Home Equity Article Archive 2008

Know Your HELOC before You Sign

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | May 16, 2008

Home equity lines of credit are powerful financial tools. Understand the fine print before you sign.

Subprime Crisis Hurting Non-Profits

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | May 04, 2008

As home equity tumbles and bad mortgages sink investments, non-profit organizations emerge as one of the most unexpected casualties. Because they rely on the quality of their credit to survive, many non-profits with subprime-related assets are in for a rude awakening.

Paying Student Loans With Home Equity

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | April 20, 2008

When students graduate from college, they begin to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Many land good jobs, and some buy new homes. After a few years of home ownership, if the market is rising, they may also eyeball their student loans, and consider the pros and cons of using a home equity loan to pay off their debts.

Three Alternatives to Home Equity Loans

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | April 11, 2008

With the slumping real estate market ravaging home values, consumers strapped for cash are considering financial tools other than home equity loans. Here's an in-depth look at three alternatives to traditional home equity loan financing.

Remodeling During A Recession

By:

Anders Bylund - MortgageLoan.com | April 08, 2008

Are you stuck with an investment property and a mortgage? Make the best of the situation-move in.

Don't Become A Negative Home Equity Statistic

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | April 07, 2008

Every month, American homeowners and consumers are setting new records for being financially unstable. To avoid becoming a participant in those dismal numbers, you must be vigilant. Learn to recognize the symptoms, and take proactive protective measures before it's too late.

Falling Prices? Keep Your Home Value Rising

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | April 02, 2008

With the news that Americans' percentage of equity in their homes has fallen below 50 percent, homeowners are looking for ways to increase the value of their properties. The methods that are most popular are cost-effective home improvements.

Appraisal Watchdog to Oversee Your Home's Equity

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | March 24, 2008

A new watchdog agency is being created to ensure that property appraisals are objective, not tainted by lenders or other parties who may have a vested interest in the valuations.

Home Equity Loan for Investment Property

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | March 10, 2008

Excess inventory on the condo market has created advantages for opportunistic buyers. A home equity loan on your primary residence may be the ticket to help fund your new vacation or investment condo.

Home Equity: If You Use It, You Lose It

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | March 07, 2008

Home equity is a powerful financial tool, as well as a resource that's difficult to replace.

The Right Home Equity Strategy for Excess Cash

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | March 03, 2008

Some experts tout the wisdom of paying off your mortgage early. Others say it's better to stash excess cash in an emergency fund. How do you know which strategy is right for you?

Americans Irresponsible with Home Equity

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | March 03, 2008

Some homeowners are washing their hands of mortgage debt. They simply mail their house keys to the bank, and let the lender worry about how to create tangible assets from properties that have no actual equity.

Stellar Time For Home Equity Renovation Loans

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | March 01, 2008

A depressed economy may not be good for the mortgage or housing markets, but it's a great time to renovate. Prices for building supplies are going down, contractors are hungry for work, and interest rates are ridiculously low, thanks to recent rate cuts.

Rude Awakening Awaits Home Equity Loan Holders

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | February 27, 2008

Countrywide and other financial institutions are notifying thousands of homeowners that their credit is shrinking as home prices sag. Some are revoking the entire line of credit, with little or no advance warning.

Home Equity: Understanding Bridge Loans

By:

Amelia R. Frost - MortgageLoan.com | February 22, 2008

You've found the perfect house for you and your family, but the house you're living in hasn't sold yet. Where are you going to get the money to make sure that the new house doesn't get away? A bridge loan, although risky, may get you through these troubled waters.

Retirees: Tap Home Equity for Financial Security

By:

Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | February 15, 2008

Many retirees fret about financial security, but those with accumulated equity can find peace of mind by tapping into it in one of two ways. Reverse mortgages and home equity loans both work well to provide retirement income.

Know Your Home Equity Loan Rights

By:

Rachel Terry - MortgageLoan.com | February 13, 2008

Demand for home equity loans has grown steadily in the past 20 years. Back in 1986, Congress eliminated the tax deduction for interest on consumer debt, but upheld the deduction on mortgages and loans backed by mortgages. If you obtain a home equity loan, it's important to understand the Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act so that you can go into your loan with your eyes wide open, and be protected.

Home Equity Values Take the Plunge

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | February 09, 2008

Home equity is eroding, and it's not just due to plunging real estate values. Homeowners have treated their properties like bank accounts instead of investments, resulting in less equity and loads of potential problems.

Home Equity Loans Lose Business to FHA

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | February 04, 2008

Federally guaranteed FHA mortgages are gaining momentum as lenders look to return to more traditional and conservative underwriting practices.

Home Equity Loan: Beware of Mortgage Tax

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | January 31, 2008

When taking out a home equity loan, several states require that you pay a mortgage recording tax. Don't get caught off-guard by this tax. Here's an example of how it works in New York City.

Using Your Home's Equity to Finance the Big Wedding Day

By:

Amelia R. Frost - MortgageLoan.com | January 27, 2008

When saving for the future, many people forget that their children's weddings will be another huge expense. Home equity loans or home equity lines of credit are viable, fast, and easy financial options that can help make it a very special day.

Unusual Techniques for Selling Your Home

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | January 24, 2008

If you look at the unconventional techniques being used in the real estate business, you might think that "desperate times call for desperate measures." Some of these more unorthodox real estate techniques are actually working.

Don't Get Tripped by Home Equity Loans

By:

Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | January 16, 2008

In the famed Star Wars series, villains drew much of their power from the "dark side of the Force." In the world of home equity loans, there's also a dark side. Make sure that you understand it fully before you take out a big loan.

A New World for Home Equity Loans

By:

Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | January 06, 2008

Rising default rates are prompting lenders to change their underwriting guidelines, making it more difficult for many to obtain home equity loans and other types of mortgage financing.