What is a Cash Out Re-Finance?

A cash out re-finance basically enables the homeowner to re-finance their home for an amount greater than the balance of the exiting mortgage. The homeowners than repay the existing balance plus the additional amount over the course of the loan period and are given a check for the amount above and beyond the balance of the exiting mortgage. The homeowners can use this check for any purpose they choose now and repay the debt along with the rest of re-financed amount.

When is a Cash Out Re-Finance possible?

A cash out option is available when there is existing equity in the home. This is important because the lender is able to justify the practice of offering increased funds to the homeowner due to the value of the property. This is because the lender feels as though the security of having the home for collateral does not put them at a high risk for the homeowner defaulting on the loan.

Homeowners who wish to take advantage of a cash out re-finance offered by a lender should inquire as to whether or not the lender offers this type of re-financing. This is important because not all lenders offer this option. It should actually be one of the first questions the homeowner asks when inquiring about re-financing programs. Doing so will save homeowners, who are seeking a cash out re-finance, a great deal of time.

How Can the Cash be Used?

For many homeowners the most appealing aspect of cash out re-financing is that the additional funds can be used for any purpose desired by the homeowner. The homeowner does not even have to offer the lender an explanation of how the additional funds will be used. This is important because once the lender writes the check for the additional funds, he has no concern for how the money is used. This is because the amount of the additional funds is rolled into the re-financed mortgage. The lender simply focuses on the homeowner’s ability to repay the mortgage and is not concerned with how the homeowner uses the funds which are released in the cash out.

While the purpose of a cash out re-finance does not have to be disclosed to the lender, the homeowner would be wise to use these funds in a judicious manner. This is because the homeowner will be responsible for repaying these funds to the lender. Some of the popular uses for funds collected from cash out re-financing include:

* Undertaking home improvement projects
* Purchasing items for the home
* Taking a dream vacation
* Putting money in a child’s tuition fund or
* Purchasing a vehicle
* Starting a small business

All of the reasons listed above are excellent uses of a cash out re-finance option. Homeowners who are considering this type of a re-financing option should also consider whether or not the deductions are tax deductible. Using the cash out option to make home improvements is jus one example of a situation where the funds can be tax deductible. Homeowners should consult their tax attorney on the matter to determine whether or not they are able to deduct the interest from the repayment of their re-financing loan. 

Cash Out Re-Financing Example

The process of a cash out refinancing option is fairly easy to illustrate with a simple example. Consider a homeowner who purchases a $150,000 with a 7% interest. Now consider the homeowner has already repaid $50000 of the loan and would like to borrow an additional $20,000 to make a rather large purchase or invest in a small business. With this additional funding available the homeowners have the opportunity to use the equity in their home to make their dreams come true. In the example above the homeowner may refinance for a total of $120,000 at a lower interest rate such as 6.25%. This process allow the homeowner to take advantage of the existing equity in their home and also allows the homeowner to qualify for a substantial loan at a rate typically reserved for re-financing or home loans.

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Wells Fargo Home Equity Lines Of Credit

Wells Fargo offers a revolving credit line for homeowners called Home Equity Lines of Credit, or HELOCs. This line of credit is an open-ended, revolving loan that allows future advances up to the approved credit limit. You can use the money for home improvements, debt consolidation, medical expenses, investment opportunities, starting a business, education, a new car or boat, or any other major expense. Since Wells Fargo's Home Equity Lines of Credit are revolving loans, you can use only the money you need when you need it, much like credit cards.

This credit is available at any time during your draw period with convenient access through your Wells Fargo credit card, checking account, ATM, online banking, or local bank. The draw period of a Home Equity Line of Credit is the amount of time the line of credit is open, usually ten years, after which the line of credit is closed and repayment starts. Advances taken out during this draw period may have small monthly payments in which only minimal amounts are paid toward the principle with the rest of the payment going to accrued interest, or interest only payments may be made. Wells Fargo offers plans that allow repayment of the Home Equity Line of Credit loan over a fixed period of time after the draw period has ended. Some of these plans allow up to thirty years repayment time.

Interest of Wells Fargo Home Equity Lines of Credit is variable and tied to the Prime Lending Rate, the rate in which most major banks charge their largest and most credit worthy customers. This variable rate usually has a cap to limit how high of an interest rate can be charged and some have limits as to how low the interest rate can get. Variable rates are subject to quarterly adjustment though some plans offer a fixed interest rate. The interest paid on Wells Fargo Home Equity Lines of Credit is only paid on the funds that are used and is usually tax deductible. 

