Jay Conners
Now that you have been in your home for a few years and you have established some equity, you may be considering doing some home improvement with a second mortgage.
Home improvement comes in many forms. Such as a new kitchen, bathroom, roof, siding, etc.
You can acquire a home improvement loan or second mortgage through one of three ways. Refinancing with cash out, a home equity loan, or a home equity line of credit.
My suggestion to you would be, a home equity line of credit. (HECL)
The HECL is a very convenient loan for a home owner because it is not mandatory that you use the funds right away. And when you do decide to use the money, you only use the amount you need.
Lets suppose you have a home equity line of credit for $25,000.00. The lender will give this money to you as a line for you to use, only when you choose to do so. The line also comes with a check book so you can write checks at your convenience.
A refinance with cash out, or a standard home equity loan is given to you in the form of a lump sum, and you begin paying the interest and principal immediately.
On the HECL you only pay interest and principal when you use the money, and only on the amount you use.
So lets suppose you hire a contractor to put a new bathroom in your house for fifteen thousand dollars. Upon completion of the project, you would than write a check from your HECL check book, it’s that simple.
At this time, your monthly payments would begin to kick in.
Most HECL’s are amortized over twenty years, and the payment is interest only for the first ten. So make sure you are aware of the payment schedule before you close.
Home improvement is a great step to take with your home. It not only adds value to your house, but it also improves the quality of your life. And the interest is tax deductible.
As always, continue to educate yourself, and make sure you shop around for the best deal.
http://www.explainingmortgages.com
Showing posts with label Closing Costs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Closing Costs. Show all posts
2007-11-10
2007-11-08
Refinance Your Home Mortgage: How to Avoid 5 Costly Mistakes
by BLAKE BALLEW
Warning: Do Not Refinance Your Home Until You Read This Report! Mistake
#1 – Refinancing only to obtain a lower interest rate So why are you refinancing your mortgage loan? Are you trying to save money through a lower monthly payment? Are you trying to reduce your interest rate? Are you hoping to combine your refinance with a cash-out equity loan? If you’re simply trying to find a lower interest rate, make sure you calculate the related fees and closing costs. These fees might make you rethink the process. Unless you can save enough money to easily cover these costs, refinancing may not be right for you. Mistake
#2 – Cash-Out Refi to Pay off Unsecured Credit Card Debt Many people opt for what’s called a cash-out refi. This not only can save you money on your monthly mortgage payment, but can provide you with cash to pay off high-interest credit cards. We recommend that you review all of your options before choosing this path. Are you really desperate enough to get rid of your unsecured debt that you would consider putting your home on the line? Review other options first, like calling your creditors and asking them to reduce your interest rates and save your home equity for a rainy day. Remember, you can always refinance without having to touch your home equity. Mistake
#3 – Not Asking About Points In their simplest form, Points are up-front mortgage interest fees paid on a loan to reduce the initial interest rate. Points are fees the borrower pays the lender at the time of loan closing. If you pay one point (1%) on a $100,000 loan, then you will pay the lender $1,000 at loan closing, but will reduce your long-term interest rate, which will save you money throughout the life of your loan. Some loan rates have points already built-in, so you need to make sure the lender is very clear on how many points are being charged. Mistake
#4 – Refinancing into an ARM or Interest-Only Loan In some cases, it makes sense to refinance into an Adjustable Rate or Interest-Only loan. But be aware of the ramifications. While you might refinance into an ARM and initially save money; over the years, your interest rate may creep up and end up eating-up the refinance savings. Interest-only loans are another popular option, but they’re not right for everyone. Interest-only loans are actually only “interest-only” for a short period of time, like 5-10 years. This means that eventually, your payment will start to include principal again, and if you can’t afford to pay the principal at that time, you might be forced to refinance again! Always plan long-term. Mistake
#5 – Not getting a Guaranteed Lowest Bottom-Line Cost All lenders are required by law to provide what is called a Good Faith Estimate of Closing Costs. Use this “Good Faith Estimate” as a tool to find the lowest price. You should ask any lender you speak with for a guarantee that clearly states, in writing, that they have the lowest bottom-line closing cost. If they can’t provide you such a guarantee, in writing, you should find another lender.
Warning: Do Not Refinance Your Home Until You Read This Report! Mistake
#1 – Refinancing only to obtain a lower interest rate So why are you refinancing your mortgage loan? Are you trying to save money through a lower monthly payment? Are you trying to reduce your interest rate? Are you hoping to combine your refinance with a cash-out equity loan? If you’re simply trying to find a lower interest rate, make sure you calculate the related fees and closing costs. These fees might make you rethink the process. Unless you can save enough money to easily cover these costs, refinancing may not be right for you. Mistake
#2 – Cash-Out Refi to Pay off Unsecured Credit Card Debt Many people opt for what’s called a cash-out refi. This not only can save you money on your monthly mortgage payment, but can provide you with cash to pay off high-interest credit cards. We recommend that you review all of your options before choosing this path. Are you really desperate enough to get rid of your unsecured debt that you would consider putting your home on the line? Review other options first, like calling your creditors and asking them to reduce your interest rates and save your home equity for a rainy day. Remember, you can always refinance without having to touch your home equity. Mistake
#3 – Not Asking About Points In their simplest form, Points are up-front mortgage interest fees paid on a loan to reduce the initial interest rate. Points are fees the borrower pays the lender at the time of loan closing. If you pay one point (1%) on a $100,000 loan, then you will pay the lender $1,000 at loan closing, but will reduce your long-term interest rate, which will save you money throughout the life of your loan. Some loan rates have points already built-in, so you need to make sure the lender is very clear on how many points are being charged. Mistake
#4 – Refinancing into an ARM or Interest-Only Loan In some cases, it makes sense to refinance into an Adjustable Rate or Interest-Only loan. But be aware of the ramifications. While you might refinance into an ARM and initially save money; over the years, your interest rate may creep up and end up eating-up the refinance savings. Interest-only loans are another popular option, but they’re not right for everyone. Interest-only loans are actually only “interest-only” for a short period of time, like 5-10 years. This means that eventually, your payment will start to include principal again, and if you can’t afford to pay the principal at that time, you might be forced to refinance again! Always plan long-term. Mistake
#5 – Not getting a Guaranteed Lowest Bottom-Line Cost All lenders are required by law to provide what is called a Good Faith Estimate of Closing Costs. Use this “Good Faith Estimate” as a tool to find the lowest price. You should ask any lender you speak with for a guarantee that clearly states, in writing, that they have the lowest bottom-line closing cost. If they can’t provide you such a guarantee, in writing, you should find another lender.
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