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Private lenders on the other hand will generally max out at 75-85% in select urban communities, and 65-70% in select rural communities. All of these are good reasons to find out how to take equity out of a house. If you’ve been making those mortgage payments regularly for years, all that money is now sitting in your house – kind of like dollar bills locked inside a giant vault. If you need to use this money for something major that has cropped up – like the list of scenarios above – there are different options to help you take equity out of the house.
However, an equity line of credit is revocable—just like a credit card. If your financial situation worsens or your home’s market value declines, then your lender could decide to lower or close your credit line. So, although the idea behind a HELOC is that you can draw upon the funds as you need them, your ability to access that money isn’t a sure thing. A HELOC has a variable interest rate, so payments fluctuate based on how much borrowers are spending in addition to market fluctuations. This can make a HELOC a bad choice for individuals on fixed incomes who have difficulty managing large shifts in their monthly budget.
Uses for a home equity loan vs. a home equity line of credit
Home equity is the calculation of a home's current market value minus any liens attached to that home. Among other things, companies may use this line of credit to address short-term cash flow issues. SBLOCs also often carry risks, including potential tax consequences and the possibility of selling your holdings, which could affect your long-term investment goals. The borrower may not use the funds to buy or trade securities. Sharing your property’s zip code will let us provide you with more accurate information.

A HELOC is like a credit card in that you have a certain amount of money available to borrow and payback. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Guaranteed Rate, Inc. does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, completeness or timelines of the information in this publication. While efforts are made to verify the information provided, the information should not be assumed to be error free. Some information in the publication may have been provided by third parties and has not necessarily been verified by Guaranteed Rate, Inc.
Explore your options
When you do a cash-out refinance, you replace your existing mortgage with a new one. The loan amount on the new mortgage is higher than the amount you currently owe. A third way to take money out of your home is a home equity line of credit, or a HELOC.

Most charge a fixed interest rate that doesn’t change during the life of the loan. Home equity lines of credit and home equity loans are two ways to achieve similar ends. But they are different, and understanding how each one works can help you decide whether one or the other might work for you. Both allow you to borrow against the appraised value of your home, providing you with cash when you need it. Here's what the terms mean and the differences between a home equity line and loan that can help you figure out whether they're the right fit for you. Your home secures the loan, so your home is at risk if you fall behind on your loan repayments.
Refinance vs. Home Equity Line of Credit Defined
A refinance involves finding another lender to give you a new mortgage with more suitable terms and pay off your existing mortgage. In some cases, your existing lender will switch out the mortgage and issue the refinance as well. A piggyback mortgage can include any additional mortgage loan beyond a borrower’s first mortgage loan that is secured with the same collateral. You need a revolving credit line to borrow from and pay down variable expenses.
Among other things, this may result in drawbacks like higher interest rate and exorbitant late payment fees. It can be tempting to overspend with a line of credit since it is easy to access funds. This can lead to debt problems and financial troubles if not handled properly. There is also an interest charge and an established credit limit. Then, depending on the agreed upon terms, the payback can be interest plus principal or interest only. Because of its unpredictable repayment schedule, this type of LOC might be rarely used.
Your lender may also require an independent home appraisal to confirm your home’s value and to help determine the amount of equity you have available. Some lenders can even use an automated home valuation, which helps streamline the process. Once satisfied with the terms, you’ll complete a more thorough application.
Also, if you opt out of online behavioral advertising, you may still see ads when you log in to your account, for example through Online Banking or MyMerrill. These ads are based on your specific account relationships with us. Once the appraisal is complete, you'll have a better idea of how much you can borrow against your home equity. The state of Texas has strict rules governing how homeowners can use their home equity. How much you can borrow depends on the equity you have in your home.
Let’s say you want to hire a contractor to complete various remodeling jobs around your house. Your goal is to update some of your spaces and add value to your property. Apply for home equity line of credit through Guaranteed Rate today to leverage your home equity for your next big expense.

Interest paid on a HELOC is tax-deductible if the funds are used to purchase, repair or substantially improve the property used to secure the loan. You may be able to convert some or all of the balance you owe on a variable-rate HELOC to a fixed-rate loan. Those rates are tied to a benchmark interest rate and can adjust up or down.
However, the payments become substantially higher over the course of the repayment period because the principal amount borrowed is now included in the payment schedule along with the interest. Its fixed interest rate means borrowers can take advantage of the current low interest rate environment. However, if a borrower has bad credit and wants a lower rate in the future, or market rates drop significantly lower, they will have to refinance to get a better rate. The draw periods of HELOCs allow borrowers to withdraw funds from their credit lines as long as they make interest payments.

When you have your estimate, combine the total balance of all mortgages, HELOCs, home equity loans, and liens on your property. Subtract the total balance of what you owe from what you think you can sell it for to get your equity. Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication.
How do you qualify for a HELOC?
More importantly, address the spending habits that caused your debt so you can avoid repeating the cycle. I am also providing my consent to share my personal information with third party providers for our everyday business purposes. Personal information includes but is not limited to, name, telephone number and email address. I understand that my consent is not required as a condition of purchasing any goods or service. Interest rates are typically much lower than those of credit cards and other unsecured personal loans.

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