An Introduction to Home Equity Loans

Tip! Reverse Mortgage - Retirees remaining in their homes can still tap their home equity as a source of retirement income. An entire industry has grown up around the 'reverse mortgage' concept which allows seniors over 62 to tap into their home's value without making any repayments during their lifetime.

Whether you need money for medical bills, college, or home repairs, a home equity loan might be the right choice for you. A home equity loan is a loan in which the borrower uses the equity in his or her home as collateral. There are two types of home equity loans; closed-end home equity loans, and open-end home equity loans.

The closed end home equtiy loan is like a traditional loan, and is commonly called a "second mortgage". With the closed end home equity loan, the borrower recieves the full loan amount at the time of the loan's closing. The loan is then to be paid back by the borrower in monthly payments. The monthly payments are fixed, and the loan has to be paid in full during a specific period of time, usually 10-15 years.

An open end home equity loan is a lot more flexible compared to a closed end home equity loan. But instead of getting a lump-sum amount like the closed end loan, the borrower gets a line of credit. With an open end home equity loan, the borrower can choose how much money to borrow against the home's equity. The borrower can also choose when to borrow the money. Open end home equity loans usually have a variable interest rate.

When shopping around for a home equity loan, be very carefull of the scams that exist. Some lenders try to take advantage of borrowers with bad credit or little income. They may lend you a loan that you can't possiblly afford. It is important to pick a reputable lender by doing your research. Just because a lender has the lowest closing costs does not make that lender the best choice.

For more information about Home Equity Loans, visit http://www.equityloanadvice.com

Home Equity News:

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Home equity loans drying up for some - Personal finance- msnbc.com
Some homeowners are finding that even with great credit and 20 percent or more home equity, getting a line of credit on that equity can be difficult or impossible.
Equity in Americans? homes falls to historic low - Mortgage Mess ...
The equity Americans have in their most important asset ? their homes ? has dropped to its lowest level since the end of World War II.
Use of home equity hits a four-year low - Real estate- msnbc.com
The amount of money Americans pulled out of their homes is at a four-year low as homeowners battle falling home values and stricter standards among lenders, Freddie Mac said ...
Morgan Stanley to freeze home-equity lines - Mortgage Mess- msnbc.com
Morgan Stanley told thousands of clients this week that they will not be allowed to withdraw money on their home-equity credit lines, according to a news report.
Late payments for home equity loans rise - Real estate- msnbc.com
Late payments on home equity loans climbed to a 1½-year high in the opening quarter of this year, while delinquencies on credit card bills fell, painting a mixed picture of how ...
Late payments rise on home-equity loans - Stocks & economy- msnbc.com
Late payments on certain auto and home equity loans climbed in the final quarter of last year, while delinquencies on credit card bills largely held steady, suggesting some U.S ...
BofA tackling debt worries by cutting home-equity lines - Top Stories ...
Bank of America Corp. is tightening up its home-equity lending business, turning down applications and turning off credit lines in struggling housing markets.
Should I get a home equity credit line? - Answer desk- msnbc.com
Free money In this week's video Answer Desk, msnbc.com's John W. Schoen has some advice on how to avoid giving the government more of your money than you need to.
How to tell if now is the time to refinance - Personal finance- msnbc ...
You have at least 10 percent equity in your home and aren?t FHA-eligible. To get good rates, you?ll need to have equity in the home. In most markets, 10 percent equity is a ...
Morgan Stanley to freeze home-equity lines - Today Technology & Money ...
Morgan Stanley told thousands of clients this week that they will not be allowed to withdraw money on their home-equity credit lines, according to a news report. ... Morgan Stanley ...

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