If your home’s market value exceeds the debt you owe on your property, you could take advantage of this home equity and borrow against it. There are two options: a home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC), both of which are types of second mortgages. Learn more about what HELOCs and home equity loans involve, including how they work, how they differ, which advantages they offer and how you can apply for one.
What is a home equity loan?
A home equity loan allows you to borrow against some of the equity you have in your home. It provides you with a lump sum of money upon closing, and you can spend it on home improvements, medical bills, existing debt repayment or other purposes. Like a traditional mortgage, a home equity loan is a secured debt where the lender uses the associated property as collateral.
How does a home equity loan work?
When you ask a lender for a home equity loan, you can specify the amount you want to borrow, but a common limit is 85% of your home’s available equity. You can subtract your current mortgage balance from your home’s current appraised value to determine the equity available. If you lack enough equity for your desired loan amount, you may need to wait and look into how to build equity in a home. Additionally, your financial situation must show the lender that you can afford your home equity loan payment.
Home equity loans usually have a maximum term of 30 years, during which you make equal monthly payments that include the interest and principal. These loans typically have interest rates that stay the same over the entire term, and factors such as the loan amount, term and your credit score affect the rate. You may have to pay fees and closing costs when you take out the loan.
Until you fully pay off the home equity loan, the lender could begin the foreclosure process if you fall behind on payments and don’t work out some arrangement. This risk means you should choose your loan amount carefully and make your monthly payments on time.
What is a HELOC (home equity line of credit)?
Instead of providing you with a one-time sum of cash, a HELOC is a credit line that you can readily access during a specified draw period. It compares to a credit card since paying back what you borrow will replenish the available credit. Like with a home equity loan, you use a HELOC to borrow funds based on your home’s equity with your property serving as collateral.
How does a HELOC work?
While policies vary, lenders often allow a HELOC limit of up to 85% of your home’s equity. The limit ultimately depends on your financial situation as well. Note that since you don’t get this money in a lump sum, you might not end up actually using all your available credit.
When you get a HELOC, you may pay upfront fees and closing costs. You then enter a draw period that typically lasts up to 10 or 15 years. During that time, you might use a card or check to withdraw from the HELOC, subject to terms such as minimum withdrawal amounts.
While you have access to the HELOC funds, the lender requires at least a partial payment on the borrowed amount during this period. This may include just the interest or a set minimum amount. Lenders most often offer variable HELOC rates, so the payment amount can change as rates do.
Once the draw period closes, a repayment period of around 10 to 15 years begins, and you’ll make larger monthly payments to cover the principal and interest. The lender could also ask for a large lump sum, called a balloon payment.
You’ll need to pay the HELOC amount as agreed to avoid default and potential foreclosure. After payoff, you may have an option for HELOC renewal, but you could incur a maintenance fee for this.
What is the difference between HELOCs and home equity loans?
Either a HELOC or home equity loan can provide the funding you need as long as you qualify. However, they differ in how the loan amounts, interest rates and repayment processes work.
Loan amounts
While the home equity percentage you can borrow against is similar, HELOCs and home equity loans provide the funds in different ways. You get the entire loan amount at once with a home equity loan, and you make monthly payments based on that whole amount. On the other hand, a HELOC has a maximum limit you can borrow and the amount you have to repay depends on how much you ultimately withdraw from the line.
Fixed and variable interest rates
Home equity loans usually have fixed interest rates that allow for steady monthly payments. While getting fixed HELOC rates is possible, most lenders offer variable-rate HELOCs where caps on rate changes apply. The variability makes HELOCs riskier since you could have a low rate at first but then see it go up if the market changes. Keep in mind that these increases could lead to unaffordable monthly payments.
Repayment schedule
With a home equity loan, you’ll make full monthly payments during the entire term. A HELOC, on the other hand, requires partial payments during the draw period and larger monthly payments — or a balloon payment — during the repayment period. So, a HELOC features payment variability for which you must prepare. To compare how your monthly payments could look, consider using a home equity loan calculator or HELOC payment calculator.
