A home equity loan is a type of

loan In finance, a loan is the lending of money by one or more individuals, organizations, or other entities to other individuals, organizations, etc. The recipient (i.e., the borrower) incurs a debt and is usually liable to pay interest on that ...

in which the borrowers use the

equity Equity may refer to: Finance, accounting and ownership * Equity (finance), ownership of assets that have liabilities attached to them ** Stock, equity based on original contributions of cash or other value to a business ** Home equity, the dif ...

of their home as

collateral Collateral may refer to: Business and finance * Collateral (finance), a borrower's pledge of specific property to a lender, to secure repayment of a loan * Marketing collateral, in marketing and sales Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Collate ...

. The loan amount is determined by the value of the property, and the value of the property is determined by an

appraiser An appraiser (from Latin ''appretiare'', "to value"), is a person that develops an opinion of the market value or other value of a product, most notably real estate. The current definition of "appraiser" according to the Uniform Standards of Pro ...

from the lending institution. Home equity loans are often used to finance major expenses such as home repairs, medical bills, or college education. A home

equity loan A home equity loan is a type of loan in which the borrowers use the Home equity, equity of their home as collateral (finance), collateral. The loan amount is determined by the value of the property, and the value of the property is determined by ...

creates a

lien A lien ( or ) is a form of security interest granted over an item of property to secure the payment of a debt or performance of some other obligation. The owner of the property, who grants the lien, is referred to as the ''lienee'' and the per ...

against the borrower's house and reduces actual home equity. Most home equity loans require good to excellent

credit history :''This article deals with the general concept of the term credit history. For detailed information about the same topic in the United States, see Credit score in the United States.'' A credit history is a record of a borrower's responsible repay ...

, reasonable loan-to-value and combined

loan-to-value ratio The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is a financial term used by lenders to express the ratio of a loan to the value of an asset purchased. In Real estate, the term is commonly used by banks and building societies to represent the ratio of the first m ...

s. Home equity loans come in two types: ''closed end'' (traditionally just called a home-equity loan) and ''open end'' (a.k.a. a

home equity line of credit A home equity line of credit, or HELOC ( /ˈhiːˌlɒk/ ''HEE-lok''), is a revolving type of secured loan in which the lender agrees to lend a maximum amount within an agreed period (called a term), where the collateral is the borrower's proper ...

(HELOC)). Both are usually referred to as

second mortgage Second mortgages, commonly referred to as junior liens, are loans secured by a property in addition to the primary mortgage. Depending on the time at which the second mortgage is originated, the loan can be structured as either a standalone secon ...

s, because they are secured against the value of the property, just like a traditional mortgage. Home equity loans and lines of credit are usually, but not always, for a shorter term than first mortgages. Home equity loan can be used as a person's main mortgage in place of a traditional mortgage. However, one cannot purchase a home using a home equity loan, one can only use a home equity loan to refinance. In the United States until December 31, 2017, it was possible to deduct home equity loan interest on one's personal

income taxes An income tax is a tax imposed on individuals or entities (taxpayers) in respect of the income or profits earned by them (commonly called taxable income). Income tax generally is computed as the product of a tax rate times the taxable income. Ta ...

. As part of the 2018 Tax Reform bill signed into law, interest on home equity loans will no longer be deductible on income taxes in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. There is a specific difference between a home equity loan and a HELOC. A HELOC is a line of

revolving credit Revolving credit is a type of credit that does not have a fixed number of payments, in contrast to installment credit. Credit cards are an example of revolving credit used by consumers. Corporate revolving credit facilities are typically used to ...

with an adjustable interest rate whereas a home equity loan is a one time lump-sum loan, often with a fixed interest rate. With a HELOC the borrower can choose when and how often to borrow against the equity in the property, with the lender setting an initial limit to the credit line based on criteria similar to those used for closed-end loans. Like the closed-end loan, it may be possible to borrow up to an amount equal to the value of the home, minus any liens. These lines of credit are available up to 30 years, usually at a variable interest rate. The minimum monthly payment can be as low as only the interest that is due. Typically, the interest rate is based on the prime rate plus a margin.

Fees

A brief list of fees that may apply for home equity loans: * Appraisal fees * Originator fees * Title fees * Stamp duties * Arrangement fees * Closing fees * Early pay-off fee * Inactivity fee * Annual or Membership fee Surveyor and

conveyor A conveyor system is a common piece of mechanical handling equipment that moves materials from one location to another. Conveyors are especially useful in applications involving the transport of heavy or bulky materials. Conveyor systems allow ...

or valuation fees may also apply to loans but some may be waived. The survey or conveyor and valuation costs can often be reduced, provided one finds a licensed surveyor to inspect the property considered for purchase. The title charges in secondary mortgages or equity loans are often fees for renewing the title information. Most loans will have fees of some sort.

References

External links

Putting Your Home on the Loan Line is a Risky Business
- from FDIC
Borrowers Lose Home Equity Tax Deduction
{{DEFAULTSORT:Home Equity Loan Personal finance Mortgage Loans

Fees

See also

References

External links