If you have been a homeowner for more than a few years, you will have equity built up on your home no matter what kind of mortgage payment plan you have. Equity is the difference between what you owe on your home and what you could sell it for on the current market. If your home is appraised at $180,000 and you only have $80,000 owed on the property, you have $100,000 available in your home. If you are looking for debt consolidation options, opening a home equity line of credit could be perfect for you.Refinancing your home in this way can save you money because you can get better rates and help you establish a payment plan that fits better with your current financial situation. The question in your mind may be whether to get a line of credit or a home equity loan. Home equity loans acquired at a fixed rate can be very attractive, as they can serve as tax write-offs, feature interest rates that are below market averages, and have longer periods of time to repay the loan. Understand that home equity loans serve as a second mortgage on your home, and like the first mortgage, you will be given certain terms and a repayment period of between 10 to 20 years.A home equity line of credit is different from a home equity loan in that the interest rate can change over time and the term begins when you decide to start using the proceeds from the line of credit. Variable interest rate loans are ideal if you need a lower introductory rate. Stated another way, if you hope and expect to not need to use a large percentage of the loan amount, a variable interest rate is best. Fixed rates are also offered if your plan is to pay off other large debts with high interest rates. In this case, it could take years to pay off your line of credit to the lender, but it will end up costing you less than if you had to pay off all of your other debts separately.In your decision making, consider the fact that home equity loans are usually selected for one-time expenses like a home improvement job while a line of credit may be opened to pay for recurring expenses. To view competitive rates and get no obligation quotes, visit one of the many quality mortgage sites online today.
