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Mortgage Advice: Home Equity Loans Can Finance an Investment Properties and Second Homes

The idea of owning investment real estate seems to be gaining popularity as investors are getting tired of the unreliable stock market. Many investors feel confident with real estate as a place to secure their future, believing that overall it will outperform cash, fixed interest deposits and other investments, particularly for the medium to long term. Second homes account for a full 40% of all homes sold in America. According to a recent annual report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 27.7% of all homes purchased in 2005 were investment properties and 12.2% were vacation homes.

If you are considering either an investment in income producing real estate or a vacation home, it is generally better to cash out the equity in your home rather than to move cash from other investments which are doing well for you. If you’ve been paying on your mortgage for more than five years and the interest rate is below market rate, a home equity loan would probably work better for you than a mortgage refinance. And, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) could be your best answer for your second home purchase or other real estate investment.

There are generally no closing costs with HELOCs, as opposed to home equity installment loans (HEILs). HELOCs typically have a lower interest rate than credit cards or installment loans, and they offer a lot of flexibility in features and payback options, including:

Interest-only loan payment option (based on prime rate1 + a fixed margin).
Choose to pay only the minimum, or pay down your balance and have it available for you to use again and again for on-going maintenance of the property.
10, 15, or 25-year terms available with the option to extend the equity line of credit, rather than having to apply for a new loan, if there is still an account balance at the end of the loan term.
Borrow up to 100% of property value and pay interest on only the amount you use.
Lines of credit from 20,000 up to 250,000.

A property portfolio can provide healthy long-term capital gains, appreciating assets and cash flow from rent to add to your retirement income. In addition, the interest paid on a home equity line of credit is generally fully deductible (up to a maximum of 100,000), provided the loan does not exceed the fair market value less the outstanding mortgage.

1 Prime rate is the rate published each day in The Wall Street Journal (but not the Weekend Edition of The Wall Street Journal).

Home Mortgage Loan Refinancing Online – 3 Tips On Refinancing Your Home

When refinancing your home, it’s helpful to know a few things about refinancing. When you refinance, you usually pay off the old loan and sign for a new loan, whether you are refinancing your 1st mortgage, second mortgage or home equity loan. The expense that comes in to play when refinancing are the new closing costs and points charge for getting a new loan.

How much can you expect in closing costs for a refinance? Usually between 3-6% of the total loan amount. So, for a loan amount of 150,000, you can expect to pay around 7 in fees. Usually, a company that will say that have no closing costs, will also charge a higher interest rate to compensate. The mortgage broker has to make money somehow, they will either charge a higher interest rate or charge higher closing costs. The best way to compare refinance lenders is to analyze all of the expenses.

Should I pay down points on my loan? If you plan to stay in your home for more than 3 years, it may be smart for you to consider paying down points on the loan which reduces your interest rate. That pays off if you plan to stay in your home for a while, but if you plan to sell the home soon, you may lose more money paying down the points on the loan.

How can I know if I should refinance or not? If you are interested in finding out whether it would save you money in the long run to refinance with the current interest rate, there are financial calculators online that can help you determine if you would save money refinancing your house or not.

To view our list of recommended refinance mortgage companies online or to use a refi- calculator, please visit this page: http:www.abcloanguide.comrefinance.shtml

Home Equity Loan Comparison – Access Your Home’s Equity Through A Second Mortgage Or Equity Loan

You can access your home equity without the cost of refinancing with two financing options. A second mortgage will give you a lump sum check with a fixed or adjustable rate. A home equity line lets you tap into your equity when you want to. Both options allow you to write off interest on your taxes and avoid high financing costs.

Benefits Of A Second Mortgage

A second mortgage allows you to borrow up to 90% of your homes value. The lender, which doesnt have to be your primary mortgage lender, writes you one check. You can choose to pay off credit cards or make a major purchase.

Fees are none to minimal with a second mortgage. Rates are usually fixed and last 15 or more years. A 15 year loan lets you pay off the debt quicker, saving you cash on extended interest payments.

Benefits Of A Home Equity Line

A home equity line is like a secured credit card, only you are borrowing against your homes equity. You can choose to borrow a lump sum or only as needed. Most lenders issue checks and a credit card.

Rates are adjustable and are based on when you borrow the money. You can choose to never use the equity, but just know it is there in case of an emergency.

One option for new homebuyers is to put down a large down payment, securing low rates, and then apply for a home equity line. Its like a safety net, ensuring that you can still access your cash if needed.

Picking The Right Financing

Each type of home equity loan has its own advantages. A second mortgage offers secure fixed rates with small payments over a longer period. It makes sense for large projects, such as remodeling or paying off credit cards. A home equity line offers flexibility, better suited for smaller purchases.

With both types of programs, you still want to investigate lenders before applying. Be sure to look at financing companies other than your current mortgage lender. You want to find the lowest rates with the best terms by asking for quotes on both rates and fees. By investing a little bit of time, you will save yourself hundreds.

