Home  |  Article Listing  |  eBooks & Resources  |  Books & DVDs  |  Legal  |  Contact










Home Equity Lines of Credit Vs. Other Conventional Loans


When it comes to getting money, you have two basic options. If you are a homeowner you can choose to take out a home equity line or credit (HELOC), or you can take out a conventional loan. Both of these products will provide you with the funds needed, but the similarities end there. With varying interest rates and repayment options, you have a wide array of choices. We will discuss the differences between these two options, and then decide on which one is best for the typical homeowner. Remember, that everyone's situation is different, so use your best judgment when choosing a loan product.

You may already be familiar with a traditional loan product. These are usually based on your credit rating and your ability to repay the loan. The lender will review your past tax returns, credit score, as well as your salary. They may also factor in your income potential in the near future, if you are currently enrolled in a higher education program or up for a promotion soon. The main benefit of such a loan is that you have little at stake if you fail to repay the loan. They may have the ability to garnish your wages or hurt your credit rating, but you will be able to keep your home. The main disadvantage to this type of loan is that you can expect to pay a much higher interest rate than that of a home equity loan. You may also find yourself unable to take out as much as you would with a HELOC.

A Home Equity Line of Credit is a completely different time of loan. The bank will determine the amount of equity that you currently have in your home (value of the home- amount of liens= equity). They will then allow you a credit line that is a percentage of your equity. You will likely receive checks or a bank card that will allow you to make withdrawals on your own schedule. You can borrow as little, or as much as you want as long as it is within your credit limit. You will then make monthly payments based on the balance of the loan. Most lines of credit will require a minimum payment to cover interest, but the actual payment amount is up to you. The process is very similar to that of a regular credit card, except that you have your home backing up your purchases. The main advantage to this type of loan is that you can usually enjoy a much lower interest rate, and pay as much or as little during the life of the loan. The main disadvantage is that if you fail to pay the balance off, you could lose your home. So it is important to only take out what you can repay.

Which one is better? It all depends on your personal situation. If you have had trouble in the past with credit cards and revolving credit, a HELOC could be a very dangerous thing. Maxing out your HELOC has a lot more at stake than maxing out a typical credit card. So it is important that you have your finances and budget in place, prior to taking out such a loan. If your credit is poor, a HELOC may give you options where a traditional loan would not. Bottom line; understand your situation and you should have no trouble deciding the right loan product for your needs.

John Ross is a freelance author, providing tips and ideas relating to home equity loans. You can find more of his articles at: home equity loan company, online home equity loans, and fixed rate home equity loan. The Loanchbox is a user friendly website designed to teach the basics behind home equity loans




MORE RESOURCES:

Bloomberg

Pros and Cons of a Mortgage Refinance
FreeRateUpdate.com
Many homeowners are jumping on the opportunity to save money with a mortgage refinance at the current low mortgage rates. With mortgage rates at historically low levels, some homeowners have refinanced more than once in the past several years which is ...
HARP Refi May Delay PMI CancellationNASDAQ
New HARP Could Help Up to 6.7 MillionMortgageLoan.com

all 53 news articles »


Mortgage-refinance bill a dangerous deal
Arizona Republic
by Robert Robb, columnist - Feb. 10, 2012 12:00 AM State Sen. Michele Reagan wants to help out underwater homeowners in the worst way. And she has succeeded with SB 1451 -- it's hard to imagine a worse bill. Reagan proposes to establish a state agency ...



Housing Wire

Obama pressures Congress on mortgage refinance program
Fox News
WASHINGTON – President Obama is rallying support for his plan to expand government assistance to homeowners, pressuring Congress to help lower lending rates for millions of strapped homeowners. Obama, in his radio and Internet address Saturday, ...
President Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Just a Bid for VotesYahoo! Contributors Network
Obama Unveils Mortgage Refinance EndeavorsMortgageorb
New Obama mortgage refinance plan to near $10 billionHousing Wire
Go Banking Rates -CBS Moneywatch -MarketWatch
all 1,239 news articles »


MonitorBankRates.com

Mortgage Refinance Rates: 15 Year Refinance Mortgage Rates at 3.29%
MonitorBankRates.com
Mortgage refinance rates on 30 year conforming home loans are averaging 3.98%, unchanged from yesterday's average 30 year mortgage refinance rate. Mortgage refinance rates today on 15 year home mortgage loans are averaging 3.29%, down from yesterday's ...

and more »


Fox News

Obama Proposes Mortgage-Refinance Plan
Wall Street Journal
By NICK TIMIRAOS President Barack Obama called on Congress during Tuesday's State of the Union address to approve new legislation that would give all homeowners who are current on their mortgages the opportunity to refinance at record low mortgage ...
Will Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Be D.O.A.?U.S. News & World Report
Obama proposes mortgage refinance programPolitico (blog)
Obama proposes new mortgage refinance programHousing Wire
Daily Caller
all 314 news articles »


International Business Times

FOX 11 News Discussion: State of the Union
MyFox Los Angeles
And he aimed a pitch at homeowners, announcing a new mortgage refinance program with "historically low interest rates" that "gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3000 a year on their mortgage." He added, "A small fee on the ...
Winning Words, But Not a WinnerU.S. News & World Report
Obama State of the Union 2012: Mortgage Refinance Changes Face ObstaclesInternational Business Times

all 12,250 news articles »


CBS Local

Six Questions on Obama's Mortgage Refinance Proposal
Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Nick Timiraos President Barack Obama said Tuesday night in his State of the Union address that he would send a plan to Congress to allow all homeowners who are current on their mortgages to refinance. Here's a quick look at the proposal: How is this ...
Obama plan could help refinance Bay Area mortgagesSan Francisco Chronicle

all 19 news articles »


TIME

Who Qualifies for the $26 Billion Foreclosure Settlement?
TIME
First, the basic terms of the settlement: Under the deal, $20 billion will be allocated to principal reductions and mortgage refinance assistance, and $1.5 billion to homeowners who were improperly foreclosed upon — victims of the so-called ...

and more »


KOMO News

Living large? Get the best rate on your jumbo mortgage refinance
NASDAQ
If you buy apparel from "big and tall" clothing stores, you're used to paying more and having less to choose from. "Regular guys," on the other hand, benefit from a wider selection of products and more competition between retailers.
Mortgage Interest Rates Move Higher: 15 Year Mortgage Interest Rates at 3.34%MonitorBankRates.com

all 113 news articles »


Anchor Bancorp Wisconsin Inc. Announces Third Quarter Results
MarketWatch (press release)
Revenues in the quarter ending September 30, 2011, were unfavorably impacted by a $5.1 million impairment charge on the capitalized mortgage servicing rights asset due to lower interest rates and the resultant mortgage refinance activity.

and more »

Google News


Home | Privacy Policy & Legal Information | Contact

systemmortgage.com © 2007 | site by webbizinabox.info