Like Home Equity Loans, Home Equity Lines of Credit have fees that may be charged for taking out the loan. Some plans call for one-time; up front fees while others have annual fees. Plans that offer low monthly payments during the draw period may require a balloon payment at the end of the loan period requiring the entire remaining balance to be paid. Other fees can also apply such as appraisal fee, credit check fee, and closing costs. The Federal Truth in Lending Act protects the borrower by requiring the lender to inform the borrower of all costs and terms when the application is given.

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Understanding Re-Financing

Understanding the process of re-financing can be quite dizzying. Homeowners who are considering re-financing might initially be overwhelmed by the number of options available to them. However, after taking some time to educate themselves about the process, they will likely find the process is not nearly as daunting as they had imagined. This article will discuss some of the options available to those interested in re-financing as well as some of the important factors to consider in order to determine whether or not refinancing is worthwhile.

Consider the Options

Homeowners have quite a few options available to them when they are considering the possibility of re-financing their home. The most significant decision is the type of loan they will choose. Fixed rate mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) are the two main types of mortgages the homeowners will likely encounter. Additionally there are hybrid loan options available.

As the name implies, a fixed rate mortgage is one in which the interest rate remains constant throughout the duration of the loan period. This is an especially favorable type of loan when the homeowner has credit which is sufficient enough to lock in a low interest rate.

ARMs are mortgages where the interest rate varies during the course of the loan period. The interest rate is usually tied to an index such as the prime index and is subject to rises and falls in accordance with this index. This is considered a riskier type of loan and is therefore often offered to homeowners who have less favorable credit scores.

Although ARMs are considered somewhat risky there is usually a certain degree of protection written into the loan agreement. This may come in the form of a clause which limits the amount the interest rate can increase, in terms of percentage points, over a fixed period of time. This can protect the homeowner from sharp increases in the interest rates which would otherwise considerably raise the amount of their monthly payments.

Hybrid loans are mortgages which combine a fixed element with an adjustable element. An example of this type of loan is a situation where the lender may offer a fixed interest rate for the first five years of the loan and a variable interest rate for the remainder of the loan. Lenders typically offer a lower introductory interest rate for the fixed period to make the mortgage seem more enticing.

Consider the Closing Costs

The closing costs associated with re-financing should be carefully considered when deciding whether or not to re-finance the home. This is significant because when homeowners re-finance their home they are often subject to many of the same closing costs as when they originally purchased the home. These costs may include, but are not limited to appraisal fees, application fees, loan origination fees and a host of other expenses. These costs can be quite significant. The closing costs will be significant when the homeowner considers the overall savings associated with re-financing.

Consider the Overall Savings

When deciding whether or not to re-finance, the overall savings is one factor the homeowners should carefully consider. This is important because re-financing is typically not considered worthwhile unless it results in a financial savings. Although some homeowners refinance to lower monthly costs and are not concerned with the overall picture, most homeowners consider whether or not they will be saving money by refinancing.

The amount of money the homeowner will save when re-financing is largely dependent on the new interest rate in relation to the old interest rate. Other factors come into play such as the remaining balance of the existing loan as well as the amount of time the homeowner intends to stay in the home before selling the property. It is important to note that the amount of money saved by negotiating a lower interest rate is not equal to the entire savings. The homeowner must determine the closing costs associated with re-financing and subtract this sum from the potential savings. A negative number would indicate the new interest rate is not low enough to offset the closing costs. Conversely a positive number indicates an overall savings. With this information the homeowner can decide whether or not he wishes to re-finance.

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Is It Time to Re-Finance?

Whether or not to re-finance is a question homeowner may ask themselves many times while they are living in their home. Re-financing is essentially taking out one home loan to repay an existing home loan. This may sound odd at first but it is important to realize when this is done properly it can result in a significant cost savings for the homeowner over the course of the loan. When there is the potential for an overall savings it might be time to consider re-financing. There are certain situations which make re-financing worthwhile. These situations may include when the credit scores of the homeowners improve, when the financial situation of the homeowners improves and when national interest rates drop. This article will examine each of these scenarios and discuss why they may warrant a re-finance.

When Credit Scores Improve

There are currently so many home loan options available, that even those with poor credit are likely to find a lender who can assist them in realizing their dream of purchasing a home. However, those with poor credit are likely to be offered unfavorable loan terms such as high interest rates or variable interest rates instead of fixed rates. This is because the lender considers these homeowners to be higher risk than others because of their poor credit.

