Gresham Homeowners Have Two Options for a Second Mortgage – Home Equity Loans and HELOCs
Home equity loans and HELOCs are two types of loans that allow you to borrow against your home’s equity. Both of these loan options can be useful tools to Gresham homeowners. For example, if you need money for remodeling projects or to consolidate high-interest debt, then taking out a second mortgage may be a good choice for you.
Why Are Home Equity Loans and HELOCs Good Choices for Gresham Homeowners?
Both a home equity loan and a HELOC have interest rates that are typically much lower than other borrowing options available to Gresham homeowners. This makes taking a second mortgage out preferable to the alternative of taking out a personal loan or credit card. Also, because both of these loan types use your home as collateral, they may be easier to qualify for. Also, you ultimately get to choose how you use the money you get from these types of loans.
The Differences Between Home Equity Loans and HELOCs
Home equity loans and HELOCs each have their benefits and drawbacks. Gresham homeowners looking to take out a second mortgage must figure out which option works best for them.
Home Equity Loans
With a home equity loan, you receive the borrowed funds in a single lump sum. How much you are able to take out is limited by your loan-to-ratio value. This calculation takes into account your home value minus your existing mortgage and limits the loan to about 80% to 90% of that balance for those that qualify. Home equity loans are the more predictable of the two second mortgage options because they come with a fixed interest rate, fixed repayment term, and therefore, a fixed monthly payment. One thing potential Gresham borrowers will want to ask up front is if the lender charges a prepayment penalty. This way, if you want to pay the loan ahead of schedule you can know what to expect. Compare options to determine what is best for you.
HELOCs
HELOCs, or Home Equity Lines of Credit, is a line of credit you can borrow against when you need the money. As such, these loans are more like a credit card than a personal loan. In the end, you only pay back the amount you borrow. HELOCs also limit how much you can borrow, and usually allow for approximately 85% of your home’s value. Fees may be added onto this later. Interest rates can be variable based on an index, although some lenders allow customers to convert these to fixed rates. HELOCs have fixed borrowing and repayment periods – usually 10 years for borrowing and 20 years for repayment. You only pay back what you borrow in the borrowing period. Since monthly payments depend on how much you borrow and your interest rate, HELOCs are less predictable than home equity loans. It can be hard to tell what your monthly payment will be and it could even fluctuate over time.
Gresham homeowners who need extra cash may find that taking out a separate mortgage is a better option than other types of loans. However, careful consideration is the key when it comes to considering any type of loan – especially one that uses your home as collateral. For those in Gresham looking for advice on home equity loans and HELOCs, come down to Stonebridge Mortgage Group for sound professional advice.
Stonebridge Mortgage Group is Proud to Serve Gresham
For professional assistance with mortgages, look no further than Stonebridge Mortgage Group. You can rely on Stonebridge Mortgage Group to help guide you through the home buying process. If you’re ready to apply for a loan and want to go through the process online, Stonebridge Mortgage Group offers online applications. We also help get you pre-approved for a mortgage and help with your real estate loans and other mortgage solutions, both residential and commercial. Stonebridge Mortgage Group serves the greater Portland area and is located in Gresham, Oregon. Don’t wait to get quality assistance with buying your home!
Two useful tools for borrowing against your home’s equity.
Homeowners in need of cash may want to consider taking out a home equity loan or a HELOC. Both are commonly referred to as a second mortgage and allow you to borrow against the value of your home. If you find yourself looking at a remodel for your home or you need to do some pricey repairs, these types of loans are incredibly useful.
Why choose a second mortgage over a different type of loan?
There are many types of loans out there that you could take if you find yourself in need of extra cash now. However, homeowners have a unique benefit in being able to utilize your home’s equity. Home equity loans and HELOCs both typically have lower interest rates than other types of loans. If your only other options are personal loans or credit cards, then these loans are the better choice. Since second mortgage loans also use your house as collateral, they may be easier to qualify for. Additionally, there are no limits as to how you’re allowed to use the money you get from a home equity loan or a HELOC. While of course it is not recommended to use said money frivolously, it is extremely useful if you need to remodel or repair things around your home.
But which would work best for you — a home equity loan or a HELOC? Both loans let you borrow against the value of your home, but they don’t function the same way. You must familiarize yourself with each before you can know which is best for you.
Home Equity Loans
These loans come with a fixed interest rate, fixed monthly payment, and fixed repayment timeline. Because they are more predictable, home equity loans are the preferred option for borrowers who don’t like surprises.
The fixed interest rate and repayment term means that your payment amount month by month will not change unexpectedly. You know exactly how much you’re borrowing, what you’ll pay back, and how long it will take.
The amount you borrow is determined by your loan-to-value ratio. This calculation takes into account your home value minus your existing mortgage and limits your loan to about 80% to 90% of that balance. If you qualify, you will receive the funds in a lump sum.
