| | | | | based on the current prime interest rate (as discussed |
| This is one of the most common questions that we | | | | in our previous articles) as well as your credit score. |
| receive at – and it is quite a loaded question. Rather | | | | The third consideration that will be made is the |
| that displaying charts of regional and national interest | | | | demographics and market trends surrounding the area |
| rates as they related to HELOCs, we will first discuss | | | | that you live in. If you live in an area that has been |
| the components that will be used in making a | | | | especially hit hard by the housing crisis then a bank or |
| determination of how much interest you will pay. First, | | | | finance company may decide to increase the interest |
| the quality of your home – through a real estate | | | | rate on your HELOC Equity facility due to the |
| appraisal will be determined. Second, your credit | | | | increased risks associated with housing trends in your |
| reports will be pulled as will a calculation of your credit | | | | area. The final consideration that will be made is how |
| score. Third, the equity in your home will be determined. | | | | much capital you are seeking. The more debt capital |
| This will allow the bank or mortgage company to | | | | you are seeking – the higher the aggregate interest |
| make an appropriate determination as to how much to | | | | will be. |
| potentially grant you through a HELOC Equity credit | | | | |
| facility. | | | | As of April of 2010, the average interest rate paid on a |
| | | | | $75,000 line of credit has been hovering around 8.75%, |
| As we discussed earlier, in almost all circumstances, a | | | | which is about three to four percentage points above |
| home equity line of credit is a variable interest rate | | | | the prime rate. For comparison, a 30 year fixed |
| debt instrument. The interest rate you will pay, once | | | | mortgage currently has a prime interest rate of 4.4%. |
| the above issues have been discussed, will be primarily | | | | |