Home Equity Line of Credit - Great for Remodeling ProjectsMany homeowners are lucky enough to find a house that represents exactly what they want in a home. They buy it, make the payments on it, and live more or less happily ever after. Others are not so fortunate. Some buyers who live in a pricey market may have to settle for less house than they need, hoping to find a solution to their lack of space later. A third group of buyers may find that their housing needs change over time, as their family size increases. What can be done in these situations? A common solution to these problems is to add on to the house, often accomplished by converting a garage to a room, adding a room over the garage, or simply adding a room somewhere else on the property. For these projects, a home equity loan is a great source of financing. The home itself is used as collateral for the loan, and the addition actually increases the value of the house. As most of these projects involve a fixed cost, the payments can be structured at a fixed interest rate over a specific period of time. But what about the do-it-yourself project? What if the problem with the home isn't a lack of space, but a lack of taste on the part of previous owners? Is there a better financing choice in these situations? If your problem is gold appliances, lime green carpet, and smiley face wallpaper, you may be looking at a remodeling project of indeterminate duration. For such a project, a better financing choice would be a home equity line of credit, or HELOC. A line of credit offers greater flexibility, both in interest rates and repayment terms, than a traditional line of credit. The loan amount is based on the amount of equity in the home, but the funds aren't dispersed all at once. Instead, the borrower is given a checkbook, a special credit card, or both and can use them to draw upon funds at his or her leisure. Payments only apply when money is actually borrowed, and the repayment plans can be arranged with both fixed and adjustable interest rates, depending on the lender. This is ideal financing for someone who has purchased a fixer-upper home that needs a variety of changes, repairs, or modifications. The credit card can easily be used to purchase paint, drapes, flooring, appliances or whatever the homeowner requires to make the home fit their needs. If you just need to hire a contractor to add a gameroom to your home, a traditional home equity loan would work well. For ongoing projects with indefinite timeframes and budgets, a home equity line of credit may be the best choice. ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on mortgages and home equity loans.
MORE RESOURCES updated Mon. October / 07 / 2024 Column | You don’t have to refinance your mortgage to cut your interest The Washington Post Housing market update: More than 4 million homeowners could refinance their mortgages - Fast Company Mortgage and refinance rates today, October 6, 2024: Rates increase in response to jobs report Yahoo Finance Roundup: Refinance demand / Rouses denied / Tax reform plan Greater Baton Rouge Business Report Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 6, 2024 | Rates up As Big Fed Cuts Become Less Likely Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, October 5, 2024: Rates surpass 6% for the first time in weeks Yahoo Finance Should You Refinance Your Mortgage After the Fed’s Interest Rate Cut? The New York Times These Are the Pros and Cons of a Cash-Out Mortgage Refinance U.S News & World Report Money Mortgage Refinance Rates Hit a 2-Week High Investopedia What are today's mortgage refinance rates? Yahoo Finance Best mortgage refinance lenders of October 2024 Yahoo Finance Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of October 2024 Business Insider Today's Refinance Rates by State – Sept. 30, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 4, 2024 | Rates Up Following Strong Jobs Report Business Insider Is Now the Right Time to Refinance Your Mortgage? Investopedia Refinance Rates Today: Compare Mortgage Refinance Offers Business Insider Will Mortgage Rates Fall More In October? Bankrate.com 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider Mortgage Refinance In Canada Forbes Should You Refinance Your Mortgage In 2024? Bankrate.com Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 5, 2024 | Rates Tick up Near 6% in Response to Labor Market Strength Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 1, 2024 | Rates Fell Far in September. Will They Drop This Month Too? Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 2, 2024 | Rates Hold Under 6% as Markets Wait for Fresh Jobs Data Business Insider Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop Back Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Hold Near 19-Month Low Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Keep Moving Higher Investopedia How to Decide If a Mortgage Refinance Is Right for You U.S News & World Report Money Should You Refinance Your Mortgage Now That the Fed Just Cut Rates? Kiplinger's Personal Finance Today's Refinance Rates by State – Oct. 1, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Are Down, But Should You Refi to a 30-, 20-, or 15-Year Mortgage? Investopedia Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 3, 2024 | Rates Stay Put as Labor Market Continues to Show Strength Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, September 30, 2024 | Rates Are Low. Will They Go Lower This Year? Business Insider Mortgage Refinance Rates Shoot Up from 19-Month Low Investopedia The Mortgage Refinance Window Finally Cracks Open Bankrate.com What current mortgage refinance rates mean for your situation CNN Underscored Experts urge due diligence before mortgage refinance Webcenter Fairbanks 30-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates Sink to Cheapest Level Since Early 2023 – Sept. 12, 2024 Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Sept. 19, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage rates are down now that the Fed has started cutting rates. Is it time to consider refinancing? Business Insider Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop for a Third Day Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop – Sept. 5, 2024 Investopedia 6 times when it makes sense to refinance your mortgage Yahoo Finance Current Mortgage Rates: See How Today's Rates Compare Business Insider The best mortgage refinancing lenders in October 2024, now that the Fed has lowered rates CNN Underscored Don't get too excited about cheaper mortgages quite yet Business Insider
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