If you need access to a substantial sum of money—and you’re concerned about high and fluctuating interest rates—a home equity loan may be right for you.
With a home equity loan, you will receive a one-time payment to use how you see fit. For example, you might want to:
- Replace your home’s roof before the next winter’s rainy season hits Northern California.
- Make a down payment on a little vacation place at Trinity Lake.
- Give your daughter her dream wedding in a tropical locale.
- Consolidate several high-interest credit card debts.
- Pay off a mountain of medical bills.
What is a home equity loan?
Often called a second mortgage, this type of loan allows you to borrow from your home’s equity, which is the amount of your home that you own—not the part owned by your primary mortgage lender. Your house serves as the collateral.
How do you get home equity?
- You make a down payment when you purchase your home.
- You make your monthly mortgage payments. (Some of the money pays interest on the loan, while some goes to the principal balance.)
- You make home improvements that increase your home’s value.
- Your home appreciates in value for a variety of reasons, including market trends, the economy, etc.
To discover the equity you currently have, answer three questions: What is the current market value of your home? How much do you still owe on your mortgage? What is the difference between the two amounts?
While a home equity loan has many positive features, keep in mind that your house is the collateral for your loan. If you can’t make the payments, you will lose your home. In addition, if there is a decline in the housing market, you may end up owing more than your home is worth.
A home equity loan won’t affect the interest rate on your primary mortgage, but you’ll pay a higher rate for the second mortgage because it’s a bigger risk for the lender. (If there is a foreclosure, the primary mortgage lender will get its money back first.)
How does a home equity loan work?
Most home equity loans have fixed rates, so you’ll know how much you need to budget each month for the life of the loan, and you won’t have to worry about fluctuating interest rates, like you would with a credit card.
Your home equity loan gives you access to more money and a better interest rate than most personal loans or credit cards. And you’ll get a longer loan term (which results in lower monthly payments) than you would with a personal loan.
You could also get a tax credit. According to the Internal Revenue Service, if you use your home equity loan “to buy, build, or substantially improve the residence, interest you pay on the borrowed funds is classified as home acquisition debt and may be deductible, subject to certain dollar limitations.” Of course, be sure to check with your tax professional.
Try out Coast Central’s home loan calculator!
A great way to calculate your home equity is with Coast Central Credit Union’s home loan calculator: The Equity in Your Home. As you consider a home equity loan, spend some time crunching the numbers with our other useful calculators:
Calculate a Home Equity Loan Payment
Using Home Equity for a Major Purchase
Paying Off a Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit
Consolidating Debt with Home Equity
What are Coast Central’s home equity loan rates?
As a credit union, we are member owned and do not answer to shareholders like big banks, allowing us to provide the competitive rates and fees! At Coast Central, we offer two home equity loans: a 10-year fixed and a 15-year fixed. You can borrow up to 80% of your home’s appraisal value—up to $300,000, with no points or fees. (Appraisal fees may apply).
Check out our current home equity loan rates. Click the Loans tab, and then scroll to the bottom of the page to “Home Equity Loans.”
Interested in finding out more? If you spend a couple of minutes completing our short Check Rates form, we will create a customized quote based on your loan details.
Apply for a home equity loan from Coast Central.
You can complete our online home equity loan application in about 20 minutes. Your information will be reviewed for instant online approval, and one of our Mortgage Loan Services officers will follow up to answer your questions. We are committed to making the home equity loan process as transparent and easy as possible.
Experience The Coast Central Difference—Where YOU are central.