Fortunately for those with poor credit, many credit mistakes can be repaired over time. Some financial blemishes such as bankruptcies simply disappear after a number of years while other blemishes such as frequent late payments can be minimized by maintaining a more favorable record of repaying debts and demonstrating an ability to repay existing debts.

When a homeowner’s credit score improves considerable, the homeowner should inquire about the possibility of re-financing their current mortgage. All citizens are entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. Homeowners should take advantage of these three reports to check their credit each year and determine whether or not their credit has increased significantly. When they notice a significant increase, they should consider contacting lenders to determine the rates and terms they may be willing to offer.

When Financial Situations Change

A change in the homeowner’s financial situation can also warrant investigation into the process of re-financing. A homeowner may find himself making considerably more money due to a change in jobs or considerably less money due to a lay off or a change in careers. In either case the homeowner should investigate the possibility of re-financing. The homeowner may find an increase in pay may allow them to obtain a lower interest rate.

Alternately a homeowner who loses their job or takes a pay cut as a result of a change in careers may hope to refinance and consolidate their debt. This may result in the homeowner paying more because some debts are drawn out over a longer period of time but it can result in a lower monthly payment for the homeowner which may be advantageous at this juncture of his life.

When Interest Rates Drop

Interest rates dropping is the one signal that sends many homeowners rushing to their lenders to discuss the possibility of re-financing their home. Lower interest rates are certainly appealing because they can result in an overall savings over the course of the loan but homeowners should also realize that every time the interest rates drop, a re-finance of the home is not warranted. The caveat to re-financing to take advantage of lower interest rates is that the homeowner should carefully evaluate the situation to ensure the closing costs associated with re-financing do not exceed the overall savings benefit gained from obtaining a lower interest rate. This is significant because if the cost of re-financing is higher than the savings in interest, the homeowner does not benefit from re-financing and may actually lose money in the process.

The mathematics associated with determining whether or not there is an actual savings is not overly complicated but there is the possibility that the homeowner will make mistakes in these types of calculations. Fortunately there are a number of calculators available on the Internet which can help homeowners to determine whether or not re-financing is worthwhile.

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Home Equity Loans - Useful Application Tips

Obtaining a home equity loan does not have to be a major ordeal. You can close the loan at your own leisure time, shopping around and researching different options available to you. To get the best deal, you should understand the process and everything that is involved. Never let any lenders put you under pressure and get you into something you don’t understand. Here are some of the home equity loans- useful application tips that might become handy under any circumstances.

Home Equity Loans -Useful application tips:

• The process of applying for home equity loans will vary depending on your lender, but you can choose to pre-approved or pre-qualified. The pre-qualification process allows you and the lender to review your current financial situation, and then the lender will determine the amount you can borrow. There is no obligation and you are not locked-up into anything. Pre-approval is a step further and is a more formal process. You will actually fill out an application and a credit check will be run. The lender will then issue you a letter summarizing the amount you can borrow. You can use this to speed up your loan once you are ready to close.
  
• Get your home appraised, because appraisal of your home is necessary. In obtaining home equity loan depends on how much your home is worth, and any improvements that you made since the purchase can increase its value. Find out at the beginning how much your home is worth and this will help give you an approximate amount if how much you can actually borrow.
  
• A home equity loan appears to be a simple way to get needed funds, but it’s important to remember that your home is at stake, which means you can lose your home. This is why it’s important to discuss the process with everyone involved to understand what this loan entails. Everyone should prepare themselves emotionally for whatever unexpected to come. Set up a budget for a few months before closing and set aside the extra monthly payment. In addition, consider any life changing event that may occur during the course of your loan like changing jobs or having a baby, for these may affect your ability to repay your loan.
  
• Make sure that you have all of the facts when it comes to choosing a lender, so that you can make a well-informed decision as to which one is the best for your particular situation.
  
• Normally, home equity loans are tax deductible. Make sure to keep all paperwork associated with your loan, including closing cost allocations. You may be able to deduct the interest and principal in some cases. Consult with your tax professional to find out how a home equity loan affects your tax situation.

These home equity loans- useful application tips may come in hand someday when time comes that you’ll need necessary funding for whatever important project you have in your head. I believe that homeowners will need home equity loans- useful application tips if they decided to apply for one.

