Home Equity Line of Credit vs. Home Equity Loan – Nationwide (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between home equity loan and home equity line of credit? ›

With a home equity loan, you receive the money you are borrowing in a lump sum payment and you usually have a fixed interest rate. With a home equity line of credit (HELOC), you have the ability to borrow or draw money multiple times from an available maximum amount.

Unlike home equity loans, which pay you a lump sum, HELOCs allow you to borrow lesser amounts over time, so that you're only taking the funds you need when you need them. Borrowing only what you need can keep your monthly payments lower and help avoid unnecessary debt (and interest payments).

With a home-equity loan, you'll pay interest on the entire lump sum, whether or not you use it all. But HELOCs give you more control over the amount you borrow—and thus how much interest you'll end up paying.

You could pay a higher interest rate for a home equity loan than a HELOC because the rate is fixed for the life of the loan. You could tap too much equity at once, which can work against you if property values in your area decline.

The possibility of losing your house: “If you fail to pay your home equity loan, your financial institution could foreclose on your home,” says Sterling. The potential to owe more than it's worth: A home equity loan takes into account your property value today.

Home Equity Loan Disadvantages

Higher Interest Rate Than a HELOC: Home equity loans tend to have a higher interest rate than home equity lines of credit, so you may pay more interest over the life of the loan. Your Home Will Be Used As Collateral: Failure to make on-time monthly payments will hurt your credit score.

Loan payment example: on a $50,000 loan for 120 months at 7.50% interest rate, monthly payments would be $593.51. Payment example does not include amounts for taxes and insurance premiums.

Interest rates for home equity loans and lines of credit will keep rising in 2023 as the Federal Reserve continues to battle inflation. “As long as the Fed is active, HELOC rates are going to continue to march higher,” says Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate chief financial analyst.

During the early stages of the 2020 financial crisis, several big banks stopped offering HELOCs, citing unpredictable market conditions as the reason.

Pros: A cash-out refinance could be a wiser option than a HELOC if you can get a better interest rate and you want the predictability of borrowing at a fixed rate.

Is it a bad time to get a HELOC? ›

Home equity loans can be a good option if you know exactly how much you need to borrow and you want the stability of a fixed rate and fixed monthly payment. HELOCs come with variable rates, which make them less predictable. But rates are expected to drop this year, which means getting a HELOC might be the smarter move.

You can typically borrow up to 85% of the value of your home minus the amount you owe. Also, a lender generally looks at your credit score and history, employment history, monthly income and monthly debts, just as when you first got your mortgage.

If the market turns and your home suffers a loss in appraisal value, your equity is affected as well. When this happens, your lender can enforce a HELOC reduction so that your borrowing limit is based off the equity that remains. If you are now in a situation of negative equity, you will see a HELOC freeze.

HELOC Rates Forecast for 2023

Considering the Fed has signaled plans to continue raising its rate should inflation not slow down, it's likely HELOC rates will rise as well. Some economists project that HELOC rates will stay elevated through the year, peaking at close to 8%.

A mortgage will have a lower interest rate than a home equity loan or a HELOC, as a mortgage holds the first priority on repayment in the event of a default and is a lower risk to the lender than a home equity loan or a HELOC.

A home equity loan risks your home and erodes your net worth. Don't take out a home equity loan to consolidate debt without addressing the behavior that created the debt. Don't use home equity to fund a lifestyle your income doesn't support. Don't take out a home equity loan to pay for college or buy a car.

The biggest negative associated with equity financing is the possibility of losing control of one's company. Because equity financing requires that a business owner give up company shares, this kind of financing can cause an owner to lose some or all of his or her ownership rights.

The main disadvantage to equity financing is that company owners must give up a portion of their ownership and dilute their control. If the company becomes profitable and successful in the future, a certain percentage of company profits must also be given to shareholders in the form of dividends.

Less burden. With equity financing, there is no loan to repay. The business doesn't have to make a monthly loan payment which can be particularly important if the business doesn't initially generate a profit. This in turn, gives you the freedom to channel more money into your growing business.

Equity financing may be less risky than debt financing because you don't have a loan to repay or collateral at stake. Debt also requires regular repayments, which can hurt your company's cash flow and its ability to grow.

What credit score do I need for home equity loan? ›

A credit score of 680 or higher will most likely qualify you for a loan as long as you also meet equity requirements, but a credit score of at least 700 is preferred by most lenders. In some cases, homeowners with credit scores of 620 to 679 may also be approved.

For a $150,000, 30-year mortgage with a 4% rate, your basic monthly payment — meaning just principal and interest — should come to $716.12. If you have an escrow account, the costs would be higher and depend on your insurance premiums, your local property tax rates, and more.

As long as there are no explicit mentions of penalties for early payoff, you are free to pay extra on your loan until it is paid off. In the odd case of an early payment penalty, it still may be worth paying off your home equity loan early.

Key Takeaways. It is illegal for lenders to discriminate and deny credit based on age. Older applicants are treated the same as younger ones: They need a reasonable amount of home equity and must prove that they can afford the monthly payments.

A second mortgage is another home loan taken out against an already-mortgaged property. They are usually smaller than a first mortgage. The two most common types of second mortgages are home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOC).

A HELOC can be a good idea if you have ongoing expenses you want to finance at a low interest rate, such as home renovations, college tuition, or even an investment property. Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) allow homeowners to tap their home's equity when they need cash quickly for something important.

