Home Equity

Home Equity Loan Approval Is Swift

Quick home equity loans are easy to get and qualify for. Whether you are looking to remodel your home, pay off high-interest credit card debt, go on that dream vacation, or send your children to college, a quick home equity loan or line of credit may be the perfect solution.

Don't Rush In

Before you run out and sign the first offer that comes to you, here are some things to consider so that you can make sure you get a home equity loan right for your needs. Simply stated, home equity financing uses the equity you have in your home (home value minus what's owed) to secure a loan. Because of this added security, lenders typically offer better interest rates than when compared to unsecured loans, auto loans, or other loans backed by collateral that might depreciate over time.

With most quick home equity loans, you'll be able to borrow an amount equal to 80% of your equity. For example, if your home is worth $200,000 and you still owe $160,000 then you could probably borrow up to $32,000 (80% of $40,000). Different than mortgage lending, home equity financing can actually take the form of two different kinds of financing, a loan or a line of credit.

A Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan, which is also known as a second mortgage, is no different than any other type of personal loan. It's simply a fixed amount of money that must be repaid over time in accordance with the terms. In almost all cases, a home equity lender will advance the full amount of your borrowing limit to you once you are approved. Then, you agree to pay a set amount each month that is based on the principal and interest, until the loan is repaid in full.

A Home Equity Line of Credit

In this scenario, you're approved for a revolving credit line up to a certain limit as decided by the lender. This means that you can borrow and then repay only what you need and only when you need it. Whether you write a check, use a "debit card" or request a bank transfer of available funds, you're allowed to obtain money during the open borrowing period. The interest rate generally varies depending on when you borrow the funds and your monthly payments will depend on the charges still outstanding on your line of credit.

A big benefit of home equity loans is that you may be able to deduct the interest paid on loans up to $100,000 if married and filing joint, or $50,000 if married and filing separately. Regardless of how you use the home equity loan or line of credit, the interest you pay is generally tax deductible. This simply means that you don't have to use the home equity proceeds for capital improvements.