Frequently Asked Questions About Home Equity Loans
What should you look for when shopping for a plan?
What are the costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line?
How will you repay your home equity plan?
Lines of credit vs. traditional second mortgage loans
What is a home equity line of credit?
With a home equity line, you will be approved for a specific amount of credit—your credit limit, the maximum amount you may borrow at any one time under the plan. Many lenders set the credit limit on a home equity line by taking a percentage (say, 75 percent) of the home’s appraised value and subtracting from that the balance owed on the existing mortgage.
In determining your actual credit limit, the lender will also consider your ability to repay, by looking at your income, debts, and other financial obligations as well as your credit history. Many home equity plans set a fixed period during which you can borrow money, such as 10 years. At the end of this “draw period,” you may be allowed to renew the credit line. If your plan does not allow renewals, you will not be able to borrow additional money once the period has ended. Some plans may call for payment in full of any outstanding balance at the end of the period. Others may allow repayment over a fixed period (the “repayment period”), for example, 10 years.
Once approved for a home equity line of credit, you will most likely be able to borrow up to your credit limit whenever you want. Typically, you will use special checks to draw on your line. Under some plans, borrowers can use a credit card or other means to draw on the line.
There may be limitations on how you use the line. Some plans may require you to borrow a minimum amount each time you draw on the line (for example, $300) and to keep a minimum amount outstanding. Some plans may also require that you take an initial advance when the line is set up.
What should you look for when shopping for a plan?
If you decide to apply for a home equity line of credit, look for the plan that best meets your particular needs. Read the credit agreement carefully, and examine the terms and conditions of various plans, including the annual percentage rate (APR) and the costs of establishing the plan. The APR for a home equity line is based on the interest rate alone and will not reflect the closing costs and other fees and charges, so you’ll need to compare these costs, as well as the APRs, among lenders.
Interest rate charges and related plan features
Home equity lines of credit typically involve variable rather than fixed
interest rates. The variable rate must be based on a publicly available
index (such as the prime rate published in some major daily newspapers
or a U.S. Treasury bill rate); the interest rate for borrowing under
the home equity line changes, mirroring fluctuations in the value of
the index. Most lenders cite the interest rate you will pay as the value
of the index at a particular time plus a “margin,” such
as 2 percentage points. Because the cost of borrowing is tied directly
to the value of the index, it is important to find out which index is
used, how often the value of the index changes, and how high it has
risen in the past as well as the amount of the margin.
Lenders sometimes offer a temporarily discounted interest rate for
home equity lines—a rate that is unusually low and may last for
only an introductory period, such as 6 months. Variable-rate plans secured
by a dwelling must, by law, have a ceiling (or cap) on how much your
interest rate may increase over the life of the plan. Some variable-rate
plans limit how much your payment may increase and how low your interest
rate may fall if interest rates drop. Some lenders allow you to convert
from a variable interest rate to a fixed rate during the life of the
plan, or to convert all or a portion of your line to a fixed-term installment
loan.
Plans generally permit the lender to freeze or reduce your credit line under certain circumstances. For example, some variable-rate plans may not allow you to draw additional funds during a period in which the interest rate reaches the cap.
What are the costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity loan?
In addition, you may be subject to certain fees during the plan period, such as annual membership or maintenance fees and a transaction fee every time you draw on the credit line. You could find yourself paying hundreds of dollars to establish the plan. If you were to draw only a small amount against your credit line, those initial charges would substantially increase the cost of the funds borrowed.
On the other hand, because the lender’s risk is lower than for other forms of credit, as your home serves as collateral, annual percentage rates for home equity lines are generally lower than rates for other types of credit. The interest you save could offset the costs of establishing and maintaining the line. Moreover, some lenders waive some or all of the closing costs.
How will you repay your home equity plan?
Regardless of the minimum required payment, you may choose to pay more, and many lenders offer a choice of payment options. Many consumers choose to pay down the principal regularly as they do with other loans. For example, if you use your line to buy a boat, you may want to pay it off as you would a typical boat loan.
Whatever your payment arrangements during the life of the plan—whether you pay some, a little, or none of the principal amount of the loan—when the plan ends you may have to pay the entire balance owed, all at once. You must be prepared to make this “balloon payment” by refinancing it with the lender, by obtaining a loan from another lender, or by some other means. If you are unable to make the balloon payment, you could lose your home.
If your plan has a variable interest rate, your monthly payments may change. Assume, for example, that you borrow $10,000 under a plan that calls for interest-only payments. At a 10 percent interest rate, your monthly payments would be $83. If the rate rises over time to 15 percent, your monthly payments will increase to $125. Similarly, if you are making payments that cover interest plus some portion of the principal, your monthly payments may increase, unless your agreement calls for keeping payments the same throughout the plan period.
If you sell your home, you will probably be required to pay off your home equity line in full immediately. If you are likely to sell your home in the near future, consider whether it makes sense to pay the up-front costs of setting up a line of credit. Also keep in mind that renting your home may be prohibited under the terms of your agreement.
Lines of credit vs. traditional second morgage loans
If you are thinking about a home equity line of credit, you might also want to consider a traditional second mortgage loan. A second mortgage provides you with a fixed amount of money repayable over a fixed period. In most cases the payment schedule calls for equal payments that will pay off the entire loan within the loan period. You might consider a second mortgage instead of a home equity line if, for example, you need a set amount for a specific purpose, such as an addition to your home.
In deciding which type of loan best suits your needs, consider the costs under the two alternatives. Look at both the APR and other charges. Do not, however, simply compare the APRs, because the APRs on the two types of loans are figured differently.