 |
 |
 |
           |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Top 5 Methods to Manage Your Home Equity
As your home appreciates in value, you gain equity. You can look at this equity, as a portion of the value of your home, which becomes an asset that is not burdened by debt. Therefore, this is a critical financial vehicle that cannot be ignored. Let me say it another way. For most of us, your home Equity is likely to be, the primary, unencumbered assets of your own, personal estate. Here are several things to consider, when managing this critical financial leverage: 1. Retirement 2. Debt Consolidation 3. Home Improvements 4. Equity Lines of Credit 5. Other 1. Retirement: Personally, I hate debt. I absolutely, positively, detest debt. I do everything in my power to completely eliminate it from my life. Therefore, this first method is my own, personal favorite. a) Leave it alone. Ignore it. Pretend it's not there. Forget about it. Live life as if it did not exist. b) The equity in your home can become an absolutely essential cog in the wheel of your retirement. But in order for it to work its magic, you need to allow it to build and grow, and avoid all temptation to tap into it. c) If you can do this, then at the end of the tunnel, there is a nice nest egg waiting for you. 2. Debt Consolidation: Of course, the above principals of using equity for retirement may not be entirely wise, if you are burdened with additional debt. a) If your debt is large and encumbering enough, then you may want to consider refinancing and incorporating that debt into a new, first deed of trust. Not only is this more organized and simplified, but you can stretch the loan out over 30 years, thus allowing more affordability. b) If you wish to pay off the additional debt sooner, or if the debt is small enough, then you might want to consider a second mortgage on the home. c) Either way, the interest paid on either the new first loan, or the second loan, will be a write off, and thus, you will gain an added benefit by restructuring. d) In addition, the interest rate on a second (or first) is far lower, then what you'd expect to pay on an unsecured loan, such as your credit card. 3. Home Improvements: There comes a time in everyone's life, when you just want to make some changes around the homestead. If you are in the market for a new pool, a decked out backyard landscaping job, a new roof, or new appliances, et al., then a second loan or refinance is generally the way to go. a) Not only can you pull out a much larger amount of money from your home, then say your credit cards, but the terms are much more agreeable, stretched out over 7 to 10 years or more, at a much lower rate. b) It's a write-off. c) The money spent, goes towards improving the home, and thus, adds to the overall value of your estate. 4. Equity Lines of Credit: It's always good to plan for emergencies. a) An Equity Line of Credit can provide you with the security you need to ensure that you'll always have liquid assets around, should you need them. b) This is much more effective than having a large amount of money sitting in a low to no interest bearing savings account in your local bank. Open an equity line of credit, and go invest that money so that it is working for you. c) It's also harmless, free, and usually tax-deductible should the need arise to use it. d) Just keep in mind the importance of discipline. Don't use it, unless it's absolutely necessary. 5. Other: A word of caution: I'm not advocating that you jump in to uncharted waters, or freely spend the hard earned equity that you've so diligently been building. a) But it is your equity. You can save it, consolidate with it, spend with it, and use it to invest in other properties, other businesses, other ventures. b) So your equity is like your own personal bank. It requires no applications, no processing procedures, and no approvals by the board of directors. It requires none of that, because it is yours. You own it. c) But just keep in mind, that you have equity because of diligence, intelligence, wisdom, and discipline. You've grown it, and now that you have it, another word of caution: Don't waste it frivolously. Be good to your equity, and it will be good to you. We've enjoyed providing this information to you, and we wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. Remember to always seek out good advice from those you trust, and never turn your back on your own common sense. Publisher's Directions: This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, author's information, disclaimer, and an active link (where possible) are included. Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed in the articles, reviews and other materials herein are those of the authors. While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. The author will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this site. Copyright 2005, by http://www.ExpertLoan.Net, This article is available in full format at: Your Home Equity, Tom Levine provides a solid, common sense approach to solving problems and answering questions relating to consumer loan products. His website seeks to provide free online resources for the consumer, including rate-watch, tips and articles, financial communication, news, and links to products and services.
