Getting a Home Equity Line of Credit in California
By J. Hale
Californians have built up over $1 trillion in equity since 2000. For the median homeowner, that translates into
about $260,000 of available financing capital. Even with flat or depreciating home prices in some areas of
California, the majority of property owners still retain sizeable gains in their home’s equity.
Getting a home equity line of credit is probably one of the best ways to access that built up capital. With the
flexibility of a line of credit, you can borrow only what you need, when you need it.
Make Good Use Of Your Home Equity
Home equity is one of your cheapest sources of credit, but you don’t want to waste it. Most experts recommend
borrowing against your home’s value only when you can get a better rate of return on your money. For example,
adding a pool in California can add value to your property.
Another good use of a home equity loan is to pay for a college education, which results in a better paying job. You
may also use it for financial emergencies, like a job loss, medical expenses, or home repair.
Look At All Your Lending Options
You have numerous choices when it comes to deciding what terms you want on a home equity loan. Lines of credits
usually have a variable rate, but you have a number of choices on the length of such a loan. Some act like a credit
card with minimum payments required. Others are rolled into a fixed payment after five years.
Before you go searching for a loan, decide what terms would work best for your budget. Then you will have an easier
time sorting through all the loan offers.
Use The Internet To Get Loan Quotes
California has numerous licensed lenders both in and out of the state. With the majority of financing companies
online, you can quickly get accurate loan estimates. Based on your selected terms and credit score, personalized
home equity quotes are just minutes.
When you receive these loan offers, check out the fee structure. Often home equity loans have more hidden fees than
a typical mortgage – such as for early payments or minimum balance requirements. Once you know the true cost of the
line of credit, you will know which one is right for you.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Getting-a-Home-Equity-Line-of-Credit-in-California&id=374108
ABC 15 Phoenix - Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:57:26 GMT
Do you have a home equity line of credit (HELOC) that’s gone cold, as in frozen? If so you’re not alone. According to Consumer Reports this year hundreds of thousands of home-equity lines of credit have been reduced or completely frozen by lenders.
AME Info - Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:25:47 GMT
Amlak Finance, the UAE's biggest mortgage lender by market value, has temporarily stopped granting new home loans, Bloomberg has reported. The bank is reviewing its existing credit policy 'to ensure optimum servicing of existing and prospective accounts', CEO Arif Al Harmi said.
Evening Standard - Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:48:13 GMT
Hundreds of thousands of London home owners are heading for negative equity as the economy slides inexorably towards the uncharted territory of deflation.
Update2) (Bloomberg - Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:24:35 GMT
Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Home prices in the San Francisco Bay Area plunged a record 41 percent and sales rose in October from a year earlier as purchases of foreclosure properties reduced values, MDA DataQuick said.
PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00 GMT
Gone are the days when homeowners could snap their fingers and turn home equity into instant lines of credit. Not that they'd want to. With the harsh reality of uncertain economic times, and the average consumer shouldering $10,000 or more in credit card debt, a new trend in home improvement is emerging: pay cash or put it off.
Fox News - Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:23:37 GMT
With identity theft on the rise, scammers are targeting homeowners with substantial equity in their homes.
Herald Sun - Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT
NO-DEPOSIT home loans could disappear next year as the global credit crisis puts the squeeze on banks.
Nasdaq - Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:29:20 GMT
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. Home builders, whose confidence in the housing market has plummeted to a new record low, seem to be blaming U.S. federal regulators for at least some of their woes.
Schaeffers Research - Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:04:35 GMT
In this morning's Hot Research AM, Rochdale Research justified its reasons for upgrading Home Depot (HD: sentiment, chart, options) to "buy" from "hold," accompanying the move with a target-price hike to %2427.50 from %2425.00...( Read More )
Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance - Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:58:00 GMT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.----Regions Financial Corporation today announced that it has reached out to over 103,000 residential first mortgage and home equity customers in the first year of its program to help customers avoid hardship.