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 Thu. March / 28 / 2024 Types of Mortgage Refinance Options Bankrate.com Discover Home Loans Review 2024 - Mortgages Business Insider Refinancing - Learning Center Zing! Blog by Quicken Loans How to Refinance Your Mortgage NerdWallet Mortgage Interest Rates Today, March 28, 2024 | Rates Are Down This Week. Will They Stay That Way? Business Insider Will Mortgage Rates Go Down in 2024? What Homebuyers Should Expect Business Insider Underwater Mortgage: What To Do Bankrate.com Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider When to Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, March 27, 2024 | Rates Down Slightly as Homebuying Season Ramps Up Business Insider 30-year refinance rates: What to know CNN Underscored The best mortgage lenders for refinancing in March 2024 CNN Underscored 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider Mastering Rate-and-Term Refinance: a Complete Explainer Business Insider Mortgage demand falls again HousingWire Mortgage Relief and Mortgage Assistance Programs [2024 ] The Mortgage Reports Current mortgage refinance rates CNN Underscored Should You Refinance Your Mortgage In 2024? Bankrate.com Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders In 2024 Bankrate.com Current mortgage interest rates: Mortgage rates today CNN Underscored Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of March 2024 Business Insider VA Refinance Rates - Current VA Loan Refinance Rates Today Business Insider Current FHA Refinance Rates Today - Mortgages Business Insider Refinance Requirements: What You Need to Refinance Your Home in 2024 The Mortgage Reports When to Refinance Mortgage: Is it Time? - Buy Side from WSJ The Wall Street Journal Mortgage Rates This Week NerdWallet Conventional Refinance Rates and Guidelines for 2024 The Mortgage Reports How Soon Can You Refinance a Mortgage Loan? 2024 Rules The Mortgage Reports How To Refinance An Underwater Mortgage Bankrate.com How Soon Can You Refinance a Mortgage? NerdWallet Current 15-year refinance rates — and lenders that offer them CNN Underscored Mortgage Rates Chart | Historical and Current Rate Trends The Mortgage Reports Best Refinance Lenders of March 2024: Refinance Your Mortgage The Motley Fool Can You Refinance With No Income Verification in 2024? The Mortgage Reports What Credit Score Do I Need To Refinance? Bankrate.com Should I Refinance My Mortgage Now? When to Refinance As Rates Drop Business Insider Office of Research blog: A look at cash-out refinance mortgages and their borrowers between 2013 to 2023 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau How To Get Equity Out Of A Paid-Off House Bankrate.com CFPB Releases Study of Refinance Mortgage Loans Between 2013 and 2023 Consumer Finance Monitor How To Get The Best Refinance Rate Bankrate.com Save up to $1,500 on a Mortgage Refinance With the New FHFA Program Business Insider Should You Refinance Halfway Through Your Mortgage? Bankrate.com
|