by: Jay Moncliff
If you own your home and need a loan for whatever reason you have probably considered a second mortgage or a home equity loan to help you pay your bills, buy a new car, or pay for some other investment. However, you probably don’t know whether a second mortgage is better or worse than a home equity loan for your particular situation. However, don’t despair because there are some tips that will help you decide whether a second mortgage or home equity loan is for you.
Second Mortgage Tip #1 One Time Expenses
A second mortgage is the preferred option if you have a one time big expense you need to cover. Examples of this include remodeling your kitchen, paying for a wedding, or buying a new car. In these instances a second mortgage will probably work best for you; however this will depend on the equity in your home and your credit score.
Second Mortgage Tip #2 Recurring Expenses
If you are going to have recurring expenses then you might not want a second mortgage because a home equity loan will work out better for you. The second mortgage is best for large amounts of money at once while recurring expenses like tuition are better paid for with a home equity line of credit.
Second Mortgage Tip #3 Repayment
You will also need to consider your ability to repay and which option will suit you best. A second mortgage can be financed similarly to your first mortgage, while the home equity loan can be paid back more like a credit card. Consider your financial position and ability to make monthly payments before applying for either a second mortgage or a home equity loan.
If you still don’t know whether a second mortgage or home equity line of credit is for you, then talk with your lender and see what is recommended for your equity, credit, and ability to repay the loan.
About The Author
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.new-mortgage-center.info a website specialized on Mortgage, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Mortgage. For more info on Mortgage visit: http://www.new-mortgage-center.info.
Home Loans and Mortgages – Time to Consolidate Loans?
by: Charlie Essmeier
Home equity loans and lines of credit are useful tools for homeowners. They allow the homeowner to borrow against the value of his or her home for all kinds of purposes – home improvement, debt consolidation, vacations, and more. The loans, backed by the value of the house itself, come with attractive interest rates and the added bonus of tax deductible interest. That interest, however, is often variable, adjusting up and down with changes in market conditions. At the moment, conditions are such that interest rates for adjustable rate loans are increasing while rates for fixed-rate loans are still fairly stable. This is probably a good time for homeowners with variable rate equity loans to consider consolidating their primary mortgage and home equity loan into a single entity.
The ideal candidate for such a consolidation would be a homeowner who has a variable rate home equity loan, rather than a line of credit or an equity loan at a fixed rate. A line of credit is sort of a revolving loan, with an amount that may be drawn, as needed, time and again, much like a credit card loan. A home equity loan would represent a fixed amount of money borrowed for a specific length of time. To consolidate a home equity loan and a primary mortgage, the home would have to be refinanced with a new mortgage issued for the combined amounts of both loans. There are costs associated with this, so homeowners should consider the following:
# Refinancing costs – It may cost several thousand dollars to combine two loans into one. A home appraisal will be required, along with paperwork fees, filing fees, and possible points paid at closing. A homeowner should make sure that he or she will remain in the home long enough to offset the additional costs of refinancing, otherwise the savings of consolidation are lost.
# Interest rate on the primary mortgage – If you have financed or refinanced your home during the last three years, your primary mortgage rate may already be lower than the rate you could get today. You don’t want to raise your overall interest rate just to consolidate the smaller amount of money from a home equity loan.
# The amount of money owed on the home equity loan – The larger the amount of money owed on the equity loan, the greater the benefit of consolidation. You wouldn’t want to refinance your home over an equity loan balance of $1000, but you might want to do so if the balance is $50,000.
Market conditions change regularly, but now is a good time for anyone with a variable rate home equity loan with a considerable balance to consider consolidating the equity loan and the primary mortgage into a single loan. If you aren’t sure if you can benefit from this, you may wish to consult with your lender.
About The Author
Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans .
Home equity loans and lines of credit are useful tools for homeowners. They allow the homeowner to borrow against the value of his or her home for all kinds of purposes – home improvement, debt consolidation, vacations, and more. The loans, backed by the value of the house itself, come with attractive interest rates and the added bonus of tax deductible interest. That interest, however, is often variable, adjusting up and down with changes in market conditions. At the moment, conditions are such that interest rates for adjustable rate loans are increasing while rates for fixed-rate loans are still fairly stable. This is probably a good time for homeowners with variable rate equity loans to consider consolidating their primary mortgage and home equity loan into a single entity.
The ideal candidate for such a consolidation would be a homeowner who has a variable rate home equity loan, rather than a line of credit or an equity loan at a fixed rate. A line of credit is sort of a revolving loan, with an amount that may be drawn, as needed, time and again, much like a credit card loan. A home equity loan would represent a fixed amount of money borrowed for a specific length of time. To consolidate a home equity loan and a primary mortgage, the home would have to be refinanced with a new mortgage issued for the combined amounts of both loans. There are costs associated with this, so homeowners should consider the following:
# Refinancing costs – It may cost several thousand dollars to combine two loans into one. A home appraisal will be required, along with paperwork fees, filing fees, and possible points paid at closing. A homeowner should make sure that he or she will remain in the home long enough to offset the additional costs of refinancing, otherwise the savings of consolidation are lost.
# Interest rate on the primary mortgage – If you have financed or refinanced your home during the last three years, your primary mortgage rate may already be lower than the rate you could get today. You don’t want to raise your overall interest rate just to consolidate the smaller amount of money from a home equity loan.
# The amount of money owed on the home equity loan – The larger the amount of money owed on the equity loan, the greater the benefit of consolidation. You wouldn’t want to refinance your home over an equity loan balance of $1000, but you might want to do so if the balance is $50,000.
Market conditions change regularly, but now is a good time for anyone with a variable rate home equity loan with a considerable balance to consider consolidating the equity loan and the primary mortgage into a single loan. If you aren’t sure if you can benefit from this, you may wish to consult with your lender.
About The Author
Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans .
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