Home Improvement: Home Equity Line of Credit versus Mortgage Refinance

Making home improvements, home remodeling, addingdown your balance and borrow again without having
onto a home and debt consolidation are some of theto apply for a new loan. And, according to ehow.com,
most popular reasons people cash out on their homethere are no closing costs for second mortgages, as
equity. But the question is, which should you choose,there are with refinancing.If you have an adjustable
mortgage refinancing or a home equity line of creditrate or high interest rate mortgage that you want to
(HELOC)?A mortgage refinance loan is when yourefinance into a lower fixed rate while cashing out on
replace your current mortgage with a new loan.equity for home improvements or other purposes, a
People refinance their mortgages for a variety ofmortgage refinance may work the best for you.
reasons including, refinancing from adjustable rateHowever, according to ERATE.com, if the rate on
mortgages (ARMs) to fixed interest rate ones,your existing first mortgage is substantially lower than
liquidating equity into cash (cash-out refinance) or tothat of current market rates and if you have been
reduce monthly payments and extend the loan term. Amaking payments on your mortgage for a period of
mortgage refinance has the same costs as afive years or more, then a second mortgage may be
mortgage, such as loan application fees, loan originationa more sensible financial solution than starting over
fees, and appraisal fees.A variable rate HELOC,with a new first loan.Maria Ny is a respected
where the interest rate and annual percentage ratefree-lance writer from San Diego, California. She has
(APR) can move up or down, depending on the Primewritten many articles that covered a broad range of
Rate published daily in the Wall Street Journal, is one ofsubjects ranging from Refurbishing Homes, Bankruptcy
two popular second mortgage options, with the otherReform, Credit Repair to Subordinate Financing. Check
being a home equity installment loan (HEIL). HELOCout her helpful articles online at BD Home Equity
second mortgages provide you with the flexibility ofLoans.You can learn more about financing home
borrowing all or part of your equity and you only payimprovements and get additional loan program
interest on what you use unlike a HEIL or refinance.parameters. Get a free loan quote for a 125% home
Because HELOCs work like credit cards, you can payequity loans.