renovation.

What About Interest Rates?

Home equity loans typically have fixed interest rates, while HELOC rates are variable. The interest rates for both are typically pegged to an institution’s prime rate, and are often significantly lower than those charged for vehicle loans, credit cards and personal loans.

What is Mortgage Refinancing?

With refinancing, you pay off your existing mortgage and obtain a second mortgage for a lower interest rate. With a “cash-out” mortgage or refinance you can borrow more than what you owe on your mortgage. You can then take the extra money and use it for expenses like tuition, home improvements and so on. Refinancing may include costs for mortgage fees and prepayment penalties.

What are the Pros and Cons?

On the plus side, home equity loans provide low-cost credit for important expenses. In extreme cases, the risks are that the home market slows and you end up owing more than the value of your home, or that you overspend and default, which means the loss of your home.

For many people the pros outweigh the cons. To be sure if a HELOC or loan is right for you, it is best to consult with a mortgage professional.

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Home Equity Loans Versus HELOCS and a Personal Loan

In this article, we’ll cover the benefits and disadvantages of home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and personal loans. Whether you’re looking for funds to finance a major expense or simply pay down consumer debt, this article can help you decide what type of financing is best for you.

Home Equity Loan

* Best for: Major, unexpected expenses or large investments.

* Not for: Ongoing or smaller expenses.

How it works: A home equity loan is like a mortgage – the borrower is given a lump sum of money up front and begins paying interest and principal payments right away to work off the debt. The amount of the loan extended to the borrower is based on how much equity has increased in the home after appreciation and mortgage payments.

* Pro: Home equity loans typically offer a lower, fixed interest rate than HELOCs and personal loans. This benefits the borrower over the term of the loan as well as in the short term.

* Con: Borrowers have to pay interest on the full balance right away.

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

* Best for: Ongoing expenses like major renovations, college tuition or having a baby.

* Not for: Single, major expenses.

How it works: A home equity line of credit is secured by the equity in your home, and you can draw on it as you would using a credit card or savings account. Typically, the rate is adjustable – meaning it can be changed periodically depending on financial market trends – and you’ll make interest payments on what you borrow until the term of the line of credit is over.

* Pro: You only pay for what you borrow, and these loans are often easier to qualify for and faster to obtain than home equity loans.

* Con: The interest rate is adjustable and often higher than a home equity loan. When shopping for a home equity line of credit, look for a low permanent rate.

Personal Loan

* Best for: Small single expenses like a new car or small business investment.

* Not for: Ongoing living costs, major projects like home renovations.

How it works: A personal loan is a one that is offered by the lending institution and is often secured by the piece of equipment (e.g. a car) or property (e.g. business) that you’re using the loan to purchase. Typically, personal loans are smaller and can often be obtained in the form of a line of credit.

* Pro: Simple application process without sacrificing home equity or risking the home itself.

* Con: Without the security of home equity, the interest rates on a personal loan are often higher, so it is advantageous to pay off the loan as quickly as possible.

In short, whether you obtain a home equity loan, a HELOC or a personal loan will depend on why you need to borrow the funds, the kind of interest rates you can afford and your own current financial situation.

Remember, always shop around for the lowest interest rate! Doing so can save you hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars over the life of the loan.

Home Equity Loans: An overview

Well, it has been a difficult task for those people who have never dealt with home ownership earlier. Therefore, for them we define equity as the financial value of a business or property beyond any amounts payable on liens, mortgages, claims, etc. In other words, Home Equity is how many houses a person has earned. However, Equity is basically the difference between the market value or a property and the mortgage which held against it. For example: if your house is worth 0,000 and you owe 0,000 then your equity is $ 40,000, then, you get Home Equity loans depending on the credit and many other factors for ,000 that you have built up in an equity.

Home Equity Loans are basically of two types:

• Standard Home Equity Loan that is assured by your home or is secured by the equity in a home. • Home Equity Line of Credit that provides you an option of withdrawing money from an equity account when you need it at the time of urgency. Benefits of Home Equity Loans:

• Home Equity loans are an ideal option if you need to reconstruct or repair your home, for medical, educational expenses or for debt consolidation etc.

• You can also apply for this mortgage to get rid of credit card debts.

• It can be used for some major expenses or purchases. • Apply for mortgages provide good interest rates.

• This type of loan also helps those people who have some financial problems so that they can afford the college expenses.

Sources to Apply for mortgages:

Well, there are numerous sources are available that offer these Home Equity Loans such as Banks, private lenders and private institutions etc It does not matter what is your decision but whenever you take a home equity loan it should be and advice to you that to Apply for mortgages from a trusted and well reputed lender.

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Home equity loan – Definition and Types

Home equity loan is a type of loan in which the borrower uses the equity in their home as collateral. These loans are sometimes useful to help finance major home repairs, medical bills or college education. A home equity loan creates a lien against the borrower’s house, and reduces actual home equity. Home equity loans are most commonly second Deed of Trust, although they can be held in first or, less commonly, third position. Most home equity loans require good to excellent credit history, and reasonable loan-to-value and combined loan-to-value ratios. Home equity loans are secured loans.

Types of Home Equity Loan
Home equity loans can be divided in two types, closed end and open end.
1. Closed end home equity loan
The borrower receives a lump sum at the time of the closing and cannot borrow further. The maximum amount of money that can be borrowed is determined by variables including credit history, income, and the appraised value of the collateral, among others. It is common to be able to borrow up to 100% of the appraised value of the home, less any liens, although there are lenders that will go above 100% when doing over-equity loans. These types of loans generally have fixed rates and can be amortized for periods usually up to 15 years. Some home equity loans offer reduced amortization whereby at the end of the term, a balloon payment is due. These larger lump-sum payments can be avoided by paying above the minimum payment or refinancing the loan. Closed end means there will be an end date for the loan. No future draws under that loan will occur.

2. Open end home equity loan
This is a revolving credit loan, also referred to as a home equity line of credit, where the borrower can choose when and how often to borrow against the equity in the property, with the lender setting an initial limit to the credit line based on criteria similar to those used for closed-end loans. Like the closed-end loan, it may be possible to borrow up to 100% of the value of a home, less any liens. These lines of credit are available up to 30 years, usually at a variable interest rate. The minimum monthly payment can be as low as only the interest that is due.

Difference between Home Equity Loan and HELOC
There is a specific difference between a home equity loan and a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). A HELOC is a line of revolving credit with an adjustable interest rate whereas a home equity loan is a one time lump-sum loan, often with a fixed interest rate.  Home Loan – Its easy to buy a HOme