Examining home equity loan rates

Home Equity loan rates

Home equity loan rates fluctuate daily just as all mortgage rates. They also rise in tandem with interest rates set by the Federal Reserve, which has raised rates 15 consecutive times since rates hit 40-year lows in 2004. Home equity rates are important, however, if you are serious about entering into a home equity loan you must examine any particular loan program in its entirety. Most home equity loans come with variable interest rates, some come with low introductory rates that can jump up after a set time period, and few come with fixed rates.

Home equity loans and their rates and fees differ greatly from program to program so it pays to speak with several lenders and expose yourself to a number of different programs.

Money costs money, but how much?
With all the different ways home equity loans are structured it can sometimes be tough to understand how much money you are spending on the actual loan. Some loans have upfront fees while others have a balloon payment at the end of the loan's life. Home equity loan rates can fluctuate greatly throughout the life of the loan as most home equity loans are not fixed. Many offer very low introductory rates that can jump up after that introductory period is over; be sure to understand the periodic cap and lifetime cap, they are the limits that specify the amount the interest rate can change during one period and the entire life of the loan respectively.

When looking at different home equity loan rates check the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) which indicates the cost of credit on a yearly basis. Remember that the advertised APR for home equity loans is based on interest alone, to get the full picture you must look at all fees associated with the loan such as points and closing costs. This is especially important when looking at a home equity credit line versus a traditional 2nd mortgage, where the APR includes the total credit costs for the loan.

Differing rates, programs and more
The range differing home equity loan rates and the programs in which they are structured can be quite exhausting. This is why when choosing a home equity loan it really pays to speak with multiple loan professionals and expose yourself to several programs. Compare home equity loan rates today with MortgageLoan.com's free quote service to put yourself on path to finding the right home equity loan for you.