Second Mortgage for Home Improvement

Now that you have been in your home for a few years and you have established some equity, you may be considering doing some home improvement with a second mortgage.

Home improvement comes in many forms. Such as a new kitchen, bathroom, roof, siding, etc.

You can acquire a home improvement loan or second mortgage through one of three ways. Refinancing with cash out, a home equity loan, or a home equity line of credit.

My suggestion to you would be, a home equity line of credit. (HECL)

The HECL is a very convenient loan for a home owner because it is not mandatory that you use the funds right away. And when you do decide to use the money, you only use the amount you need.

Lets suppose you have a home equity line of credit for $25,000.00. The lender will give this money to you as a line for you to use, only when you choose to do so. The line also comes with a check book so you can write checks at your convenience.

A refinance with cash out, or a standard home equity loan is given to you in the form of a lump sum, and you begin paying the interest and principal immediately.

On the HECL you only pay interest and principal when you use the money, and only on the amount you use.

So lets suppose you hire a contractor to put a new bathroom in your house for fifteen thousand dollars. Upon completion of the project, you would than write a check from your HECL check book, it’s that simple.

At this time, your monthly payments would begin to kick in.

Most HECL’s are amortized over twenty years, and the payment is interest only for the first ten. So make sure you are aware of the payment schedule before you close.

Home improvement is a great step to take with your home. It not only adds value to your house, but it also improves the quality of your life. And the interest is tax deductible.

As always, continue to educate yourself, and make sure you shop around for the best deal.

Source : Articlegeek By: Jennifer Hershey

Let the Mortgage Companies Fight for Your Business

The mortgage industry is a highly competitive one, so it is considered wise to shop around for the best deal and let the mortgage companies fight for your business.

The mortgage industry exceeds far beyond that of the banks you see on every street corner as you head into town.

Besides the banks there are the wholesale and retail lenders. Most wholesale lenders encourage the help of mortgage brokers to bring them potential borrowers.

Most mortgage brokers on average deal with more than two hundred wholesale lenders alone. These wholesale lenders are a very diverse group, and their programs and specialties vary from lender to lender.

So if you are considering purchasing a home or refinancing your existing mortgage, don’t be afraid to shop around for the best deal.

It is important to remember that when you are shopping around for a mortgage, nothing is final until you sign on the dotted line at closing.

So don’t be shy when it comes to shopping a few mortgage companies. Remember that they are very competitive and hungry for your business. So allow them to assess your situation, and whichever lender comes back with the best offer to fit your needs and budget should be the lender for you.

When shopping around for a mortgage product, don’t feel the need to keep this a secret. By letting a loan officer know your intentions, you will most likely send them the message that you don’t have time for games and that it will be in their best interest to make you their best possible offer.

Source : articlegeek By: Jennifer Hershey