Beginning monthly principal and interest payment:
Total monthly payments:
Total interest:
Maximum monthly payment:
The above amortizaiton tables show the interest costs and payments over a 15-year timeframe for a loan or line of credit that is fully used up to the credit limit. The first column can be thought of as a fixed-rate home equity loan or the repayment period of a HELOC if it uses a fixed interest rate during the repayment term. The second column can be thought of as the draw period on a HELOC where the homeowner is making amortizing payments, or the repayment period on a HELOC if it still uses a variable interest rate. The third column can be thought of as the draw period on a HELOC where the homeowner is making the minimum monthly payment. HELOCs typically have a draw period of up to 10 years and a repayment period of up to 15 years beyond the draw period. The repayment period can be either fixed or adjustable rate.
Columbus Homeowners: Leverage Your Home Equity Today
Our rate table lists current home equity offers in your area, which you can use to find a local lender or compare against other loan options. From the [loan type] select box you can choose between HELOCs and home equity loans of a 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 year duration.
HELOC vs Home Equity Loans
Home equity loans are just like a traditional conforming fixed-rate mortgage. They require a set monthly payments for a fixed period of time where a borrower is lent a set amount of money upfront and then pays back a specific amount each month for the remainder of the loan. Equity loans typically charge a slightly higher initial rate than HELOC do, but they are fixed loans rather than adjustable loans. If you are replacing your roof and fixing your plumbing and know exactly what they will cost upfront, then a home equity loan is likely a good fit.
HELOC offer greater flexibility, like the ability to pay interest-only for a period of time, and then switch to a regular amortizing or balloon payment. When you have a HELOC you may be charged a small nominal annual fee - say $50 to $100 - to keep the line open, but you do not accrue interest until you draw on the line. HELOC loans are better for people who are paying their child's college expenses each year and other types of staggered periodic expenses. Be aware HELOC rates are variable and change as the Federal Reserve adjusts the Fed Funds rate, so monthly costs may jump significantly if you shift from interest-only to amortizing payments around the same time the Federal Reserve does a significant rate hike.
Which option should I choose? HELOCs are better for people who need to borrow various amounts of money periodically, whereas home equity loans are better for people who intend to borrow one known sum of money once for a known fixed amount of time.
Loan Type
Home Equity Loans
HELOC
Cash Out Refi
Interest Rate
Fixed
Adjustable (in most cases)
Fixed
Draw Money
Lump Sum
As needed, throughout draw period
Lump Sum
Tax Deductible Interest
Yes*
Yes*
Yes*
Interest Only Payment
No
Yes
No
Interest On
Loan Amount
Amount Drawn
Loan Amount
* provided the debt is obtained to build or substantially improve the homeowner's dwelling.
Some banks offer hybrid products where borrowers do not owe until they draw on the line, but then structure the loan to be fully amortizing. When borrowing large sums of money many borrowers choose cash out refi rather than a home equity loan. The following interactive table highlights local refinance rate offers from banks and credit unions in your region.
Home Equity Lines of Credit and Traditional Second Mortgages
The fixed amount of money repayable by a second mortgage is done over a fixed period of time. In many cases, the payment schedule calls for payments of equal amounts to be paid throughout the entire loan period. One may decided to take a second mortgage rather than a home equity line if, for example, the set amount is needed for a certain purpose such as building an addition onto the home.
However, deciding which type of loan suits the need of the customer involves considering the costs that come along with two alternatives. It is important to look at both the APR and all other charges. The APRs on the two different types of loans are figured in different ways:
The interest rate charged plus other financial charges for a traditional second mortgage is taken into consideration by the APR
The APR is based on just the periodic interest rate. It does not include other charges or points.
HELOCs vs. Home Equity Loans vs. Cash Out Refinancing
Cash-out Refinance
A cash-out refinance, is really a refinancing of your existing mortgage with an additional lump sum added in, to be spent as you see fit. This can be viewed most simply as one loan replacing another.
Home Equity Loan
A home equity loan, is a lump sum payment as well, but it does not include your mortgage payment – it is in addition to your mortgage, so is sometimes referred to as a second mortgage. The first mortgage has a senior position in the capital structure, but if you default on either loan you could still lose the house.
Home Equity Line of Credit
A HELOC is similar to a home equity loan in terms of working alongside your existing first mortgage, but it acts more like a credit card, with a draw period, and a repayment period and is one of the more popular options with today’s homeowners.
