What is a Home Equity Loan? 

You might have heard a lot about the home equity loan every now and then from friends or office mates, but not sure what it is and how it works? But really, what is a home equity loan? To understand what it is and how it works, let us know first what a home equity is. To be able for you to have a home equity, of course, you should have or own a home. Your home, for all you know, can be your best asset. And, no matter how much money you are making at present, time will come that you will need a considerable amount of money- not just extra but big amount of money. And don’t say that that’s not going to happen, because we don’t know what the future has in store for us. 

Home equity is the difference between the current market value (appraised value) of your home and the outstanding mortgage balance. Therefore, if “ 

Your home’s appraised value is                $ 100,000 

Your outstanding mortgage balance is      $   50,000 

Your home equity is                              $   50,000 

Now that you know what home equity means, it’s time for you to ask “what is a home equity loan?” A home equity loan has two major types; the home equity loan and home equity line of credit. A home equity loan or a home equity line of credit allows you to borrow money using your home’s equity as collateral. Both types actually put your home in the hands of the lenders. If you are not able to pay your dues, this could mean the loss of your home. So, be very careful in dealing with this kind of loan. 

To compute for your potential credit, most lenders set a percentage of your home’s appraised value minus the balance owed on mortgage. The exact amount in which you can borrow also depends on some factors like your ability to pay, debts, and other financial obligation. Given the above example: 

Your home’s appraised value                            $ 100, 000 

Percentage                                                     x        80 % 

Percentage of appraised value                       =    $ 80, 000 

Less balance owed on mortgage                      -   $ 50, 000 

Your potential credit is                                      $ 30, 000 

Now that you know what is a home equity and home equity loan, the next thing you should be asking is, what is a home equity loan that is best for you? To know what home equity loan is the best for you, determine the purpose of your loan and how long you want to pay it, in terms of year. In order for you not to get hooked-up on debt for a long time, borrow only the amount you need for its purpose only.