7 Tips for Establishing Qualifying Credit for Home Equity & Mortgage Loans

According to Experian, a credit score is a number lenders use to help them decide: “If I give this person a loan or credit card, how likely is it I will get paid back on time?” The information from your credit reports is used to create your credit score. Your credit score will always be a key ingredient for low interest rates when qualifying for a mortgage or home equity loan.

Before getting a line of credit, get your free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs): Experian, Equifax, TransUnion. Under federal law, you are entitled to one every year. Order online at annualcreditreport.com, or call 1-877-322-8228. Check to make sure someone else’s information isn’t mixed into your report. If so, contact the CRA immediately and have them delete it.

Then, follow these tips to help you establish credit and build your credit score:

1.Establish checking and savings accounts and maintain them responsibly.

2.Piggyback on someone else’s good credit by being added to a credit card as an “authorized” (joint) user.

3.Get someone to co-sign a loan for you (e.g., financing a car, or other secured loan) and make your payments on time.

3.Apply for student loans and make your payments on time.

4.Apply for a credit card or a secured card. But, make sure the issuer reports to all three CRAs. Otherwise, the card won’t help you build your credit.

6.Apply for one gas card and one department store card to add to your credit mix.

7.Use your credit cards regularly, but wisely. Make all payments on time because the two most important factors in your score are whether you pay your bills on time and how much of you available credit you actually use.

Establishing and maintaining good credit will make buying a home a lot easier for you. You’d be able to get a good fixed rate loan instead of having to settle for a variable rate sub prime loan. It will also help for times you may need a home equity line of credit for home improvements or a home equity loan for debt consolidation, including paying off student loans.

3 Things To Watch Out For With A Cash Out Refinance Mortgage Loan

A cash out refinance mortgage loan is a great option if you have accrued a lot of equity in your home. If you owe 75,000 on a home that is worth 125,000, you could refinance the amount you owe and take up to 50,000 in a cash loan against the equity in your house. The money can be used to consolidate debts, do a remodeling project, or even invest. As great as a cash out refinance can be, there are a few things to think about before you decide to take out this type of loan.

How high are the fees to refinance?

Taking out a home equity loan usually costs less in fees than a refinance. Refinancing your home can cost you quite a bit when you consider higher loan fees and the possibility of points. If you already have a good interest rate on your loan, refinancing so that you can get a cash out option, might mean paying a higher interest rate on a new loan. In that situation, you might want to consider taking out a home equity loan instead of a cash out refinance mortgage loan.

How fast do you need the money?

When you take out a home equity loan, it takes less time to see your money. Often, it only takes 5 days to close. Cash out refinance mortgage loans can take a lot longer, so if you need the money immediately, it probably isnt the best option.

Protect yourself from scam artists.

There are lenders that practice something called loan flipping. They convince you to refinance your house, taking out a bit of equity for a project or two. A few months later they approach you to refinance again, convincing you to take out more cash from the equity in your house. Their scheme is to keep having you refinance, tacking on large fees and possibly increasing your interest rate until you are so far in debt that you end up losing your house. This particular scam has been played against many elderly homeowners with devastating results.

Taking cash against the equity in your house can be a wise move, but always compare taking a cash out refinance mortgage loan against the option of taking out a home equity loan and choose the plan that is best for you.

Getting a 2nd mortgage loan or home equity loan after a bankruptcy is workable. However, loan applicants should be aware of certain disadvantages to bad credit loans. A bankruptcy is destructive to credit scores.

In reality, many financial experts discourage bankruptcies. Those who file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 are subjected to higher finance rates on homes, cars, etc. Before applying for a 2nd mortgage, know what to expect and understand the basics of getting a reasonable rate.

Expect Higher Finance Fees or Interest Rates

After a bankruptcy, many people are hesitant to apply for credit. They expect higher rates, which will also increase monthly payments. However, obtaining new credit accounts is crucial to re-establishing and building credit history. On the other hand, getting a lender to approve a credit card application after a bankruptcy is challenging. For this matter, some people choose to get a 2nd mortgage loan.

Getting approved for a 2nd mortgage following a bankruptcy is easier because the loan is secured by your home or property. Thus, if you stop paying on the loan, the lender may claim your property and resell it to recoup their loss.

While these loans are great for improving credit, applicants should not expect the best rates. Traditionally, 2nd mortgage loans have higher rates than first mortgages. However, if you have a recent bankruptcy, anticipate above average rates. To avoid a huge monthly payment, borrow a small amount of money.

Another option involves borrowing money, and depositing the funds into a savings account. Over the course of six months, repay the lender using the deposited funds. This way, you improve credit history and avoid the risk of not being able to repay the loan.

Using Sub Prime Loan Lenders For Best Rates

Applying for a 2nd mortgage with your current lender may not be the best option. If you obtained your first mortgage with good credit, the lender may not approve your loan application following a bankruptcy. Instead, contact several sub prime lenders. Sub prime lenders approve loans for all credit types. Hence, applicants can get approved after a bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, etc.

Furthermore, sub prime lenders usually offer better rates than traditional mortgage lenders or banks. Online mortgage brokers can help you find a bad credit or sub prime lender. Moreover, brokers offer applicants various loan options. As a result, loan applicants can select the lender offering the best rate and loan terms.