Repaying Your Home Equity Line of Credit
Some plans have minimum payments that cover a certain portion of the principal, the total amount borrowed, plus any accrued interest. Unlike the usual installment loan, the amount that goes toward the principal may not be sufficient enough to repay the principal amount by the end of the term. Other plans may allow payments to be made on the interest a loan during the life of the loan, which is referred to as interest-only loans. This means that the borrower pays nothing toward the principal. If the borrower borrows $10,000, that means they will owe that amount when the plan comes to an end.
The borrower may choose to pay an amount higher than the minimum payment, so many lenders may offer a choice of payment options. Many consumers choose to make payments on the principal on a regular basis just as they do with loans. For example, if the consumer uses their line of credit to buy a boat, they may want to pay it off just as they would a typical boat loan, which saves more money in the long run.
Whether the payment arrangements during the life of the loan is to pay a little or pay none toward the principal amount of the loan, when the plan comes to an end the consumer may be required to pay the entire balance all at once. The consumer must be prepared for this “balloon payment” by refinancing that amount with the lender, by obtaining a loan from a new lender, or by other means. If the consumer is unable to make the balloon payment, then they risk losing their home. The consumer must consider how the balloon payment is going to be made prior to entering the loan agreement.
Common Uses of HELOC: Why You Might Consider One
There are several reasons as to why the consumer should consider a home equity line of credit and many different reasons as to why borrowers use them:
Home equity lines of credit are used as tools to consolidate debt. Many borrowers find that their home equity can be used as a way to consolidate their high-interest debts such as credit cards.
There are potential tax benefits if used as a home improvement loan. The tax advisor can help the borrower learn if the interest is tax-deductible. Generally speaking HELOCs and home equity loans are considered tax deductible if the debt is obtained to build or substantially improve the homeowner's dwelling.
A home equity line of credit can give the borrower the cash to purchase a boat or a car.
The borrower can pay for their child’s college education.
The borrower can pay off a fixed second mortgage or an existing line of credit.
Buy an additional home or investment property.
How Much Can You Borrow?
Depending on the creditworthiness of the borrower and the amount of outstanding debt, the home equity lender may let the borrower borrow up to 85% of the appraised value of the home minus any amounts still owed on the first mortgage. The lender should be asked about the length of the home equity loan and if there is a minimum withdrawal requirement, as well as if there is a minimum amount or maximum amount to withdraw after the account is opened. The borrower must know in what methods the credit line can be accessed such as credit cards, checks, or both.
Refinancing as Another Option
HELOC typically charge a higher rate of interest than traditional fixed-rate mortgages. If you intend to borrow a significant amount of equity for an extended period of time, it may be more cost effective to refinance your mortgage. This is especially true if your original mortgage was obtained when rates were well above their current historically low levels. It is also worth reiterating that traditional home mortgage debt allows the homeowner to deduct the interest payments on up to $750,000 of debt from their income taxes, while both HELOCs and home equity loans are not tax deductible unless it is obtained to build or substantially improve the homeowner's dwelling.
Things to Consider With Home Equity Lines of Credit
There are both advantages and disadvantages to a home equity line of credit. The following are things to look for when considering such an action:
There is no application fee or upon closing the fee should be refunded. If the lender charges an application fee, it should be ensured that it is a fee that can be refunded at closing.
No closing or home loan appraisal costs.
No check-writing or HELOC account management fees.
Should not be any “usage” fees, though some banks do charge account maintenance fees for unused accounts.
The variable APR is equal or close to the prime rate, which is adjusted quarterly. Interest that is charged on the balanced that is borrowed should be the only cost that is associated with a home equity line of credit.
There should be a periodic cap on the interest rate changes, which is the amount that the rate can be changed at a time. It is good to find a home equity line of credit that adjusts quarterly rather than monthly. The increments should be 0.5% or less.
Rate increases should have a lifetime cap.
The borrower should be able to convert a fixed rate loan if the interest rate rises.
The borrower should be allowed to make Interest-only payments in the event conversion is needed.
The borrower should be able to repay the principal should be unrestricted so that the loan can be repaid without having to put out more money.
Columbus Homeowners May Want to Refinance While Rates Are Low
The Federal Reserve has hinted they are likely to taper their bond buying program later this year. Lock in today's low rates and save on your loan.
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