3 Times to take out a home equity loan

by Carolyn Andrews 09/03/2023

Home equity loans are term loans that are taken out against the value of your home already paid or the amount of the home owned. For example, homeowners who have paid 25% of their full outstanding loan balance, say $50,000 of a $200,000 mortgage, have that much equity in their home or how much of their home they actually own.

While understanding the basics is imperative for applying for a home equity loan, knowing when to apply for one is just as important.

Here’s a quick guide to the top three reasons most homeowners take out a home equity loan:

Home repairs

Home improvement projects can be taxing on both the homeowner and the homeowner’s budget. However, if the repair is one that will add value to your home, looking into a home equity loan may be a decent option.

This is usually a great way to reinvest your home equity back into your home, especially if you’ve already paid a significant portion of your mortgage’s outstanding balance.

Debt consolidation

For those attempting to defeat high-interest rates and consolidate their credit, utilizing your home’s equity could be another excellent way to manage your financial situation. Many who have adapted to this type of refinancing have found that taking out a low-interest, term-based loan like a home equity loan helped them regain their financial standing.

By using a home equity loan, they’ve managed to reduce their monthly payments in other financial areas and regained their monthly budgets.

Life expenses

Sometimes life happens. It can also happen in a way that’s more expensive than expected or just as costly as anticipated. Regardless of whether you’re paying for a ceremony, helping with a college tuition or simply need the extra money for an unexpected circumstance, a home equity loan can help you manage your expenses.

Just as with debt consolidation or home improvement, applying for a home equity loan during your more expensive life events can help you keep the payments manageable without over stressing you or your wallet.

Home equity loans are excellent ways to make your home and monthly mortgage payments work for you.

If you find yourself wanting to reinvest in your home or simply need an extra bit of assistance, reach out to a lender of your choosing and ask what options they have available for you. They have formulas and methods that can calculate home equity loan rates based on your specific needs and circumstances.

About the Author
Author

Carolyn Andrews

Carolyn Andrews has over 30 years licensed Brokerage experience in both California and Colorado. Born in England, Carolyn moved to California in 1980, then relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1991. Carolyn has also received recognition for Top Sales at RE/MAX Alliance Aurora in 2007-2008 and is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Chairman’s Club, as well as a recipient of the ReMax Lifetime Achievement Award. Carolyn has sold over 2000 homes personally in her career. Carolyn has been actively involved in many aspects of the Real Estate business including investment property, luxury homes, mountain resort property, skiin/ski out, REO/default management, loss mitigation, valuations, and disposition. She has been a speaker and panelist at several conferences and has been consulted on many occasions by various organizations in the REO/financial industries for her expertise and served on many boards. She has attended numerous ongoing classes to stay abreast of changes in the ever-evolving Real Estate industry. She is the prior State Director for Colorado for VAREP(Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals). She is a member of 3 boards of Realtors including Metro Denver, Colorado Springs and Summit County mountain areas. She heads up The Andrews Group and is or has been an active member of NAR, CAR,REOMAC, CIPS, CRS, AREAA, NAPW, NAHREP, and is an original member of the ELITEReal Estate network. She was ranked #1 for most homes sold in Denver 2007 by Denver Board of Realtors, #2 for 2008, and #2 for 2009, #5 in 2010 and #4 in 2011 and has been consistently in the top 10 ever since. Carolyn Andrews has been a top rated Endorsed Local Provider for the Dave Ramsey Organization and also a Top Producing agent for 2018 for the Homelight Company.