An investigation on second mortgage loans results in a barrage of terms, two of which are fixed rate home equity loans and home equity lines of credit. When there are similarities between these and other household loans, they still have their own unique attributes. Both have their own place as valuable resources in the homeowner’s fiscal arsenal as ways to tap into a home’s equity.
Function
Both home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, also called HELOCs, use the worth of a house for collateral to secure the loan. While you can repay either at any time, as soon as you sell or refinance the house you must repay the home equity loan or HELOC in full. Many wrongly refer to them as second mortgages, because they aren’t the principal loan on a house, but they aren’t part of the original purchase of the house so they are technically not a mortgage.
Home Equity Loans
Home equity loans are one-time loans made against the equity in a house that typically have a shorter loan term than mortgages, such as 10 to 15 decades rather than 30. They are compensated in a lump sum amount and can be used to pay off bills, make purchases, finance home improvement jobs or could be obtained as cash. Various lenders have different rules as to the highest percentage of a home’s worth they’ll loan for a particular purpose. A lender may allow you to borrow up to 90 percent of your home’s worth for paying off bills or decreasing debt, but might only allow you to borrow up to 85 percent if you’re taking the cash in cash.
Types
Home equity loans are all available as fixed rate loans and adjustable rate loans. Fixed rate home equity loans feature an interest rate that remains the same during the life span of their loan. Adjustable rate loans have an initial rate of as much as two percent under a fixed rate home equity loan, but initial rate adjusts after a specified interval. Many homeowners enjoy a fixed rate home equity loan, especially when rates are reduced, because they can organize their funds not be surprised by greater payments due to their loan adjusting upwards.
HELOCs
Unilike house equity loans, HELOCs aren’t loans at all, but are open lines of credit which you can use at any given moment in a specified interval. When applying for a HELOC, your lender approves you for a maximum credit limit based on the value of your house. The creditor can correct the limit up or down, or cancel the credit line, dependent on changes from the house worth or variables like your payment and credit history. HELOCS function much as a credit card–your credit is revived as you pay it back.
Features
HELOCs traditionally feature variable rates that change based on the prevailing prime rate. You might have a minimal payment because, for example credit cards, so many HELOCS only ask that you cover a very small percentage of everything you have borrowed from the payment. Your lender may ask that you take out a minimum amount during the life span of this HELOC.