Double check with your lenders to see if there are any payment penalties. If you think you may want to pay off the loan early, you’ll need to know what they penalize you for and how much. Different lenders have different fee rates, so it’s useful to compare lenders before deciding on one.
To sum up:
Pros
-Fixed monthly payment, loan term, and interest rate
Cons
-Because your home is used as collateral you risk foreclosure if you don’t repay -Some home equity loans have fees, including an origination fee and closing fees – You are required to figure out how much you want to borrow up front
HELOCs
HELOCs, unlike home equity loans, come with variable rates and let you borrow as you need. These loans function a lot like a credit card, with the biggest difference being that you’re using your home as collateral. Borrowing as you need means you will only pay back what you borrowed in the first place.
HELOCs also limit the amount of money you can take out. The lending rate is usually up to about 85% of your home’s value. This may more may not include fees to the lender. The interest rate for HELOCs is variable and based on an index. Some lenders may allow customers to convert these to fixed rates.
HELOCs tend to come with set borrowing and repayment periods. The borrowing period is usually about 10 years, and the repayment period is about 20 years. You are only allowed to take out money during the borrowing period. Remember that your payment is based on how much you borrow, and your interest rate is variable. This means that tour monthly payment amount may be hard to predict and could even fluctuate over the course of your loan.
To sum up:
Pros
– Only borrow amounts you need instead of a lump sum – Your variable rate could remain low since it’s based on an index – Many HELOCs come with no fees or low fees
Cons
– Because your home is used as collateral you risk foreclosure if you don’t repay – Some HELOCs require a large balloon payment or lump sum at the end – Some HELOCs have fees, including an origination fee and closing fees – Your monthly payment can vary based on your interest rate and how much you borrow
In the end, only you can decide which, if either, of these options is right for you.
Stonebridge Mortgage Group can advise you on your mortgage needs.
For professional assistance with your mortgage, look no further than Stonebridge Mortgage Group. You can rely on Stonebridge Mortgage Group to help guide you through the entire home buying process. If you’re ready to apply for a loan and want to go through the process online, Stonebridge Mortgage Group offers online applications. We also help get you pre-approved for a mortgage and help with your real estate loans and other mortgage solutions, both residential and commercial. Stonebridge Mortgage Group serves the greater Portland area and are in Gresham, Oregon. Don’t wait to get quality assistance with buying your home!
David is so professional and accommodating. I appreciate his level of professionalism and willingness to help.
Chris Ertel
2021-02-04
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We have chosen Stonebridge a couple times now, and they are always a pleasure to do business with.
Sean Kerr
2020-09-21
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David with Stonebridge has helped me on multiple occasions, between financing a new home as well as a couple of refi's over the years. I cannot stress how communicative he is when it comes to keeping his clients in the loop. Even when there was a slight lull during my most recent refi I would receive an email just letting me know that nothing new had transpired yet so I never had to question what was going on.
I have worked in the Real Estate field for almost three decades and David is by far the most responsive and professional mortgage Broker that I have dealt with.
If you need help purchasing a new property or help with a refi you can't go wrong by hiring Stonebridge!
Sean
Allie Petrina
2020-08-24
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Refinancing our home through Stonebridge Mortgage was a great experience. They locked in a great rate, laid out each step along the way, and provided regular updates throughout the process. It couldn't have gone more smoothly and now we are saving $300/mo! Thank you Stonebridge Mortgage!
Al Greenwood
2020-01-23
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David is very easy to work with and makes the entire process very simple. I have used Stonebridge for initial purchase and refinance and it only gets better. Get the straight answer quickly from Stonebridge
Blake Koch
2020-01-16
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I've had nothing short of an amazing experience working with Stonebridge. I bought my first home over 2 years ago and without their help I may still be living in an RV. I intended to refinance my home later this year and I will most definitely be working with Stonebridge. I highly recommend. PS, I was qualified at the time with a credit score of 640
Dawn Dauble
2020-01-06
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David was wonderful to work with. He was highly recommended to me by my partner who had worked with David a few years ago.
The day I contacted David he immediately put everything in motion
to assist me in refinancing with a much better interest rate.
We were able to handle everything by email /phone and Fax. He
responded quickly to questions I had. And let me know immediately
if something needed to be done or changed.
I would definitely work with David in the future if the need arises. The process went smoother than any other time I have worked with mortgage
companies.
Dawn
Sarah Harrah
2019-09-20
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David was an absolute pleasure to work with! He was consistently responsive, on top of every detail and always so upbeat and funny! (An added perk that I truly appreciated during the stressful process of selling AND buying at the same time!) I will be recommending him to everyone I know!
bob ephrem
2019-04-07
Verified
David was a good man to do business would
do business again
