A home equity line of credit, often known as a HELOC, is a revolving credit line secured by your home that you can use to pay for major expenses or consolidate higher-interest debt from other loans like credit cards. The interest on a HELOC is frequently lower than on other forms of loans, and the interest may be tax deductible. Because tax rules may have changed, please ask your tax expert about interest deductibility.
How a HELOC works
You borrow against the available equity in your home with a HELOC, and the house serves as collateral for the loan. The quantity of available credit is replenished as you repay your outstanding balance, similar to a credit card. This means you can borrow against it again if necessary, and you can borrow as little or as much as you need for the duration of your draw period (ours is 5 years), up to the credit limit you set at closing. The payback period (ours is 10 years) begins after the draw period ends. One important thing to note is you pay only the interest on the portion you borrow for the first five years!
Qualifying for a HELOC
You must have available equity in your home to qualify for a HELOC, which means the amount you owe on your home must be less than the value of your home. At BANK, you can borrow up to 90% of the value of your property, less any outstanding debt. In addition, just as when you first got your mortgage, we will look at your credit score and history, employment history, monthly income, and monthly debts.