What is a Home Equity Line of Credit and How Does it Work? (2024)

FAQs

What is the downside of a HELOC? ›

Depending on how you use the funds, you might also get a tax write-off. The cons are that HELOCs use your home as collateral, they can make it easy to overspend, and they have variable rates that can rise. What are the risks of HELOCs in 2024?

To calculate the monthly payment on a $50,000 HELOC, you need to know the interest rate and the loan term length. For example, if the interest rate is 9% and the loan term is 30 years, the monthly payment would be approximately $402.

As you withdraw money from your HELOC, you'll receive monthly bills with minimum payments that include principal and interest. Payments may change based on your balance and interest rate fluctuations, and may also change if you make additional principal payments.

Once the draw period is over, the HELOC will transition to the repayment period. At this point, you can't borrow against the line of credit anymore, and you'll start paying back what you borrowed. You'll make monthly payments that include both principal and interest, over a set term, often as long as 20 years.

Experts advise against using loan money to buy stocks—you can possibly lose the money and be stuck with a loan you can't afford to repay. You should also avoid using a HELOC to invest in luxuries like vacations, since the money will be gone quickly without an asset to sell if you end up needing the money down the road.

Yes, a HELOC is a type of second mortgage. Any loan based on the equity on your home is considered a lien, meaning that if the loan is not repaid, the lender can foreclose on your home to recover the value of the money you owe.

If you open a $100,000 HELOC now, you could wind up with payments ranging between $1,025.00 and $1,276.52 monthly. But that's just an estimate. The rate climate could change and your payments could rise or fall accordingly. The repayment period you choose will also affect how much you need to pay each month.

That all noted, here's how much a $30,000 HELOC will cost per month, assuming today's average 9.16% HELOC rate remains the same: 10-year HELOC at 9.16%: Your monthly payment would be $382.63, with $15,915.59 in total interest paid for an overall amount of $45,915.59.

If you don't have a solid estimate—or you need access to money over an extended period (for college tuition or a home renovation, for instance)—a Heloc may be the better option, as it will allow you to withdraw money as needed, up to your credit limit.

Yes, typically an appraisal is required in order to obtain a HELOC, however it is often a less detailed appraisal than necessary for a primary mortgage. To assess the amount of loan a homeowner can be awarded, lenders will need an accurate account of the value and condition of the property.

What disqualifies you from getting a home equity loan? ›

Most lenders require you to have at least 15% to 20% equity left in your home after factoring in the new loan amount. If your home's value has not appreciated enough or you haven't paid down a big enough chunk of your mortgage balance, you may not qualify for a loan due to inadequate equity levels.

Watch out for balloon payments: If you don't manage your HELOC monthly payments properly, you could be hit with a large “balloon payment” at the end of your repayment period. This large payment can trap you in a cycle of debt if you can't pay it off or, worse, could result in losing your home.

HELOC requirements

You should expect to meet the following HELOC loan requirements: Minimum 620 credit score. You'll need a minimum 620 score, though the most competitive rates typically go to borrowers with 780 scores or higher. Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio under 43%.

But if your HELOC rate and payment stayed the same through the 15-year repayment period, your HELOC payments on a $60,000 balance at today's average interest rate of 9.18% would be $615 per month and you would pay $50,700.25 in total interest. Get the money you need with a home equity loan now.

HELOCs can be dangerous if you don't manage them carefully. Because they usually come with variable interest rates, your monthly payments can fluctuate. And those payments will jump dramatically if you only repay interest during the initial draw period, leaving the entire debt to handle during the repayment period.

If you don't have a solid estimate—or you need access to money over an extended period (for college tuition or a home renovation, for instance)—a Heloc may be the better option, as it will allow you to withdraw money as needed, up to your credit limit.

If the market has taken a downturn and the value of your house has diminished, your equity is affected as well. When this happens, your lender can enforce a HELOC reduction so that your borrowing limit is based on just the equity that remains.