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Monday, December 17, 2007

Home Equity Loan Rates - Pros And Cons

By Terry Edwards

Have you owned your home for a least a couple of years? If so, you most likely have some home equity built up then. In today's real estate market, building up cash equity in your home happens rapidly.

A home equity loan allows you to borrow the equity you've built up in your home. Keep in mind that there are home equity loan rate pros and cons. This article will address some of the major ones.

Pros

A home equity can be a good deal if you're needing access to a large amount of money. You can borrow the money and repay it over a 5-10-15 year period at very favorable interest charges.

You can use the proceeds from a home equity loan for anything you want, from making home improvements to taking a vacation. It's your money to use as you wish.

A home equity loan can be a good way of paying for college education expenses.

A home equity loan is much easier to obtain than any other type of conventional loan.

Cons

A home equity loan is a loan, and you have to keep that in mind. You're paying interest on this money. There are some people who see it as a type of revolving credit, and get themselves in financial trouble later on when they have trouble making the loan payment.

Don't get a home equity loan and fail to make your payments. If you default on the loan it could cause you to lose your home entirely. Depending on the size of the home equity loan, you could have a cross-default clause which would cause your first mortgage to be in default also.

Be careful in taking out a home equity loan if you plan on moving in the near future. By stripping out your equity, you may leave yourself in a bad way when it comes time to find a new home.

These are just a few home equity loan pros and cons. Used wisely, they can be the solution to a financial burden you have, but used the wrong way they can be a financial disaster.

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To learn more about Home Equity Loan Rates as well as more information on everything to do with home equity loans, visit us at http://www.HomeEquityLoansA-z.com

Best Home Equity Loan Rates - 4 Tips

By Susan Willis

Having an even 3-point better interest rate on your home equity loan can save you over $1,000 in annual debt payments (on a loan of $50,000). Here are 4 tips for getting the best-possible home equity loan rates.

Tip #1: Pull your credit report: Even though your loan will be lent against the equity in your home as collateral, the rate for which you are eligible is still based largely upon your credit score. If you have not pulled your credit score in months or years, go ahead and do so now. You can get a free copy of your report at the Federal Trade Commission-authorized Web site.

Tip #2: Polish your credit score: If you have poor or fair credit, improving your credit score just 50 points or so can save you $1,000 or more in annual home equity loan payments. While an applicant with good credit might have a rate of 1/2 point below prime, someone with fair or poor credit might pay 1 to 5 points over the prime rate. Bonus: borrowers with better credit can often avoid application or appraisal fees as well, which can add up to significant savings.

Tip #3: Consider a home equity line of credit as an alternative: Before you apply for a home equity loan, consider a home equity line of credit as well. This is a great option if you are not sure exactly how much you will be borrowing over the next couple of years. The potential risk factor is that the rate is not fixed and as it is usually tied to the prime rate.

Tip #4: Compare rates: Once your credit score is in tip-top shape and you have decided that a home equity loan is your best option for securing cash, I suggest starting with your current mortgage lender to find out their best rate. Then, use that as a point of comparison and go online to shop for rates. There are a number Web sites that allow you to compare rates. Before selecting a loan on a given site, be sure to read the fine print about associated costs and fees.

For homeowners, a home equity loan can be a great way to secure cash. To get the best rate, be sure to check and then improve your credit score. Once you have decided that the timing is right to apply for a loan, shop for rates on any credible Web site that will allow you to compare among multiple lenders. And, be sure to read the fine print before signing on the dotted line.

Just a 50-point improvement in your credit score can save you $1,000s per year in mortgage payments. For insider tips on improving your credit score by up to 249 points within 90 days, download the Credit Secrets Bible at: http://www.Success-Junky.com/

How To Get The Best Rate On A Home Equity Loan

By Mitch Civello

When you are seeking a home equity loan, it is very important that you find the best rates possible. Researching all of your options is very important in order to assist you finding a lender who is right for you. There are certain guidelines that you should follow in order to ensure that you find the best rate on a home equity loan.

Check your credit report - as with any loan, your credit report is a major factor in determining if you are eligible and at what interest rate. It is critical that you make sure that everything is in order and if there is something that you do not recognize, contact the credit bureau to have it removed.

Clean up your credit - if your credit is less than perfect, it is important that you clean it up as much as you can before you apply for a home equity loan. For every fifty points that you can remove from your credit report will save you one thousand dollars a year on your home equity loan payment. This is an enormous amount of money that you can save just by doing something to help yourself.

Home equity line of credit - if you have less than perfect credit, you may want to consider a home equity line of credit. This type of credit line is great for those who are not sure how much to borrow. It is important to understand that a home equity line of credit does not have a fixed interest rate and is usually set according to the prime rate.

Compare rates - After you have cleaned up your credit and you have chosen to apply for a home equity loan, compare rates of different lender to find the best interest rate possible, this is perhaps the most crucial step that you can take in seeking the best rate on a home equity loan.

There are many different ways that you can find home equity loan lenders, however the fastest and most efficient way is to do an online search. There are thousands of links that you will find with the click of the mouse. From here is will be very easy to narrow your search to find the right company for you.