Home Equity Article Archive 2007

Dismal Short-term Future for Mortgages

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | November 25, 2007

Industry experts predict that the slowdown of mortgages and property sales will continue through the third quarter of 2008.

Home Equity Loan Slump Affecting Advertising

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | November 08, 2007

Instability and reduced liquidity has mortgage lenders and financial firms reaching out to consumers with advertising messages that emphasize strength and stability.

Home Equity Loans: Expecting the Unexpected

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | October 30, 2007

Life can throw you plenty of curveballs, and some of them can be financially destructive. If tough times hit, you'll need to consider a solid option for making ends meet. Try a home equity loan.

How To Finance A Boat

By:

Anders Bylund - MortgageLoan.com | October 19, 2007

A boat-large or small, with engines or sails-can be a great place to relax after a hard week in the office. Learn how to finance your own dream yacht.

Home Equity Loans for Businesses are Drying Up

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | October 16, 2007

As the mortgage crisis spills into other areas of the economy, many small business owners will lose an important source of capital. Home equity loans have been financing thousands of small companies, but that source of funds is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

Four Signs Your Home Equity Loan is in Trouble

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | September 24, 2007

The delinquency rate among home equity loans has experienced a recently frightening increase. Overly aggressive lenders may have caused the problem by relaxing their loan guidelines. But borrowers are also to blame, particularly when they fail to see the signs of financial trouble.

Home Equity Loans More Difficult to Obtain

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | September 19, 2007

Home equity loans are harder to come by as secondary market investors rethink their exposure to the struggling U.S. mortgage industry.

Be Trendy: Expand Entertainment Area with a Home Equity Loan

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | August 31, 2007

Forget the old patio set and hammock-the traditional backyard is getting a makeover. Trendy homeowners are now creating additional living space by decking out their decks with modern appliances, wide screen TVs, and more.

Home Equity Loans can be Risky Business

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | August 22, 2007

Leveraging your home equity can be an easy, affordable way to borrow lots of money. Make sure that the risks don't outweigh the rewards.

Tough Seller's Market? Use Home Equity to Spruce Up Your Home

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | August 10, 2007

With foreclosures hitting all-time highs, it takes additional creativity to successfully market a home. But a home equity loan can help you dress up your property and complete a sale, even in a highly competitive market.

Planning Ahead for a Home Equity Loan

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | July 25, 2007

Home equity loan delinquencies are on the rise, as many consumers fall behind on their payments. But you can help to avoid those problems by planning ahead before you borrow, or by using a flexible home equity line of credit or HELOC.

Be Regal: Tap Home Equity with REX

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | July 16, 2007

Once upon a time, taking on debt or selling your house was the only way to cash out your home equity. Now there's a new choice-introducing the REX.

Seven Home Equity Loan Errors

By:

- MortgageLoan.com | June 23, 2007

The kids are begging for a swimming pool while you're daydreaming about tall drinks and lazy summer afternoons in the welcoming shade of a beautiful new veranda. Could a home equity loan be on the horizon?

Avoiding the Pain of Home Equity Loans

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | June 17, 2007

It's amazing what a little uptick in interest rates and a slow-moving housing market will do to consumer behavior. Back when rates were low, people couldn't tap their equity fast enough. Now, with rates hovering around 8 percent and home sales dragging, borrowers are singing a different tune.

Home Equity Loans: Steps for Success

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | June 11, 2007

Since all home equity loans are not created equal, you might find it frustrating when you consider your options. Make your life easier by taking a logical, organized approached to equity loan shopping.

Is Your Home an Overrated Retirement Asset?

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | June 08, 2007

Historically speaking, homes lag far behind common stocks when it comes to asset appreciation. They're reliable nests, but unreliable nest eggs. But they have merit: You can withdraw retirement money from the accumulated value of your home by using a home equity loan or reverse mortgage.

Home Equity Loans for Realistic Renovations

By:

Anders Bylund - MortgageLoan.com | June 06, 2007

It's easy to get a home equity loan to turn your home into the mansion of your dreams. But how far should you go?

Remodel for Your Future with a Home Equity Loan

By:

- MortgageLoan.com | April 27, 2007

Healthy living and innovations in healthcare are enabling Americans to live longer than ever before. By 2010, one in three of us will be over 50. Therefore, forward-thinking homeowners would be wise to revamp their environments to take advantage of new home ideas for easier senior living.

