125 Home Equity Loans: when it is needed

June 10, 2009 – 8:34 pm

At first glance, you might say that no one needs a 125% home equity mortgage. A home costs only 100% of its value and mortgages are for buying homes, right? Wrong.  125% home equity loans are an essential tool for many borrowers. For example, imagine that you want to buy a home that needs urgently repairs. You take your mortgage for $100,000 or $200,000 or whatever value and then you still need money for renovating it. That is when the 25% kicks in. With this share, you’ll be able to renovate it. It is not uncommon that a home with a value of $200,000 will need a renovation in the order of $50,000.

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If 125% home equity loans were not possible, this homes that need renovation will stay vacant. Due to this fact, lenders developed such kinds of financial instruments. Of course, lenders do know that a 125% mortgage is more risky than an 80% mortgage. That means that you, as borrower, will have to pay more than a prime rate interest rate, but less than an interest rate without collateral securing it (like in the case of credit cards).

The obvious advantage is that you only have to apply for one loan, one time. If you negotiate the loan, you only have to negotiate it one time with one lender. That’s why many people also use it for debt consolidation. This financial instrument was not developed for that, however, as a client you can use it with any purpose that fits you.

A 125% home equity loan is also used in case of a sudden need of additional credit. Accidents happen, cars break down and sometimes you don’t have the extra cash for that. It makes perfectly sense to tap on your home equity in an urgent situation. For example, repairing a broken car means that you’ll be able to keep working and that translates as a higher income in the future. Increasing your debt in the expectation of future income poses some risk for you, but it often a good idea.

A case where a 125% home equity loan can be seriously discouraged is when you want it for spending. No matter if you need a vacation, consumer products like TV sets or clothes, don’t risk your home for getting this extra cash. Your home is the basis of your life and it makes no sense expanding the amount of home equity used as collateral just for that.

Often people are looking for this type of loan if they are considering bankruptcy, if so consider what is needed for a home equity loan while in bankruptcy.

Deciding on a 125% Home Equity Loan

June 9, 2009 – 8:45 pm

When some people hear for the first time about 125% home equity loans, they ask themselves why would someone need that?  However, even if you take out a mortgage to buy a home and for this purpose only need 100% or less, it is sometimes advisable to apply for a higher loan.

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There are many reasons why someone would want a 125% home equity loan. Moving into a new home doesn’t mean that we only have to buy the home. Many people also want to buy new furniture or need to renovate their new home.

Other borrowers need to consolidate other forms of debt and for paying one single bill at the end of the month. It is important to consolidate your bills into one big bill because it is not only easier to pay, but it is normally also cheaper. It is easier to pay just one bill and it is easier to negotiate with just one lender if there is a need to renegotiate the loan.

The interest rate applied on 125% home equity loan is lower than the rate of credit cards or other forms of consumer credit. This is due to the fact that the loan is partially secured by the underlying real estate property. Since the loan isn’t completely covered by the asset (that means, your home), its interest rate is higher than of a first mortgage that only covers perhaps 80% or 90%.

It must be noted that a 125% home equity loan doesn’t mean that you have to take a mortgage in the value of 125% of your home. It only means that it can reach 125%. For example, if your home is appraised at a value of $100,000 and you get a first mortgage of 80% on your home, that means that you still can get a 125% home equity loan on your property. That makes 45%, or $45,000.

If you are applying for a first mortgage, you’ll be able and willing to get the best market rate for the first chunk of 80% and a relatively worse interested rate for the following 45%.

Do the math and do not borrow more than you need. Substitute high interest debt for long term interest debt. Watch out for any possible narrow paths on your finance to avoid defaulting on your lenders. That will only make your credit score go down at the same time that the interest rate goes up.

125% Home Equity Loan Tips

June 9, 2009 – 5:42 am

A 125% home equity loan is simply a loan that exceeds the worth of a real estate property backing it. In the case of every mortgage, borrowers can only borrow a certain percentage of the market value of the underlying property. The limit is normally between 80% and 90% of the home value. In some cases, lenders allow a higher limit and homeowners can borrow up to 125%. Homeowners borrow more than the value of their property to settle other, more expensive, debt or to renovate their home.

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125% home equity loans are coveted by many homeowners. Unhappily, most who apply do not quality for it or will not be able to pay regularly their mortgage. The credit rating is essential for obtaining this kind of debt, like any other kind of debt. The homeowner’s income is also normally considered by lenders.

Getting approved on a 125% home equity loan is much more difficult than for a 80% or 90% loan. Getting a 125% home equity loan is a risk for the lender, since the loan is not securitized by an underlying asset. It is also a risk for the borrower, since if he cannot pay; his credit rating will be damaged. Only apply for it if you really need to settle other forms of debt with a higher interest rate or with a variable interest rate.

Take the time and get advice of a professional credit service if you decided that you need a 125% home equity loan. It might even increase your chance of getting approved. The right professional will help you get the best deal. When a homeowner is treading in an unfamiliar territory, professional help is needed. There is a huge number of loan consultants available to select from. Doing a little research into your options now will make the path much simpler.

When does this kind of loan make sense for you? It might be an option if you’re in a difficult financial situation. The alternative could be to lose your home, which is not a very attractive alternative. A word of caution is needed, if you decide to apply for the 125% loan, be sure that you have a disciplined payback plan. Paying for it can be even tougher that paying for your mortgage. If you don’t pay some installment, you can fall victim to the downside in your credit score that comes with any 125 percent home equity loan borrower who cannot afford to pay regularly.