Should you get a home equity loan now?

As the effects of Inflation And growing interest rate Continue to 2023, many people are looking for ways to better manage their finances. Perhaps you’ve run into credit card debt, for example, or you’re looking for some breathing room in your monthly budget.

For homeowners, one option to consider is a Home equity loan. Often called a second mortgage, a home equity loan lets you borrow cash based on the equity in your home.

Keep in mind that although the names are very similar, a home equity loan is different from a. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). A home equity loan works like a mortgage that you pay back over time, while A HELOC Works like a credit card with a borrowing period that is usually different from the repayment period.

With a home equity loan, you can typically borrow up to 85% of the value of your home, minus the existing mortgage debt. So, on a $1 million home with $200,000 on the mortgage, you could borrow up to $650,000. The details, however, depend on your personal circumstances and where you borrow from. Some lenders may allow higher or lower home equity loan limits.

If you think you can benefit from taking a home equity loan. Get started now by checking your eligibility here. Or use the table below to explore your local options.

Should you take out a home equity loan now?

Why would a homeowner take money from his home? While this is not a decision to take lightly, some of the top benefits of a home equity loan that you may want to consider include:

Opportunity to profit quickly in real estate

The recent real estate boom means there’s a good chance your home is worth more than it was before the pandemic. If you don’t want to sell your home, you can still take advantage of the higher appraised value of your home by taking out a home equity loan.

You’ll still have to pay that amount back, with your home acting as collateral, so you may not want to use home equity loan funds to spend on unnecessary items. However, you may benefit from accessing these funds to renovate your home or manage a period with reduced income, for example.

Fixed interest rate

Home equity loan Usually there is a fixed interest rate. While borrowing costs are generally high across the board right now, locking in a fixed interest rate on a home equity loan can be helpful if you have high-interest debt like credit cards.

If you can pay off that high-interest balance first and then pay off your home equity loan, you may come out ahead, especially if rates continue to rise. Other borrowing options, eg HELOCsThere may be variable rates, meaning you won’t know what your payments will look like down the road.

Explore your home equity options online today to see if it’s right for you..

lump sum

Another advantage of a home equity loan is that you can get the money as a lump sum instead of in stages. With a lump sum, you can have a lot of money which gives you flexibility, such as making other investments.

While investing in other investments with a home equity loan may increase your risk, it is possible to find one that pays more than your fixed interest rate on your home equity loan, thus You should earn money on net basis.

May be tax deductible.

Home equity loans, like some other forms of real estate borrowing, can offer tax benefits that you can’t get with a personal loan. In particular, the interest you pay on a home equity loan is tax deductible if you use the funds to “purchase, construct, or substantially improve” the home securing the loan. are, As the IRS explains..

Be sure to check the IRS rules and consider consulting a tax advisor for clarification.

The bottom line

While home equity loans have many potential benefits, not all borrowers come out ahead. For one, if you can’t get a good interest rate on a home equity loan, the costs of borrowing can outweigh the benefits. Some homeowners may prefer to wait to see if interest rates drop.

Consider shopping around for different types of loans to see what works for your situation. You may also want to talk to a financial advisor who can help you decide which financial measures are right for you. Now you can easily find your home equity loan options here. Or search the table below for some local offers.