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Obtaining a Home Equity Loan Online
Private lenders, banks, and mortgage companies are all setting up shop on the internet, and all make it possible to obtain a home equity loan online. Competition between lenders is stiff, so be sure to check a few companies that offer applications about their rates, products, and customer service.
A mortgage site that provides a home equity loans will also give more detailed information for the typical uses of a home equity loan. Many people choose to get a home equity loan in order to consolidate existing debts- such as credit cards, loans, educational expenses, and car payments. Home equity loans are also used in order to finance home improvements that youd like to make but dont have the cash on hand to pay for them, since the loans tend to be more economical than some of the other options for obtaining financing.
There are a few different versions of home equity loans that you can apply for and receive, and when you apply for a home equity loan online youll make a decision as to whether or not you need a line of credit, a fixed loan, or what is called a 125% loan. The line of credit is a good choice if you want to have money available to borrow at any time, such as for home improvements or sending children to college. A fixed loan option is perfect for individuals who know exactly how much money is needed and only want to borrow once, while a 125% loan is useful for people who want to consolidate debts but do not have much equity in their home yet. The 125% loan allows the borrowers to borrow up to 125% of the property value and usually offers a fixed interest rate.
Applying for a Home Loan
Applying for a home loan may not be the most exciting way to spend your time, but if you are like many potential homeowners, it is probably a necessary evil. If you have some knowledge of the process ahead of time, however, it will go much more smoothly.
Home loan applications tend to be very long, but if you are prepared ahead of time you can finish the application procedure without breaking a sweat. Before you begin filling out the form, make sure you have available your Social Security number, information pertaining to previous employers and residences, recent pay stubs, copies of credit card and loan statements, copies of bank statements and asset information such as stocks, pension and retirement funds. Begin the form by simply filling out each line with the requested information but leave Section I, entitled Type of Mortgage and Terms of Loan, blank.
Next fill out Section II, Property Information and Purpose of Loan, with any of your available information. Only fill in the subject property address line, however, after you have an accepted offer on a property. If you dont have a property yet, simply state the purpose of the loan as purchase or refinance, as well as the type of property the loan will cover (primary, secondary, or investment). Also write down all the names in which the title will be held, how the title will be held, and the source of the down payment (this is usually in cash).
In Section III, Borrower Information, you must fill out your personal information including name, Social Security number, phone, age, years in school, marital status, number of children and their ages, and present and previous employers.
Section IV is Employment Information, while Section V is Monthly Income and Combined Housing Expense Information (use your pay stubs for this section).
Section VI, Assets and Liabilities, can be filled out using bank statements, as well as credit card and loan statements. Leave Section VII, Details of Transaction, blank.
Finally, answer the question in Section VIII, Declaration, then sign and date the application. Also sign Section IX, Acknowledgement and Agreement.
5 Tips for Savvy Use of Your Home Equity Line of Credit
Tapping your homes equity to pay college expenses, consolidate credit card debt or even to buy a new car or boat is common place. Many economists attribute the additional buying power afforded consumers through home equity debt as a primary reason the nations economy has been able to emerge from the recent recession. Yet, aside from simply allowing consumers to spendmore, the flexibility and efficiency of a home equity line of credit (HELOC) can provide the financially savvy person with the means to savemoney, make money or simply take advantageof opportune situations he or she might otherwise miss out on. Here are five tips to show you how:
Tip 1: Take Advantage of Higher Insurance Deductibles! You probably know that raising deductibles on auto and homeowners insurance policies can mean big savings on insurance premiums. If you increase the deductible on a homeowners policy from $500 to $1,000, youll cut your premium by as much as 25%! Yet many people dont do this because they fear they may not have the necessary cash available in the event of a loss. With low-interest cash readily available through a home equity line of credit youll have the security and confidence you need to raise your deductibles and reap the savings!
Tip 2: Lock In Big Savings! Credit card companies (e.g. the GM card) frequently have shopping programs with names like Main Street Savings on a 30-day free trial basis. These programs allow you to buy discounted gift cards (20% discount) for major national retailers like Target, Sears, and Home Depot. The flexibility afforded by a home equity line of credit can allow you to purchase (during the free trial period) a large amount of discounted gift cards for major retailers you frequent. Then use these cards instead of cash or credit when you purchase everyday items (The cash you would have spent can be used to pay down the HELOC).
Although you pay low interest on the home equity credit line, you receive a front-end discount of 20% on everything bought. When combined with store coupons and sales, you can realize total savings of 70% or more! In short, a HELOC provides the low interest cash availability to take advantage of bargains like this that you might otherwise have to pass on.
Tip 3: Take Advantage of 0% Balance Transfer Offers! Weve all seen no-fee credit card offering 0% APR on balance transfers for 6, 12, and even 18 months. If you have a balance on your HELOC, you may be able to take advantage of these offers. Heres an example of how: last year I accepted such an offer and promptly transferred $10,000 from my home equity credit line balance (which had a 4.25% rate). Then I cut up the card! For the next eleven months, I paid the monthly minimum credit card payment (3% of the outstanding balance) by writing a check from my home equity line of credit. In the twelfth month, prior to the expiration of the 0% offer, I paid off the remaining balance with another home equity credit line check. During the 12 months, I also made sure to continue my regular payment towards the HELOC at the same level, meaning that more of each went to pay down principal and less went to interest.
Net result: interest savings of over $350.00, lower principal balance on my HELOC, and a positive addition to my credit repayment history!
Tip 4: First Pay With a Rewards Credit Card! If youre contemplating using your HELOC for a major purchase, you should consider whether or not the merchant your dealing with accepts credit cards. Why? Because it makes a great deal of sense to pay first with a rewards credit card and then pay off the card with your HELOC check. On a recent $14,000 bathroom remodel, I was able to charge plumbing services, cabinets, and almost everything else to my Fidelity/MBNA 529 College Rewards Mastercard. This card pays you back by putting 2% of everything charged into a 529 college savings plan. Result: $280.00 in college savings that would have been missed if I paid the bills directly with home equity credit line checks! Whatever rewards credit card you favor, its sensible to pay first with the card whenever possible. Keep in mind, though, you must promptly pay off the balance and not incur finance charges.
Tip 5: Replace Your 1st Mortgage with a HELOC! According to Money Magazine, if you have more equity than debt and plan to stay in your home for 3 years or less, you should consider replacing your first mortgage with a home equity line of credit. HELOCs are currently available around the country at rates of 4% or lower. Even if rates increase a full percentage point each year, theyll still be low when you pay off the loan. Best of all, there are no closing costs with most HELOCS so you wont have to worry about recouping them through interest savings as you do with a traditional mortgage refinance. A savvy person - using tip 3 in conjunction with tip 5 - might even move a portion of his mortgage to a 0% credit card thanks to the flexibility of a home equity line of credit.
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