Mortgage & Refinancing Information

HELOCs and Second Mortgages: Which One Should I Choose?


Whether you need some extra cash to pay off some credit card debts, or to make some home improvements, home equity lines of credit or second mortgages can be great ways to get started.

Many people looking to borrow money often opt for home equity line of credit, or HELOCs, for short. They are a tempting first choice, because they can often give you the much needed cash at a low interest rate. Another advantage to taking out an HELOC, or a home equity line of credit, is that they may provide the borrower with a certain tax break, but you would need to verify this with your lender or accountant.

One drawback to HELOCs, however, is the fact that borrowers are expected to put their homes up as collateral. So, it is important that you think this decision through, before finalizing the loan, because you may be at risk of losing your home- and its equity- if you are late or cannot make your monthly payments. Finally, if you decide to sell your home, must HELOCs will require that you pay off the balance, before completing the sale.

You can also take out a second mortgage, if you need some cash. Like the HELOC, second mortgages usually pay out the loan in one sum, which makes it a convenient option. Second mortgages also have the added advantage of having set payments, at a fixed interest rate. Many companies will charge a lending fee, which will vary from company to company. These fees are usually based upon a percentage of the loan and are frequently referred to as 'points.' If one fee seems too high, don't be afraid to shop around to find one which is better suited to your budget.

Remember, however, that adding a second mortgage to your home carries with it certain risks. Like with home equity lines of credit, you could lose your home, if you fall behind in the payments.

Mark Lambie is the founder of The Loan House a website that allows consumers to quickly and easily get online mortgage quotes and mortgage information.


MORE RESOURCES:

MORTGAGE REFINANCE LOANS
Kitchener, Ontario Canada, Canada - 13 hours ago
The City of Kitchener is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. ...


Situations determine refinancing
FayObserver.com, NC - 12 hours ago
By Hilary Kraus It depends on your situation. How much do you still owe? How long do you expect to stay in your home? Are lower payments a priority? ...


Waco banks seeing a boom in mortgage refinance applications
Waco Tribune Herald, TX - Jan 2, 2009
By Mike Copeland With mortgage rates hitting record lows, Mary Jo Teakell is seeing a growing backlog of refinance applications. “We’re quite busy right now ...


Manage Your Refinance Mortgage Loan Sans the Stress
Meadow Free Press, ID - 6 hours ago
There are a thousand and one reasons for getting a refinance loan. One is to pay off debts or to relocate to a new house in another state. ...


Best Syndication

Now May Be Good Time To Refinance Home
KMBC.com, MO - Jan 5, 2009
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There aren't many bright spots in this economic recession, but one might be the fact that mortgage rates are at near-record lows. ...
Escape The Burden of Taxes with Colorado Interest Mortgage Rate ... PWO
all 17 news articles


Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance Loan- 3 Most Important Items to Get ...
CrunchGear, NY - Dec 23, 2008
Ultimately if you are looking to do a bad credit mortgage refinance loan you need to keep several things in mind to ensure that you don’t get taken for a ...


Mortgage Refinance Online
PWO, France - Dec 18, 2008
If you want to consolidate debt or get cash to pay for home improvements, you can apply for a mortgage refinance online that offers you a cash back option, ...


Refinancing suddenly booms
Honolulu Advertiser, HI - 6 hours ago
By Andrew Gomes Historically low interest rates recently have sparked a mortgage refinance boom in Hawai'i that is helping homeowners and lenders during ...


Florida Mortgage Broker now offering FHA Loans
Search By Headlines (press release), NV - Dec 23, 2008
Simply said, the FHA mortgage refinance loans are the complete replacement of the current mortgage that you have. It's important to know that FHA loans can ...


TopNews

Mortgage Rates Hit 37-Year Low
Poynter.org, FL - Jan 1, 2009
The average 30-year fixed rate now stands at 5.10 percent. It has fallen for nine straight weeks. The question is, even if you have no credit problem, ...
Don't miss the mortgage refinance window Barre Montpelier Times Argus
A toast to low mortgage rates MarketWatch
US mortgage rates drop to lowest in 37 years Reuters
all 387 news articles

Mortgage-Refinance - Google News

home | site map
© 2006