Why Home Equity Loans Can Be Dangerous
A home equity loan is very attractive to home owners since it can help increase immediate cash on hand, provide a way to fund repairs or renovations of the home, and offer an extended line of credit. There are fixed-rate equity loans that can reduce the monthly payments, and extended line of credit that help pay off debts. Home equity loans aren’t without dangers, of course.
Some lenders and brokers can promise a lower interest rate or lower monthly payment, but the payment can go up if the borrower’s credit score decreases. A homeowner’s house may be at risk if he cannot meet the demand of the change. Debt consolidation or home refinancing isn’t a good idea if you will end up with a larger debt.
Though borrowers may save money on the home equity loan, there are those that tend to overspend in other areas. If credit cards are paid off, they may start buying things on credit again and end up making monthly payments beyond what is affordable. Plus what happens when the funding estimated for a project the loan was obtained for – house repairs, college expenses, unforeseen medical emergencies – exceeds the initial funding amount? Borrowers do tend to spend more than they should.
You should be aware that some mortgage companies have big charges that the borrower won’t know about until he signs the papers. This is becoming increasingly common, and it’s important to know all of the terms and final costs well before hand. Other poor lender practices include equity stripping, loan flipping, and over borrowing. Equity stripping refers to when a lender will inflate the income on an application to get the loan. This would then lead to the borrower being unable to pay back the sum. Loan flipping occurs when the lender increases the loan’s amount by increasing the amount of the current mortgage. This results in an overextended amount that the borrower cannot pay. Over borrowing is when a loan is extended for more than a house is worth. The borrower won’t receive a tax deduction and he may have a hard time with the payments.
Home equity loans can be advantageous, but there are dangers to look out for. Sensible budgeting and financial practices are important to stay ahead of payments, no matter how small or large the amount may be.
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February 2, 2012 | Posted by Frank Woods
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