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"Growing old is no more than a bad habit which a busy person has no time to form."

Andre Maurois








 




 
Featured Heloc Articles

Home Equity Loans For People With Poor Credit - Get A Hassle-Free Home Equity Loan
Even with poor credit, your options for getting a home equity loan are numerous. Home equity loans are different from other types of personal loans. For starters, these loans are secured. Lenders prefer this factor because it's easy for them to ...

Home Improvement Loans In UK – Manufacturing The Home Of Your Choice
How do you see your home? Are you always thinking of ways to make it better? You are heading straight towards home improvement. It is oft-quoted and usually it should be that your home should be a reflection of your own self. Rarely do we get a chance to ...

How To Buy A Home With A Reverse Mortgage
A reverse mortgage loan is very much like a home equity loan. First we'll look at the similarities between the two and then let's discuss how to buy a home with a reverse mortgage. First a reverse mortgage is a lump sum payment or annuity that is paid ...




Home Equity Line Of Credit - Is There A Prepayment Penalty?
 
For the most part, homeowners are familiar with home equity loans and home equity lines of credit. With either option, you are able to acquire funds for emergencies, home improvement projects, etc. Getting a line of credit and using your home's equity to your advantage is a huge benefit to owning a home. However, before completing the credit application, homeowners should carefully read and understand the credit line agreement.

How Does a Home Equity Line of Credit Work?

A home equity line of credit is a credit line that is based on your home's equity. For example, if you owe $80,000 on a $120,000 mortgage, your home's equity is $40,000. When applying for a home equity line of credit, the lender will approve you for a credit line up to the amount of your home's equity. Lines of credit are slightly different than home equity loans. While home equity loans are also based on your home's equity, homeowners obtain a lump sum of money upon approval of their loan application. These loans are generally based on a fixed rate, whereas lines of credit have variable rates.

How to Obtain Funds with a Home Equity Line of Credit

Getting money from your home equity line of credit is very simple. Once a lender approves your line of credit, you will be issued a checkbook or ATM card. Whenever you need cash, you simply write yourself a check from your credit line. Because the amount you withdraw from a line of credit varies, your monthly payments will also vary. If you prefer a predictable monthly payment, a home equity loan will best suit your needs.

Home Equity Line of Credit Prepayment Penalty

Home equity lines of credit have specific terms. Your lender may approve your line of credit for 10 to 25 years. At the end of the term, you must re-apply to obtain another credit line. Home equity lines of credit are similar to other mortgage loans in regards to prepayment penalties.

Before applying and accepting a lender's offer, carefully review the offer and inquire of prepayment penalties. With a prepayment penalty, you are charged a fee if the credit line is closed before the end of the term. Typical fees are about $500. However, if the balance on your line of credit is zero, but the account remains open for future withdrawals, prepayment fees will not apply.







Heloc News


HELOC, Car Loan Delinquencies At Record Highs
U.S. News & World Report, DC - Jan 7, 2009
In the latest sign that consumers are under financial stress, indirect auto loan and home equity lines of credit (HELOC) delinquencies reached their highest ...

Now

Credit Cards: You Asked, We Answered
Now - 22 hours ago
There's no better feeling than being HELOC free! Question: I request credit reports, but have not been able to find any way to find out my credit score. ...

Ask The Experts: Should I Just Walk Away From My Home?
CNBC, Englewood Cliffs - Jan 8, 2009
Depending on how much you owe them and how much money you make you may be able to work with them on converting your HELOC into an unsecured loan that you ...

PersonalFinance: Should you refinance?
Reuters - Jan 8, 2009
Home equity lines of credit (HELOC) currently are charging rates as low as 3.5 percent; they are cheaper than regular mortgages now. But that may not last. ...

The Dutch disease
Motley Fool - Dec 31, 2008
In America's case, it would be HELOC money and dirt-cheap loans from China that did the same thing to us that oil did to the Dutch. ...