Home Equity

Home Equity Debt Consolidation Loans - 3 Things To Know

Decided to consolidate your debt with a Home Equity Loan? That may be a very smart idea! Consolidating your debt allows you to make just one monthly payment, and home equity loans tend to have low interest rates and tax perks too, which could save you money. But before you borrow from the equity in your home, remember these three things:

It's not available to everyone.

Just because you "own" your home doesn't mean you'll be able to get a Home Equity Loan. The equity you have equals the value of your home minus the amount you still owe on it. So if you only purchased your home recently--or home values have fallen in your neighborhood--you might not have any available equity. Moreover, a lender will also assess your credit and financial situation--such as your credit score, current employment and income--before approving your loan application. Although it's a lot easier to get approved for a home equity loan than other types of loans, some borrowers may not qualify.

Your home is at risk.

With a Home Equity Loan, your house is collateral for the loan. So if you have problems making payments, the bank or lender can actually repossess your house. In general, you should only borrow from a home equity loan for debt consolidation if you're absolutely certain that you'll be able to make the monthly payments.

You may not save as much as you think.

People assume the interest they pay on a Home Equity Loan is tax deductible, and in most cases they're right. However, there are some states in which Home Equity Loan interest is not tax deductible, so check out the rules and regulations in your area before you sign up for the loan. Also, watch out for fees, charges and other extra costs that may be attached to your loan. Paying lots of points and fees could mean that you're not saving as much as you think with your Home Equity Loan.

Although a Home Equity Loan can be a smart, low-cost way to consolidate debt, make sure you carefully research your decision--and weigh the pros and cons--before signing on the dotted line.

Try using one of ABC Loan Guide's Recommended Debt Consolidation Home Equity Loan Lenders.

View our recommended companies for Debt Consolidation Services. Also, view our recommended sources for a Bad Credit Home Equity Loan.

Home Equity News:

Bing: home equity site:msnbc.msn.com
Search results

Home equity loans drying up for some - Business - Personal finance ...
Like many homeowners during the housing boom, Lynnette Madden and her husband decided to open a home equity line of credit about a year and a half ago as ...
Americans' home equity near a record low - Business - Real estate ...
WASHINGTON ? Falling U.S. home prices have shrunk equity so much that the proportion of their homes that Americans actually own is near its lowest point ...
Home equity lines have dried up across U.S. - Business - Personal ...
Home equity lines have dried up across U.S. As home prices collapse, banks cut off credit, further souring the economy Below:
Late payments for home equity loans rise - Business - Real estate ...
WASHINGTON ? 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 ...
Retirees no longer count on home equity - Business - Personal ...
Many Americans have recently found themselves changing retirement plans after losing a substantial amount of home equity as the housing market and the ...
Equity in Americans? homes falls to historic low - Business ...
NEW YORK ? The equity Americans have in their most important asset ? their homes ? has dropped to its lowest level since the end of World War II ...
Students get creative to pay off loans - Business - Personal ...
Lines of credit typically work like a credit card, with a limit and a revolving balance: the average home-equity line of credit currently has an interest rate ...
Use of home equity hits a four-year low - Business - Real estate ...
Use of home equity hits a four-year low Freddie Mac report cites falling residence values, stricter lending standards Below:
Ford, Toyota are pinning their hopes on China - Business - Autos ...
NEW YORK ? Ford Motor Co. plans to build a new assembly plant in China ... $30K home equity loan FICO: 5.75%
Cities sue, invest to stop foreclosures - Business - Real estate ...
These stem from lost tax revenue and jobs as well as slower consumer spending that come with home equity declines, and don?t even include the financial toll ...

Newsfeed display by CaRP