MORE RESOURCES:
Mortgage-Refinance - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
A Home Equity Loan - What You Should Know? Asking yourself, "Is a home equity loan right for me?" is the first and most important step to take.Home equity loans have become so popular today because of increasing home values. Home Equity Loans A home equity loan allows you to cash-in on the equity you have built-up in your home. The funds you receive can be used for debt consolidation, home improvement, college education, investments or any purpose. Mortgage Glossary of Terms A brief list of some of the most common Mortgage terms.Adverse Credit The term used if the borrower has a poor credit history. Home Equity Loans Company - 7 Key Questions to Help You Choose One Choosing the right home equity loan can be tricky; you have to consider interest rates and repayment schedules, among others. Choosing the right lender, however, does not have to be a difficult task. Applying for a Home Mortgage Loan Online - The Pros and Cons If you have considered applying for a home loan mortgage online, there are a few pros and cons to think about with getting a home mortgage loan online:Pros:1. The process of applying for an online home mortgage loan is very simple, unlike some lenders who operate in the 'real' world and ask for heaps of information. Things that You Need to Know before Financing Your Home Frequent Asking Questions:What are Points? A. There are several types of mortgage related costs called "points" and their definitions and purposes vary. Bridging Finance Basics Bridging finance is a short-term loan that is used as a way to provide funding for the purchase of a new property while the borrower awaits the sale of an existing property. Unless all the stars are in perfect alignment, it's tricky to coordinate the sale of one property and the purchase of another property so that the transactions occur simultaneously. How Much Interest is Your Home Equity Earning? How much interest are you earning on your home equity? If you answered nothing, zero, zilch, zip you are correct. What would you do if you could get triple compounding on your equity? Would you take action and build a fortune that would allow you to pay off the mortgage and create a retirement fund?We use a strategy called Early Mortgage Pay Off System or EMPOS?. Home Loans and Mortgages - Watch Out for Dangerous Subprime Loans With the growing interest in real estate purchasing and speculation, more and more lenders are offering "nontraditional" types of mortgages. These include adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) of every shape and size, the more popular interest-only mortgage, and the very dangerous Option ARM mortgage, which can cause the amount you owe to actually increase as time passes. Build Your Own Dream House! So you're thinking about building your own house, are you? Well, you've come to the right place! It's a lot of fun (hard work and eventually fun!) to build your own home and it will save you thousands of dollars(we saved over a Hundred Grand by doing it ourselves - that's pretty significant cash!). If you happen to live in a Large City, like Los Angeles, or anywhere that Real Estate Values are 'close-to-insane', you could potentially save millions of dollars. Mortgage-Refinance Treachery: Avoid Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Biggest Trick -- The Sales Pitch What the average homeowner or home buyer fails to realize is that bankers, loan officers, mortgage brokers, or whatever your lenders call themselves, are salesmen. Certainly, if you purchased your home from a realtor and used her lender, you most likely got a feeling of trust in that person, because the realtor referred him. 40-Year Mortgages: An Alternative to Interest-only Loans? Interest-only loans are quickly becoming a mainstream loan product. Borrowers who were initially turned-off by the perceived risk associated with an "interest-only" loan are now starting to see the benefits: Lower payments, less money tied up in equity, more flexibility, etc. Refinance Your Home Equity Loan Refinancing your home equity loan is an excellent way to save money. By refinancing your home equity loan you can lower your interest rate and finance for a longer or shorter term. How to Save Money by Using an Independent Commercial Mortgage Broker Being a creature of habit can cost you plenty when it comes to applying for a commercial mortgage instead of going through an independent commercial mortgage broker. Let me tell you why. Find the Best Mortgage Company If you do not wish to commit to living in one place for at least a few years, then owning a house is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner. 2nd Mortgage - Better Than Refinancing You have probably received refinancing offers in the mail or advertised online touting your ability to pull out your home's equity. But a 2nd mortgage, also called an equity loan, may be a better financing option than refinancing your mortgage. Mortgage Loan Most Bankers Wont Give May Be Exactly What You Need to Buy or Refinance Your Home A few years ago, a loan officer who worked for me was having a problem helping a customer. He was new to the business and had very little patience for problems (as you might have already guessed, he didn't last very long). Reverse Mortgages - A Tax Free Income For Senior Citizens I fully realize if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is and There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch (TANSTAAFL) immediately jumped into your head when you read the title of this article. However, if you are 62 or over, you may have just found the goose that laid the golden egg. Refinancing Your Mortgage Can Open Up A Lot Of Options For You And Your Family It can happen to anyone, the roof is leaking, the credit card bills are pilling up and it is almost time for a new car. But where are you going to get the money to do all of these things? The need for extra cash can be very frustrating and worrisome, however if you are a home owner you have a variety of financial options available to you that you may not even be aware of. Be Prepared With Your Home Equity Loan Checklist A home equity loan can be an excellent way to obtain money in order to pay off high interest bills or consolidate your current debt into one monthly payment. A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral.
|
 |