The Basics

Essentially, a home equity loan involves using your home as collateral in order to obtain a revolving line of credit. Home equity loans can be used for many different things, though they should not be used for everyday items.

Some reasons why homeowners apply for equity loans include:

• School Tuition
• Home Improvements
• Medical Bills

If you are seeking a loan to help you pay bills, fund a vacation, or pay for car repairs, then you should look into other types of loans. Keep in mind that you home is on the line when you are approved for a home equity loan.

What to Look For

Should you decide to go ahead with a home equity loan, there are a couple of things that you’ll need to be aware of. First and foremost, make sure that you understand all loan terms. If you come across any jargon or figures that you don’t understand, be sure to ask all necessary questions.

Next, take into account the following fees that will apply to your home loan:

• Appraisal costs: property appraisal costs
• Application fees: sometimes these fees are refunded
• Up-front costs: includes “point” costs
• Closing costs: attorney fees, mortgage fees, filing fees, and other fees
• Other Fees: membership and maintenance fees

When all is said and done, you could wind up paying hundreds of dollars in fees. Finally, take a good look at how you plan to repay your home equity loan.

Repayment

Many borrowers forget to create a solid repayment plan prior to applying for a loan. Not only is this a mistake, it is a mistake that can effectively create a financial noose around your neck. Before you apply for a loan, think about how you intend to repay that loan.

Some home equity loan plans will allow you to make set monthly payments towards your loan. However, you should be aware that these monthly payments may not actually be enough to pay off the loan at the end of the loan term.

Other loans include an interest only payment plan. Interest only plans will solely allow you to pay interest on a loan, which means that you will have to pay the entire loan amount once that loan term is up. For example, if you borrow $20,000 you will still have to pay that total amount at the end of the loan term – even if you have been making interest payments for months. In short, taking out a home equity loan requires a sound repayment plan that includes any additional fees. While some lenders will allow you to pay more than the minimum monthly amount, this is not always the case.

A home equity loan may sound like a great idea, but unless you know all the ins and outs of a loan, you could be in for more trouble than you originally bargained for.

Photo by linda yvonne