Fixed Rate Home Equity Loans

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By Krisy Kay

If you own a home then you have probably worked hard to pay your off you mortgage payments every month.  Depending on the real estate market at the time, if your home value has increased higher than the value you paid for it, then you have equity value in your home.  There are a few advantages to having equity in your home and one of these advantages is the ability to get a loan. 

The types of loans you can get are fixed rate home equity loans or home equity line of credits.  When you get a fixed equity loan you borrow a lump sum of money and that can be used for whatever you need.  You will then have a fixed payment every month, which you must pay in order to pay off the loan.  Home equity line of credits on the other hand, is a loan where a certain amount of money is extended to you, similar to a credit card.  You have access to the money, but you don’t have to use it or pay any monthly payments.

The benefits of having fixed rate home equity loans is that you will know exactly how much you have to pay each month.  Not only will you be paying off the interest in those payments, but you will also be paying off the principle in those loans as well. 

These loans are better for people who like to have everything structured and organized in a way that they can calculate the exact amount they will be paying 6 months down the road. The large upfront sum allows the borrowers to purchase any particular thing they need such as vehicles, tuition for kids, or even renovations.

Both the HELOC and the fixed rate home equity loan have higher interest rates than the first mortgage. However, the fixed rate loan does have a better interest rate than the HELOC. For people who want to have access to money just in case of an emergency situation, the home equity line of credit is the perfect solution. This means that they will only pay the monthly interest and fees if they use it. If they don’t use it then they are not charged for it.

When you take out a home equity loan most lenders give the borrower two options. You can get a fluctuating interest or a fixed interest rate. Depending on your risk tolerance and your market outlook, you may want to take the fluctuating or the fixed. If you like structured payments though, the fixed interest rate loan is the perfect one for you.

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