Home Equity Loans 101

Written by: Frank Kelly

A secured home loan differs from an unsecured loan in that
the secured loan borrows against one's home as collateral,
thereby reducing the risk to the lender.

As such, secured home loans often offer better interest
rates than unsecured loans, but offer higher risk to the
borrower, as defaulting on these loans can have greater
consequences, such as fines, or even possible repossession
of the home originally put up as the secured collateral
(subject to the amount of the loan, of course).

As the interest rates for secured home loans are usually
significantly lower than unsecured loans, more of the
monthly payment goes towards paying off the capital, rather
than paying the accrued interest.

The monthly payments are often more flexible in secured
loans, affording the borrower more leeway in working out a
payment plan that fits his or her needs. However, care
must be taken not to use this as justification for taking
out such a loan, as it is a financial contract between
lender and borrower.

There can be a number of reasons for taking out a secured
loan, such as debt consolidation of high-interest loans,
financing for remodeling, or repayment of college or car
loans. Most lenders offering these types of loans
recommend loan repayment insurance, to guard against an
inability to pay on the loan for a time due to factors such
as illness, losing a job or other unexpected occurrences.

Before taking on a substantial loan such as a secured home
loan, a careful analysis of personal finances is in order.
Having a friend or an accountant or finance officer assist
in this process can save trouble and headaches later, as
they may bring up issues and/or expenditures unthought-of,
issues such as examining how much is spent on morning
mochas at a favorite coffee shop? An outside perspective
can often help clarify these matters so a better-informed
decision can be made.

If proper planning and care is taken, a secured home loan
can be a valuable tool for managing personal debt. Talking
to a loan officer or financial advisor at a major lending
institution can help make these possibilities a reality,
and can be a step towards the realization of financial
freedom.
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About the Author

Frank Kelly is a freelance writer. Years ago he was an
employee who regularly used payday loans to get thro the
month. Then he disocvered the better alternative of a home
equity loan.