| |
Have you wondered what exactly is up with
home equity credit appraisal
Home Equity Loans - How To Use Your Home's Equity to Consolidate Debt If you've got a wallet full of credit cards, and monthly payments on them that total more than 25% of your monthly income, chances are that you've considered debt consolidation loans or some other means of taming your credit card debt. But did you know that a home equity loan is another way to get the money that you need to pay off your creditors, reduce your monthly payments, and get out from under the weight of all those monthly payments?
A home equity loan is essentially a second mortgage taken out with your house as the collateral. Because the loan is secured, you'll have a much more favorable interest rate. And those lower rates will translate to a lower monthly payment overall. You'll wind up with one creditor, one monthly payment, and more money in your pocket each month.
There are some definite advantages to taking out a home equity loan or line of credit to get out of debt, and one very big danger. By trading your unsecured loans (your credit card debts) for a secured loan, you are putting your house on the line. Why? Because if you don't make the payments, the lender has the right to take your home from you and sell it in order to collect on the loan. But if you've got at least 20% equity in your house, and are certain that you'll be able to meet the monthly payments, then taking out a home equity loan to pay off your debts may be a good choice for you.
Once you've decided that a home equity loan is an acceptable risk for you, you'll have a few other decisions to make.
All home equity loans are not created equal! There are two types of loans, and you'll need to decide which one is right for you.
A flat home equity loan is a standard loan for a fixed amount. The amount will be limited by the amount of equity you've invested in your house. If you use up the entire amount of your loan and need more money, you'll have to apply for another loan.
A home equity line-of-credit is usually the better choice. With this type of loan, you will be able to write 'checks' against the amount of the line-of-credit, which may be as much as 125% of the value of your home. For example, if you obtain a $10,000 line of credit secured by the equity in your home, and use $2,000 of it to pay off an outstanding credit card balance, you've essentially only borrowed $2,000, and that's the amount on which you'll pay interest.
When looking for your loan, it's essential that you shop around--not only for the best interest rates and terms, but for a company that you can trust. Ask for referrals from your bank, friends and coworkers. In addition, you can check them out on the Internet.
You will need to determine the value of your home so will know how much money you will able to borrow against it. It's a good idea to get a current appraisal of your home, and always smart to have it appraised by several different companies.
Finally, in order for you to get the most out of your home equity loan, you will need to choose the lender that offers you the best interest rates. Remember that fees and other charges can vary widely from company to company, so make sure you do some comparisons.
Once you've been approved, you can use all or part of your home equity loan to pay off your current unsecured debt. Keep in mind that you'll only STAY out of debt if you avoid the temptation to run those credit card balances up again!
To view our most recommended home equity lenders visit this page: Recommended Home Equity Lenders
About the Author Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans. The site has informative articles and the latest finance news.
More Useful Resource and Updates on home equity credit appraisal
- Opening the tap on home equity (Austin American-Statesman)
Borrow before credit line is frozen, some suggest. Many homeowners who have taken out home equity lines of credit have learned in recent months that these loans are not as useful as they initially seemed.
- Fixed-rate trap snares 43,000 home owners (Sydney Morning Herald)
MORE than 40,000 unlucky people have been caught out in a fixed mortgage rate trap, having taken out their loan at the highest fixed interest rates in a decade, denied any saving from the recent cuts and confronting costly break fees if they decide to refinance.
- Bernanke says need to do more to halt foreclosures (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday urged more aggressive action to halt home foreclosures, and said write-downs of principal may need to be part those efforts.
- Kiwibank Responds To OCR Cut (Scoop.co.nz)
Kiwibank has reacted immediately to the cut in the Official Cash Rate by reducing all home loan rates. The bank is now offering a one-year fixed rate of 6.49% p.a. and a variable rate of 7.45%.
- Fixed-rate trap snares home owners (Sydney Morning Herald)
More than 40,000 unlucky Aussies are being denied any saving from the recent interest rate cuts.
- (AFX UK Focus) 2008-12-04 16:30 Bernanke - need to do more to halt foreclosures (Interactive Investor)
WASHINGTON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday urged more aggressive action to halt home foreclosures, and said write-downs of principal may need to be part those efforts. "Despite good-faith efforts by both the private and public sectors, the foreclosure rate remains too high, with adverse consequences for both those directly involved and for the broader ...
- Five Home-buying Myths (Carteret County News-Times)
(ARA) - As first-time homebuyers grow curious about the home-buying process, they often turn to friends and family for advice about purchasing a home. While these sources can provide useful tips and information, they also may perpetuate some common home-buying myths.
- Bernanke urges action to halt foreclosures (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday urged more aggressive steps to halt home foreclosures and said government-funded programs could help strapped homeowners.
- Home Equity Credit Lines | DoItYourself.com
And lenders are offering these home equity credit lines in a variety of ways. ... or use the account, such as an appraisal, a credit report, or attorneys' fees. ...
- Home Equity Credit: Definition and Much More from Answers.com
Home Equity Credit Loan secured by equity value in a borrower's home. ... Most home equity loans require an initial sign-up fee and an Appraisal of the ...
- HOME EQUITY CREDIT LINES
When opening a home equity credit line, expect these ... charges to open or use the account, such as an appraisal, a credit. report, or attorneys' fees. ...
- Home Equity Loan Rate | Credit Lender | 2nd Mortgage - E-LOAN
... has received your title and appraisal information as well as any additional ... Home Equity Loans Auto Loans Unsecured Personal Loans Student Loans Credit Cards ...
- Home Equity Credit Lines
And lenders are offering these home equity credit lines in a variety of ways. ... or use the account, such as an appraisal, a credit report, or attorneys' fees. ...
- Citibank Home Equity Loan and Home Equity Line of Credit
Looking for a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit? ... Any property evaluation or appraisal required at time of application may affect ...
- E-LOAN: Equity Rates for Home Equity Loans | Line of Credit | HELOC ...
... home equity products including fixed loans, home equity ... No appraisal or lender fees. Mobile notary comes to you. Ideal for those with little or no equity ...
|
|
|