A Home Equity Line of Credit, or HELOC as it’s known, allows you to borrow up to a certain amount of the appraised value of your home at low mortgage interest rates. You can borrow as much, or as little, as you need and only pay interest on what you use.
As you pay down the principal on your mortgage over time, the line of credit limit increases, giving you access to more of your money. This can create breathing room to accommodate emergency expenses, credit management ,or even home renovations.
A HELOC can be used in addition to your mortgage or as a stand-alone product. That means you can refinance your home by using a HELOC; with the remaining balance being paid as a fixed-term mortgage!
It’s that flexible!
A home equity line of credit and credit card are very similar in some ways but there are distinct advantages by choosing to secure a HELOC.
For example, you get a much better interest rate coupled with a flexible repayment schedule and fixed spending limit (based on home equity).
Some of the benefits of a HELOC that homeowners find most attractive are:
A home equity line of credit gives homeowners the freedom to spend their money when they like and repay it in a way that best
suits their financial needs. It is the ideal choice for homeowners who need continuous access to equity on their own terms.
Not only is the repayment schedule flexible, but the interest rate you pay on a home equity loan, while higher than that of a first mortgage, is drastically lower than what you’d pay on a credit card or other consumer loans.