More and more homeowners are looking into being able to sell homes for profit, unfortunately, whatever you can gain from doing so is often left far from your reach unless you are able to access it using a HELOC or using a home equity loan.
So which one then is better?
A home equity loan and a home equity line of credit are types of second mortgages that you can gain access to if you have a certain built-up amount of equity in your home. More often than not, financial planners would advise you against using the equity you’ve built up unless you are doing so for purposes that can further increase your home equity. That is a smart way of using it after all.
A Look into Home Equity Loans
It would be easier for most people to budget around a home equity loan since it has a fixed interest and fixed payment every month. The thing to remember is that the fixed value for your home equity loan is something that you will have to pay on top of your mortgage. It is also a good source of funds for big expenses because it allows you to take out money in a lump sum.
A pro for a home equity loan include an interest rate that is tax deductible and has a fixed rate. A con would be that should the property values in your area suffer from a decline, going for a home equity loan can work against you as you might end up owing more money.
A Look into Home Equity Lines of Credit
HELOCs or Home Equity Lines Of Credit are similar to home equity loan because both are ways to tap into your home’s equity. It also differs in the sense that it operates more like a credit card with a pre-determined credit limit or credit ceiling. A good thing about this type of second mortgage is that you will only have to pay interest on the amount that you’ve withdrawn, and you can borrow as much or as little as you need as long as it does not exceed the limit.
Furthermore about interest rate is the fact that with HELOCs, the interest rates usually start small and then becomes variable or is adjusted according the movements against the benchmark. This detail means your monthly payment is also variable.
Some lenders can allow you to convert a part of your HELOC into a fixed rate while allowing a part of it to still be used like a credit card limit.
Pros about a HELOC include interest-only payments during your draw period, being allowed to pay interest on just the amount you’ve withdrawn, and the fact that interest paid is often tax deductible. Cons include increasing interest rates that will increase the amount you have to pay and possibly falling victim to your own overspending due to how flexible a HELOC is.
Ready to apply for a HELOC or a home equity line of credit? Contact us at Homebase Mortgages today!
