Real Estate Lending Guide
A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience. -Sydney Smith

Choices: Home Improvement vs. Home Equity
Many of you may be thinking about home improvement projects such as a pool, new kitchen, room addition or other major remodeling. One of the first questions you may ask yourself is how you are going to finance such a project. Should you apply for a Home Improvement Loan or a Home Equity Loan?

The answer will most likely depend on how much equity you have built up in your home. With most mortgages, payments in the early years are dedicated mostly to interest. And since equity is built by paying off the principal of a mortgage, many younger home owners may not qualify for a Home Equity Loan or may qualify for more through a Home Improvement Loan.

If you do have a lot of equity in your house, you may base your decision on the rates and terms of the loans. Typically, a Home Equity Loan will have lower rates and longer terms than a Home Improvement Loan. Also, unlike a Home Improvement Loan, you receive and disburse the funds, not the financial institution. Furthermore, any left over money is yours and can be used for any purpose. If you would like more information about these or any other loans that your credit union offers, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Home Improvement

[Home Improvement Rates]

With our warm climate, the sounds of saws and hammers will echo throughout local neighborhoods throughout the year. It’s the sound of home improvement. If you have been considering a new addition to your house such as a pool or a sunroom, or improving your existing home with a new roof or coat of paint, your credit union can help. Whether you plan on doing it yourself or having a professional do the job, your credit union can help you with a home improvement loan with low rates and flexible terms.

 

Home Equity

[Home Equity Rates]

The first step in determining whether or not a Home Equity Loan would be of benefit to you is filling out the worksheet provided on this page. If your estimated amount to borrow is less than $10,000, you would not qualify for a Home Equity Loan. The purpose of Home Equity Loans is to help you make a big one-time purchase of lasting

value, such as paying for a child’s college education or consolidating large amounts of credit card debt.

Another consideration would be to consult with a tax professional to find out if you can deduct the interest and charges from your taxes. If not, a Home Equity Loan would be of little value to you unless the rate was incredibly low.

One of the most important points to consider is that you are using your home as collateral on a contractual obligation. You are less likely to lose your home with a Home Equity Loan than with other types of home-secured loans such as a mortgage, but the reality remains that you could lose your home if you fail to make payments or violate other terms on your loan.

For a Loan application packet please call the credit union at 281-487-9333 or to apply in person, bring the following materials to either credit union location.

The following documents are REQUIRED to process the loan:

Executed credit application
Current pay stub (last two (2) years tax returns if self-employed, retired, or income is from commissions)
Mortgage statement(s) to show current mortgage loan balances and payments
Most recent tax appraisal or tax statement
Deed of trust
Proof of Homeowners Insurance
 

Additional Home Equity requirements:

Property must be homestead
A borrower may obtain only one equity loan at a time
An equity loan may not be financed more frequently than once a year
There is no pre-payment penalty
Loan closings must occur in the office of the lender, title company or Attorney
Origination fee of 3%
Closing documents MAY NOT be executed before the 12th day after the
lender received an executed credit application and Notice concerning extensions of credit
There is a 3-day Right of Recession period after the loan documents are signed before loan proceeds will be distributed (Sundays and legal holidays excluded)
Appraisals will be required on loan amounts of $25,000 or greater
Flood determination required
All fees that are accrued due to this loan are covered in the 3% origination fee

The credit union is an Equal Housing Lender. We do business in accordance with Federal Fair Lending Laws.

Home Equity Worksheet
Calculate how much you can borrow. Use the following short worksheet to get a rough estimate of how much money you may be able to borrow.

Appraised value of your home $
Multiply by 80% x .80
Your Equity $
Subtract the balance on your mortgage and/or Home Improvement Loan -
Estimated amount available to borrow $

Home Equity Loans, like other real estate loans, may offer tax deductions. The credit union is not authorized to offer tax advice. Please consult a tax professional regarding the deductibility of interest and charges on real estate loans.

We do Business in Accordance with Federal Fair Lending Laws        Your funds federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration

 

© 2006 Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union.
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