subject: What Is Heloc? [print this page] Does HELOC have anything to do with helicopters? No, but you could feel like you are flying high. It means Home Equity Line of Credit. It is a loan like a loan for a mortgage. There is a difference in that the mortgage is one amount and this credit is an amount that has been established for you to draw from.
The interest rate is prime plus. This choice could sound very appealing to some. Your rate for your mortgage is higher so it may be attractive to you to borrow on this credit to pay off your mortgage so that your interest payment would be drastically reduced.
This may not be the case in the long run. If your credit amount is not going to be paid off for a number of years the interest may turn out to be very expensive for you. Perhaps your rate would be low now but prime has always been very volatile and you could end up paying much more interest than the mortgage would have cost.
In deciding on taking out this credit you should be prepared to ask certain questions. The interest rates are the main concern. Prime rate is variable and varies most days. On this type of credit the prime plus amount is not very readily divulged. If you do not ask you will not be told. You may place yourself in the situation where this credit is very costly.
Needless to say the borrowing institution would like you to request a high amount for your line of credit. They want as much interest as they can. It is possible that they will establish a minimum so be sure to inquire. Paying interest on money that you are not using or need is not a good situation.
There are fees as in any other loan but there are some unique fees that you must be sure to factor in. An annual fee is usually charged. Often the lending institution will waive this your first year. When you cancel you will have to pay a cancellation fee, which may be waived depending on the amount of time the account stayed open. Before making this decision be sure you ask certain questions. Are they offering you an special rate for an introductory period of time, what is the margin, what is the minimum amount they expect you to draw, what is the average balance, are there upfront lender and third party fees, is there an annual or cancellation fee?
You have decided that this may be the right one for you then do not forget that your property is the equity. With the instability of our economy you may find that the funds you believed were available are no longer there because the value of your property has gone down. Your property is at risk because this is a secured loan.