Top Five "Must Do's" for Home Equity Loans

By:

- MortgageLoan.com | April 18, 2007

Home equity loans are a wonderful source of available cash or credit, especially if your property has appreciated in value. But before you tap your equity, explore your options to get a good understanding of how various home equity loans work, and how each differs from the other.

Earning Money from Your Home's Equity

By:

- MortgageLoan.com | April 13, 2007

Say the words "home equity loan" out loud, and most people think "another monthly payment." But home equity can also equal megabucks if used as an investment tool. It's true: The equity from your home can be the working capital you need to initiate a slew of investment options.

Getting a Great Home Equity Loan Rate

By:

- MortgageLoan.com | April 05, 2007

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) allows you to borrow a percentage of your home's equity value and receive the funds in increments. The key to success with a HELOC is to secure a competitive rate, and shopping around ahead of time is essential.

The Dos and Don'ts of Home Equity Loans

By:

- MortgageLoan.com | March 29, 2007

There are right ways and wrong ways to approach every financial transaction. When it comes to home equity lines of credit (HELOC) and home equity loans, doing things the right way can result in significant short and long-term savings.

One Closing, Two Home Mortgage Loans

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | March 26, 2007

Loan closings aren't fun-so why suffer through them more often than necessary? If you're in the process of closing a home mortgage loan, consider simultaneously obtaining a home equity line of credit (HELOC) from the same lender.

Tips for Buying a Second Home

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | March 22, 2007

If you've been dreaming of a second home, 2007 may be the year to make that dream come true. When the real estate bubble burst, the hardest hit sector was the second home market. Prices are still falling, making a second home purchase through a home equity loan a wise and attractive option.

Don't Get Trapped by Home Equity Loan Pitfalls

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | March 05, 2007

Have you ever noticed how people "in the know" also happen to be "in the dough?" The wealthiest people often make smart investment decisions based on informed opinions. You can do the same when it comes to debt, especially with home equity loans.

HELOC Shopping Spree

By:

- MortgageLoan.com | February 24, 2007

Shopping for tomatoes? You generally know to avoid the ones that are overripe, exceptionally bruised, or incredibly moldy. Shopping for a home equity line of credit (HELOC) can be just as simple, provided that you know what to look for.

Remodeling with Home Equity Loans: The Advantages

By:

Maria Esposito - MortgageLoan.com | February 07, 2007

Many homeowners remodel to add space or enhance conveniences. But remodeling also increases the value of your home. Home improvements can come with big price tags, which means that you'll likely need financing. A home equity loan is a good way to pay for any size home improvement project.

The Right Time to Tap Home Equity

By:

Anders Bylund - MortgageLoan.com | February 02, 2007

How do you know when to take a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC)? It all depends on your plans for the money.

Home Equity Loans and Second Mortgages: Is there a difference?

By:

- MortgageLoan.com | January 31, 2007

The home mortgage vocabulary can be very complicated, and we didn't learn it in grade school. Two types of loans that cause a great deal of confusion are the home equity loan and the second mortgage. In reality, they basically mean the same thing.

Protect Yourself From Home Equity Loan Scams

By:

Jan Lindsey - MortgageLoan.com | January 21, 2007

Anytime you take a home equity loan, you're increasing the risk that you'll lose what's most likely your biggest asset: your home. That's because there are unscrupulous lenders who are more than willing for you to lose your shirt and the house in which every one of them is hung. But there are things you can do to help protect yourself-and your home.

The Annual Mortgage Check-up

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | January 19, 2007

As the year comes to a close, it makes sense to re-assess your finances and make sure that you're on track for the future. An important step in this process is examining your mortgage to ensure that you're still getting the best deal possible.

Home Equity Loans: Just the Facts

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | January 14, 2007

If you're planning to fund an upcoming project with your home's equity, don't jump in without knowing the facts. Understanding the key differences between HELOC's and home equity loans makes for more effective decisions.

Get Smart: Intelligent Ways to Use a Home Equity Loan

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | January 10, 2007

Do you have a big expense on the horizon? Are you thinking of tapping into your home equity to generate the necessary funding? A home equity loan can be an appealing mortgage instrument, but only if you know the right ways to use it.

The Home Loan Buzz on Accelerator Mortgages

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | January 03, 2007

Homeowners love to discover innovative methods to borrow money and expand equity. Now, a new home loan repayment idea born in the UK has arrived in the U.S. The so-called "mortgage accelerator" uses home equity loans to pay off mortgages and generate additional equity.