The major downside to taking out a home equity loan—to pay off debt or for any other purpose—is that you'll be putting your home on the line. Because your home serves as collateral for the loan, just as it does for your original mortgage, the lender could seize and sell it if you are unable to pay your loan back.

If your HELOC has a variable interest rate, and that rate increases while you're still paying back what you borrowed, your monthly payment could be higher than what you can afford. If this happens, you should contact your lender.

Home equity loan denial is often out of your hands

While you might expect to be turned down for a home equity loan if you have a poor credit score or unverifiable income, the fact is, even with good credit, a bank can still turn you down.

What is the cheapest way to get equity out of your house? ›

HELOCs are generally the cheapest type of loan because you pay interest only on what you actually borrow. There are also no closing costs. You just have to be sure that you can repay the entire balance by the time that the repayment period expires.

While qualifying for a HELOC depends more on your home equity than your credit score, good or excellent credit can simplify the process and make it a lot easier to qualify for a HELOC. A good average to shoot for is 645 or higher. Plus, the better your credit score, the better your interest rate.

Generally, it takes about two to six weeks to borrow a HELOC, from submitting your application to receiving your funding. Of course, your time frame may be shorter or longer, depending on how quickly you can provide your lender with the required information and documents.

Unlike defaulting on a credit card — where the penalties are late fees and a lower credit score — defaulting on a home equity loan or HELOC means that you could lose your home.

HELOC funds are borrowed during a “draw period,” typically 10 years. Once the 10-year draw period ends, any outstanding balance will be converted into a principal-plus-interest loan for a 20-year repayment period.

Sale-Leaseback Agreement. One of the best ways to get equity out of your home without refinancing is through what is known as a sale-leaseback agreement. In a sale-leaseback transaction, homeowners sell their home to another party in exchange for 100% of the equity they have accrued.

Even if you open a home equity line of credit and never use it, you won't have to pay anything back. Keep in mind that whether you use your line of credit or not, you may be charged an annual fee, which is the cost you pay for having the line of credit available for when you need it.

A lender can freeze or reduce your HELOC if you've defaulted on it, meaning you've halted payments and violated the lending terms.

Despite the fact that there are some troubling trends in the housing market, we're likely not going to see a crash in 2023 or 2024. While house prices are likely to drop, demand for housing caused by America's ongoing housing shortage is likely to keep prices relatively stable.

What will a 30 year mortgage be in 2023? ›

As of June 9, 2023, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 7.22%, the FHA 30-year fixed rate is 7.29%, the VA 30-year fixed rate is 7.10% and the jumbo 30-year fixed rate is 6.27%.

After the introductory period ends, the interest rate on our Home Equity Line of Credit is based on the Prime Rate plus or minus a margin which is established when the account is opened. This rate is subject to change on a monthly basis.

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is an “open-end” line of credit that allows you to borrow repeatedly against your home equity. You “draw” on the line over time, usually up to some credit limit, using special checks or a credit card. As you repay the principal, you can draw that amount again.

A home equity loan occurs when a homeowner borrow money using the equity in their home as collateral. A home equity line of credit can be established that allows the homeowner to borrow against the equity in their home.

In most cases, you'll need a credit score of at least 680 to qualify for a home equity loan, but many lenders prefer a credit score of 720 or more. Some lenders will approve a home equity loan or HELOC even if your FICO^® Score falls below 680.

Though consumer rates have been relatively high so far this year overall, HELOCs are often more affordable than other options like credit cards or personal loans. Plus, rates are expected to drop later in 2023.

A HELOC can be a good idea if you have ongoing expenses you want to finance at a low interest rate, such as home renovations, college tuition, or even an investment property. Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) allow homeowners to tap their home's equity when they need cash quickly for something important.

You don't have to use it right away and you only pay it back when you do. Unlike credit cards, the line amount is typically much higher and many lenders have interest-only payment options during the borrowing or draw period, which is typically 10 years. Here are five smart HELOC use examples to inspire you.

At any time, you can pay off any remaining balance owed against your HELOC. Most HELOCs have a set term—when the term is up, you must pay off any remaining balance. If you pay off your HELOC balance early, your lender may offer you the choice to close the line of credit or keep it open for future borrowing.

How is a $50,000 home equity loan different from a $50,000 home equity line of credit? The person who takes the loan receives the full $50,000 at once; the person with the line of credit can borrow against the credit line for any amount up to $50,000 as money is needed.

Is a home equity line of credit wise? ›

A HELOC can be a worthwhile investment when you use it to improve your home's value. But it can become a bad debt when you use it to pay for things that you can't afford with your current income and savings. You may make an exception if you have a true financial emergency that can't be covered any other way.

A home equity line of credit, also known as a HELOC, is a line of credit secured by your home that gives you a revolving credit line to use for large expenses or to consolidate higher-interest rate debt on other loans such as credit cards.

Lenders prefer borrowers with good credit scores and low debt-to-income (DTI) ratios. You generally need at least 20% equity in your home to be approved for a home equity loan. You usually cannot tap 100% of your equity.

A credit score of 680 or higher will most likely qualify you for a loan as long as you also meet equity requirements, but a credit score of at least 700 is preferred by most lenders. In some cases, homeowners with credit scores of 620 to 679 may also be approved.

A home equity loan generally allows you to borrow around 80% to 85% of your home's value, minus what you owe on your mortgage. Some lenders allow you to borrow significantly more — even as much as 100% in some instances.