ComputerHunter.org

 

Home Loans and Mortgages ? Time to Consolidate Loans?


Home equity loans and lines of credit are useful tools for homeowners. They allow the homeowner to borrow against the value of his or her home for all kinds of purposes ? home improvement, debt consolidation, vacations, and more. The loans, backed by the value of the house itself, come with attractive interest rates and the added bonus of tax deductible interest. That interest, however, is often variable, adjusting up and down with changes in market conditions. At the moment, conditions are such that interest rates for adjustable rate loans are increasing while rates for fixed-rate loans are still fairly stable. This is probably a good time for homeowners with variable rate equity loans to consider consolidating their primary mortgage and home equity loan into a single entity.

The ideal candidate for such a consolidation would be a homeowner who has a variable rate home equity loan, rather than a line of credit or an equity loan at a fixed rate. A line of credit is sort of a revolving loan, with an amount that may be drawn, as needed, time and again, much like a credit card loan. A home equity loan would represent a fixed amount of money borrowed for a specific length of time. To consolidate a home equity loan and a primary mortgage, the home would have to be refinanced with a new mortgage issued for the combined amounts of both loans. There are costs associated with this, so homeowners should consider the following:

  • Refinancing costs ? It may cost several thousand dollars to combine two loans into one. A home appraisal will be required, along with paperwork fees, filing fees, and possible points paid at closing. A homeowner should make sure that he or she will remain in the home long enough to offset the additional costs of refinancing, otherwise the savings of consolidation are lost.
  • Interest rate on the primary mortgage ? If you have financed or refinanced your home during the last three years, your primary mortgage rate may already be lower than the rate you could get today. You don't want to raise your overall interest rate just to consolidate the smaller amount of money from a home equity loan.
  • The amount of money owed on the home equity loan ? The larger the amount of money owed on the equity loan, the greater the benefit of consolidation. You wouldn't want to refinance your home over an equity loan balance of $1000, but you might want to do so if the balance is $50,000.
  • Market conditions change regularly, but now is a good time for anyone with a variable rate home equity loan with a considerable balance to consider consolidating the equity loan and the primary mortgage into a single loan. If you aren't sure if you can benefit from this, you may wish to consult with your lender.

    ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans .







    Google News - Top Stories

    Canada.com

    Grammy nominations announced!
    Entertainment Weekly - 57 minutes ago
    The nominations for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards were announced in a live television special on Wednesday night. Lil Wayne was the most honored artist with eight nominations.
    Lil Wayne and Coldplay lead Brit-heavy Grammy field Reuters
    Lil Wayne, Coldplay Lead Grammy Nods People Magazine
    Los Angeles Times - Washington Post - MTV.com - BBC News
    all 629 news articles


    New York Times

    Mumbai Attack Is Test of Pakistan’s Ability to Curb Militants
    New York Times - 41 minutes ago
    Anjum Naveed/AP By JANE PERLEZ and SOMINI SENGUPTA LAHORE, Pakistan - Mounting evidence of links between the Mumbai terrorist attacks and a Pakistani militant group is posing the stiffest test so far of Pakistan’s new government, raising questions ...
    Kashmir familiar with style of Mumbai attacks AFP
    Lashkar-e-Taiba Served as Gateway for Western Converts Turning to ... Wall Street Journal
    ASU Web Devil - WND.com - United Press International - Los Angeles Times
    all 4,674 news articles


    ABC News

    Soaring Tuition Pushes College Out of Reach
    ABC News - 3 hours ago
    By BILL WEIR Zach Hall is a government major at the University of Texas, but in his senior year, he is also learning about finance -- the hard way.
    College May Become Unaffordable for Most in US New York Times
    College could become too expensive for 'most Americans' CNN
    San Jose Mercury News - Topeka Capital Journal - Grand Junction Sentinel - Rock Hill Herald
    all 906 news articles


    TopNews

    Conservative Episcopalians Vote to Create Alternative Branch
    Washington Post - 38 minutes ago
    By Michelle Boorstein Conservatives from the Episcopal Church voted yesterday to form their own branch of Anglicanism in the United States and said they would seek new recognition in the worldwide church because of their growing disenchantment over the ...
    Episcopal Church dissidents move toward division Reuters
    Fort Worth Episcopal diocese joins new Anglican Church in North ... Fort Worth Star Telegram
    CNN International - Wall Street Journal - New York Times - Houston Chronicle
    all 326 news articles


    CTV.ca

    Long Road Behind Him, Richardson Gets a Post
    New York Times - 2 hours ago
    Bill Richardson joined Barack Obama for the announcement Wednesday that Mr. Richardson was commerce secretary-designate. By PETER BAKER CHICAGO - At some point during the long series of Democratic presidential debates, Bill Richardson came to realize ...
    Video: Obama taps Richardson for Commerce ReutersVideo
    Building a more diverse Cabinet Chicago Tribune
    Kansas City Star - Los Angeles Times - Reuters - KGMB9
    all 2,794 news articles

    Google
     

    Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base