For more information about home loans and home mortgages go to: http://Home-Loan-Colorado.Info

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Home Loan Interest Rates

Thinking of buying or building that perfect home?  Before you sign on the dotted line some research into home loan interest rates will be needed.  This will give you a much better chance of obtaining some interest rate savings.

To begin finding the best home loan interest rates you will want to study the current rates and rate movements or trends.  Home loan interest rates generally reflect the over all picture of interest rates.  They basically will follow Wall Street Securities with their rise and fall.

Home loan interest rates combined with your individual financial status would then determine how much you can borrow.  This would have an impact on how much house you can buy.  Higher interest rates would mean you may have to settle for a bit smaller home than you originally had planned.

One of the things that you may consider to lower home loan interest rates is to consider if you are willing to pay points or not.  A point is 1% of the total loan amount.  It is the up front fee that would reduce your monthly interest rate and the total amount of interest over the length of the loan.  By paying points you are essentially buying your way to a better rate and trading between paying now vs. paying later.  Paying points should only be considered if you plan on keeping the loan for at least four years.  The reason this is suggested is gives you time to get back the upfront money with the lower monthly payments.

Another factor to consider in regards to home loan interest rates length of loan.  A typical 30 year mortgage will have a higher interest rate than that of a 15 year mortgage.  The 30 year mortgage will have lower monthly payments but you would pay thousands of dollars more in interest rates over the life of the loan than that of a 15 year mortgage.

Also a higher down payment would have a positive effect on home loan interest rates.  This down payment would typically need to 20 percent or more.  This would furnish you with more equity in you home giving you a much better interest rate.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Most lenders offer a variety of options to help assist you with home loan interest rates.  When shopping around make sure you are looking at comparable points and rates amongst the different lenders.

One of the final things in regards to considering with a home loan interest rates is, do you want a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage.  A fixed rate will allow you more money, is fixed throughout the life of the loan.  This kind of loan the interest rate stays the same.  The other a variable rate has the possibility of going up or down bed By paying points you are essentially buying your way to a better depending on the current market.

Do your homework on home loan interest rates, choose between one of the many programs offered and then decide on how much a down payment you can afford.  In the long run this research will pay off handsomely for you.                                                                                                                

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How a Home Equity Loan Works

Do you own a home in which you can use its equity to borrow bigger amount of money. A home equity loan can be a very helpful financial tool if you are in great need of a considerable amount of money. The money that you have borrowed maybe used to fund home improvements, vacations, education, or hospital bills. Home equity loans are sometimes referred to as home improvement loans and equity loans. But, don’t you want to know the mechanic on how a home equity loan works?

When you apply for a home equity loan, it is wise to know how a home equity loan works in order for you not to put your home at risk. Generally, lenders have your home appraised to determine how much it’s worth. If you currently have a mortgage loan against your home, the lender will deduct the amount you owed on mortgage from your home’s appraised value. The difference will now be the amount of equity you have in your home, or the home equity. The lender will now use the value of your home equity to determine the potential amount you can borrow for a home equity loan.

Normally, a lender will base your allowable home equity loan on a percentage of your home’s equity. Traditional lenders will limit your home equity loan to 80 % of your home equity. However, more aggressive lenders allow borrowers a home equity loan which is more than the home’s appraised value. This is how a home equity loan works when it comes to determining the potential amount you can borrow.

If you are considering of getting a home equity loan, you can either get a fixed rate loan or a home equity line of credit. With a home equity line of credit loan, you will be given a maximum amount that you can borrow anytime you want. You will only pay the interest charges on the amount of the home equity loan that you are actually using at any specific time.

When you wanted to know how a home equity loan works, the interest rate must be one of the things you want to know. Lenders usually base the rates on their home equity loans on their Prime Interest Rate, the interest rate they charge their most qualified clients or borrowers. Lenders will then either subtract of add a percentage, usually 1-2 %, from their Prime Rate to determine the interest rate you will be charged on your home equity loan.  This percentage will, therefore, depend on your credit and the amount of money you wish to borrow.

Now that you know how a home equity loan works, you can now say that it’s not hard to get a home equity loan. Yes, this is true and this is also the reason why many lenders feel so secured in letting you borrow a big amount of money so easily- but this could also mean the lose of your home! Their confidence boost due to the fact that a home’s market value is continuously rising. Therefore, whether you will not meet the payments on scheduled time or faithfully pay the amounts, either way, the lenders will not lose in this business.

For more information about home loans and home mortgages go to: http://Home-Loan-Alabama.Info

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