| Using Your Home Equity Wisely (mortgage refinance)
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Using Your Home Equity Wisely
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Home Mortgage Refinancing Risks
If mortgage payments are suddenly higher, the most probable aspect to blame would be the ever-rising mortgage interest rates. The reason is that since 2004 the Federal Reserve Board has raised the fed-funds rate, which influences mortgage interest rates, 17 times. In recent years, many people have taken advantage of near-record-low interest rates while scooping for real estate properties. In order... Read mortgage refinance article
Refinance Your Car Loan
Paying your monthly bills can always put a hole in your pocket at certain times of the month, so it really pays to find new ways to save money. Mortgage payments and car payments are both bills that will specifically take large chunks of your bank account.
Finding ways to save on your mortgage payment is not always that easy. But one of the easiest ways to save big bucks on your monthly... Read mortgage refinance article
Using Your Home Equity Wisely
Americans saw the value of their homes jump an average of 13 percent over the past year, according to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. This has made it easier than ever for many homeowners to qualify for a home equity loan or line of credit. With their low interest rates, these secured forms of credit can be your most effective way to borrow money. Plus, loans of up to $100,000 often offer the added benefit of being tax deductible (check with your tax advisor). But it's important to choose the right home equity loan for your needs and to use it wisely.
Smart Borrowing
Financing a renovation that will add value to your home, such as a new kitchen or a second bathroom, or helping with your child's college tuition, are valid reasons to borrow on the strength of your home equity. This is especially true since the borrowing costs are generally much less expensive than debt that is not secured by collateral.
By the same token, shifting hefty balances you owe on credit cards to a home equity loan can be a good move. Your credit cards are likely charging annual interest of 13 percent or more, so consolidating that debt with a home equity loan can easily slash your borrowing costs in half.
Remember though, the idea is to eliminate your debt, not make room for more of it.
A home equity loan isn't free money. At the end of the day, your home is what's backing the loan. So if you miss payments, the lender could take possession of your home.
There are also important differences between a home equity line of credit and a home equity loan -- differences that can help you determine which is a better choice for you.
Home Equity Line of Credit
A home equity line of credit (HELOC) allows you to use as much or as little of your pre-approved limit as you like. Plus, you are charged interest only on the portion of credit you are currently using, which keeps borrowing costs low. The rate of interest floats slightly above the prime rate.
This flexibility is helpful if you're looking to do a series of small home renovations over a long period of time, or perhaps finance the start-up of a home-based business.
* The advantage: If the prime rate decreases, your cost of borrowing will become cheaper, and interest rates are still very low compared to previous decades.
* The disadvantage: If the prime rate increases, your borrowing costs will increase as well. If you find it difficult to squeeze in credit-line repayments now, you may risk missing some repayments altogether when interest rates go up.
Also, depending on the terms of your particular HELOC, you may be required to pay only the interest accrued each month. On the upside, this means your minimum payments will be low during the interest-only period. On the downside, you will not be rebuilding any of that valuable home equity you've just borrowed against.
When the interest-only period ends, you will be faced with one of two scenarios. You may be required to begin paying back the loan principal (the original amount you borrowed). That means your monthly payments will increase, and if you don't have enough cash coming in to cover those larger payments, you could be in trouble. Or you may be facing what's called a balloon payment, meaning you must pay the entire outstanding balance of your HELOC in full.
Always try to pay more than the minimum each month, so you are constantly chipping away at your loan principal.
Home Equity Loan
A home equity loan has a fixed interest rate. You receive the full amount of the loan in a lump sum, which makes it a good choice for large, one-shot expenses, such as a home renovation or debt consolidation. And because you must pay it back in regular increments over a specified period of time -- often 10 to 15 years -- a home equity loan offers a measure of built-in discipline for those who may be tempted to use the "interest-only" payment option offered by some HELOCs.
At the end of the repayment schedule, a home equity loan will be repaid in full.
Loan-to-value ratio The general rule is you can borrow 75 to 80 percent of your home's current appraised value, minus what you owe on your first mortgage. This is called the loan-to-value ratio (LTV). For example, if your home is worth $200,000 and you owe $100,000 on your current mortgage, you could borrow an additional $60,000 and still be within an LTV of 80 percent. Staying within the sensible 75 to 80 percent range will help you avoid repayment problems down the road. However, some lenders have begun to offer a "high-LTV" option in which you can borrow up to 125 percent of your home's equity. Beware: If you decide to move because of a job transfer or other reasons, the sale of your home may not provide you with enough money to pay off both your mortgage and the outstanding home equity loan.
Borrowing conservatively is always wise.
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Home Mortgage Refinance Loan Company
Mortgage loans are one of the largest financial commitments you can make. Because you will be paying on the loan for as long as thirty or more years, it is important to choose the right mortgage loan for your financial situation. If you're unhappy with your existing mortgage and think you can qualify for a better loan, mortgage refinancing can save you a lot of money if you go about it correctly. Here are several tips to help you choose the right home mortgage refinance loan while avoiding costly mistakes.
Home mortgage refinance loans come in many varieties; there is literally a loan for every financial situation. Choose the right loan type and you could save thousands of dollars; choose wrong and you could lose your home.
What to Consider Before Applying for a New Home Mortgage Refinance Loan
The most common reason for mortgage refinancing is to save money. If you can lock in a lower mortgage rate you will lower your monthly payment amount and reduce the overall finance charges you pay over the life of your mortgage. Even if you are unable to qualify for a lower mortgage rate, you can still reduce your monthly payment amount by changing the term length of your new home mortgage refinance loan. Term length is the amount of time you have to repay the mortgage; common mortgage term lengths are 15 or 30 years. There are now 40 and 50 year terms that will allow you to significantly lower your monthly payment amount.
The type of interest rate you choose for your home mortgage refinance loan determines the amount of risk for your loan. There are two types of mortgage rates: adjustable interest rates and fixed interest rates. Mortgages with adjustable interest rates typically come with lower interest rates but have greater risk. Fixed rate mortgages come with slightly higher interest rates but have significantly less risk and a fixed monthly payment you can plan your monthly budget around.
Another common reason for taking out a home mortgage refinance loan is to cash out equity in your home. To borrow against the equity in your home your new home mortgage refinance loan will be for a larger amount than you owe on your existing mortgage. The difference between the amount you owe and what you borrow is paid to you in cash. You can use this money for any reason; many homeowners consolidate their bills, pay for home repairs or renovations, or even purchase a new car.
You can learn more about your home mortgage refinance options, including costly mistakes to avoid by registering for a free mortgage tutorial.
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