Home equity loan can be a difficult concept for the people who have never dealt with home ownership earlier. So, we define equity as the financial value of a property or business beyond any amounts payable on mortgages, liens, claims, etc. In short, home equity is how many houses the person has earned.
Equity is basically the difference between the market value of a property and the claims held against it. It is the difference between the price for which a property could be sold and the total debts registered against it. For example, if your house is worth $150,000 and you owe $110,000 then your equity is $ 40,000. Then, you get home equity loan depending on the credit and many other factors for $40,000 that you have built up in equity.
There are two types of Home Equity Loan:
- Standard Home Equity Loan
- Home Equity Line of Credit
Standard Home Equity Loan is the loan that is assured by your home or is secured by the equity in a home. This type is a better option if you need a large amount of loan and for long term.
Standard home equity loan is also known as Second Mortgage or equity loan. Home equity loan can help people pay off their big interest rates, non tax-deductible customer’s debt or meet some other short term needs.
A standard home equity loan is a closed-end loan that can have a fixed term, a fixed rate, and fixed monthly payments. It can carry a variable finance charge rate that switches with a federal interest rate. The amount of the loan is usually made available in a lump sum.
Home Equity Line of Credit is a loan option if you need a smaller amount of loan and for short term. This loan type provides you an option of withdrawing money from an equity account when you need it. The home equity line of credit is an "on demand" source of funds that a borrower can access and pay back as needed.
This type of loan has fluctuating rate of interest. The borrower has to only pay the interest if he carries a balance because this line of credit are essentially a revolving line of credit, like a credit card but with a much lower rate because the line of credit is secured by your home. The borrower can tap the credit line simply by writing a check, and pay back the loan as quickly or as slowly as the borrower like, as long as he meets the minimum payment each month.
Benefits of Home Equity Loan are:
- Home Equity loan can be the best option if you need to repair or reconstruct your home for debt consolidation or for medical or educational expenses.
- It can be used to get rid of credit card debts.
- It can be used to meet your educational loans.
- It can be used for investment in other real estate.
- It can be used to pay off your medical debt.
- It can be used to refinance your other debt.
- It can be used for home improvement.
- It can be used for some major purchases and expenses.
- It can be used for debt consolidation.
Home Equity Loan can be used for home improvement projects because home improvement can be costly and paying that cost might be difficult. Home equity loan provides good interest rates.
Studying in a college has become very expensive these days. Home equity loan can also be used for paying college expenses. This type of loan helps people who have financial problems so that they can afford the college expenses.
It does not matter what is your decision but whenever you take a home equity loan it should be taken from a trusted and well reputed lender. As a whole, home equity loan is a better option while taking loan because it is beneficial in all aspects.
By : Prerna Joneja
