Frequently Asked Questions

A home equity loan is a type of second mortgage that allows homeowners to borrow money by leveraging the equity in their homes. The loan amount is given in lump sum and its usually paid back in fixed monthly payments.
Home equity loans typically have fixed interest rates, which means your payment remains the same over the entire repayment period. The repayment term can vary but its often between 5 to 15 years.
The amount you can borrow with a home equity loan depends on several factors including your lender, your creditworthiness, and the amount of equity you have in your home. Typically, lenders allow you to borrow up to 85% of your homes appraised value minus what you owe on your mortgage.
Homeowners might use the funds from a home equity loan for various purposes such as making improvements or repairs to the property, consolidating high-interest debt, paying for education expenses or funding other major purchases.
Some risks include potential foreclosure if you default on the payments since your house serves as collateral for the loan. Also, there may be closing costs associated with getting this type of loan. Interest paid on these loans may not be tax deductible unless used specifically for buying or improving property.