How to get a home equity loan
To get a home equity loan that fits your needs, start researching potential lenders that offer competitive rates, good customer service and low closing costs. You should then check a prospective lender’s home equity loan requirements to make sure you can qualify.
You’ll need sufficient home equity to take out the loan. Lenders also look at financial factors such as credit score, a stable and sufficient income and a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio not exceeding 43%. If you have bad credit, you will most likely pay a higher interest rate and/or be required to get a co-signer.
Ask the lender about prequalification so you can see if you meet home equity loan requirements before you do an official application. This involves providing property, loan and personal details. Once you officially apply, the lender will check your credit and request documents verifying your income and various property details. The lender may also request a property appraisal before you can close on the loan, pay any closing costs and get the funds.
How to get a HELOC
Getting a HELOC involves a very similar process as a home equity loan. It includes researching the best HELOC lenders, looking for the best HELOC rates and checking if you meet the lender’s HELOC requirements. You’ll also want to read the lender’s terms on rate caps to know how high or low your variable rate could go. If you need a HELOC for an investment property or if you have bad credit, verify that the lender can help with these cases.
You can provide property, financial and personal information during the prequalification process to learn if your lender could approve you. The official application will require the same types of property and income verification documents and possibly a home appraisal as with a home equity loan. You may pay closing costs to finalize the process and then get access to your HELOC.
Benefits of HELOC vs home equity loan
Besides letting you tap into your home equity, these financing products offer different advantages. Let’s take a look at some of them.
HELOC benefits
HELOC loans give you more borrowing flexibility than home equity loans. Since you have a lengthy draw period, you can access just the amount of money you need, right when you need it. In other words, this option could help you reduce the chances of borrowing too much.
The repayment process for a HELOC home equity line of credit comes with advantages as well. You may find it easier to budget for the smaller payments during the drawing period. During that time, you can also prepare for the larger payments that you’ll make during the repayment period.
HELOC interest rates are usually lower than interest rates for home equity loans and unsecured credit options like credit cards. Moreover, if you use the HELOC’s funds on qualified home improvements, the IRS may even let you deduct the interest paid on your tax return.
Home equity loan benefits
If you need all your money at once, you may prefer the lump sum that a home equity loan provides and the predictability that comes from it. The best home equity loans feature fixed interest rates and stable payment amounts. Your budgeting becomes easier when you know how much you pay each month.
Although home equity loans can have higher interest rates than HELOCs, you may still save money over alternatives like credit cards. Additionally, the fixed rate means you won’t have to worry about rising interest rates increasing the cost of the debt. The federal tax deduction for interest paid applies to home equity loans as well.
Which is better, HELOC or home equity loan?
To decide on a HELOC versus a home equity loan, consider whether you prefer flexibility or predictability. As long as you understand the key home equity line of credit pros and cons, this option can suit situations where you prefer an open credit line and don’t mind a variable interest rate and monthly payment. If you know exactly how much money you need, a home equity loan conveniently provides that amount upfront and leads to more stability with the interest rate and payment amount.
Can you convert a HELOC to a home equity loan?
Some lenders, such as Bank of America, allow you to directly turn your HELOC into a fixed-rate loan. You can also consider options such as taking out a home equity loan or doing a cash-out refinance and using the proceeds to pay off the HELOC.
To learn about your options, speak with a lender. You’ll need to have enough unused home equity and not exceed the lender’s DTI ratio limit to qualify for these new loans. You should also weigh the potential closing costs and fees against the benefits of a fixed-rate loan. Additionally, if you currently have a high HELOC interest rate, consider asking your current lender for a possible reduction.
Summary of Money’s HELOC vs home equity loan
Whether you want to consolidate debt or make a major purchase, home equity loans and HELOCs can let you access funds from the equity you have already built in your home. Considering when and how you want to access the funds and whether you prefer fixed or variable monthly payments will help you decide between a HELOC and a home equity loan. Make sure to compare current HELOC and home equity loan rates and calculate potential payment amounts to see what makes financial sense to you.
Source: money.com