Home Equity Loan Interest Rate – Deciding When to Apply

The home equity loan interest rate that is available when you are thinking about applying for a loan should be a serious consideration in whether or not you choose to get the loan. If however you have financial needs that force you to take out a loan, take the time to review the important factors that impact the rate before choosing a particular lender. A small change in percentage points on the loan can make a significant dollar difference.Defining the TermsThe amount of home equity is the amount of cash you would receive if you sold the home at market value and paid off the existing mortgage. In practice, this is not usually what happens. Instead the home owner increases the amount of loan against the home based on the increased value of the home. Equity in the home can increase if the market value increases and if the principal portion of the mortgage has been reduced by regular payments.Where are the Best Loans Found?Home equity loans are more popular now than in the past, in part because home owners may be looking for a way to pull cash value out of the home to meet obligations. However, the downturn in the housing market may make the home market value lower which means that there is not as much equity or collateral in the home. This makes less money available as collateral for a second mortgage.How is the Interest Rate Calculated?The interest rate for your second mortgage is affected by several different factors. If your credit score is high, the interest rate is likely to be somewhat lower than if you have a poor credit score. The amount of the loan you are seeking will affect the interest rate. Your rate may be higher if your loan-to-value ratio is high.Types of Interest RatesInterest rates on a home equity loan are usually either fixed or variable. Variable rates tend to be somewhat lower than fixed rates at the beginning, because they offer more protection to the lender. If interest rates in general increase, the rate charged on the individual loan can be adjusted upward. If interest rates in the economy are low, a fixed rate is advantageous for the borrower, since the cost of the monthly payment won’t increase over the repayment period.Why Do Borrowers Choose a Home equity loan?The primary reason to get a home equity loan is to take care of large financial obligations such as home improvement, schooling costs or medical bills. Since the loan is secured by collateral in the home, interest rates are usually much lower than increasing your credit card debt. It is for this reason a home equity loan is sometimes used to pay off high-interest credit cards.Repayment Period of the LoanIn general, borrowers try to spread loan repayment out over a long period, so the monthly payment costs will be less. This practice results in a much larger cost for the interest portion of the loan, since the interest will be calculated on the longer period. Sometimes a lender will reduce the interest rate if the loan is taken for a shorter term.No one wants to have an unbearable burden of debt, especially in shaky economic times, but sometimes an equity loan is the best option to manage large financial obligations. Before signing on the bottom line make certain that you have the best home equity loan interest rate available.