Real Estate Agent

A Denver real estate agent specializes in relocation to the Denver Metro area Denver Real Estate Directory Relocation buyers need extra help, learning about the area, schools, drive times and finding the best neighborhood to suit your lifestyle isn't easy. I can assist you with a relocation package tailored to your needs. [ Click Here for More ] Personalize your search and have results delivered to your inbox daily. This HomeFinder service is the most popular of all. [ Click Here for More ] The home buying process is easy when you know the answers; learn how to finance your home, how much it will cost and more. [ Click Here for More ] Select featured homes offering a virtual tour, so you can enjoy a tour from the comforts of your home anytime, day or night. [ Click Here for More ] search Denver Real Estate Site Are you considering a move and want to purchase a new home? Are you wondering about the suburbs of Denver and what they look like? Do you have questions about the city and the suburbs? Are you currently just shopping for information about Denver homes? You have found the right spot! Gathering information is going to be easy now. You will find the answers to your questions here. OFFERING MANY CHOICES OF DENVER HOMES The metro area has an abundance of neighborhoods that might fit your needs. I pride myself in being able to discuss these areas with you. It's important to look at all the possibilities when relocating to a new area and I can help you do just that. Here are some of the areas in the Denver Metro area to consider: OBTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION - CLICK ON THE CITY OF YOUR CHOICE... Arvada Denver Littleton Aurora Denver Tech Center Lodo Brighton Erie Louisville Broomfield Evergreen Lone Tree Castle Rock Greenwood Village Morrison Centennial Golden Northglenn Cherry Hills Highlands Ranch Parker Conifer Ken Caryl Thornton Commerce City Lafayette Westminster Lakewood Research demographics , follow links to gain visual perspective, driving times to popular Denver area locations, taxation in Colorado , links to school accountability reports , private schools , higher education in Denver, American Dream Downpayment Program and other facts helpful to a inquiring Denver relocation prospect. DENVER HOME SALES STATISTICS The Berkshire Group follows the real estate market trends in the Denver metro area. We publish the current market trends in the Denver Real Estate Update and Denver Sales Statistics . Click on the link to review the latest information about Denver home values, Denver's average days on market, list to sale ratios, etc. Denver relocation services are not exclusive to out of state (or country) home buyers. If you are relocating from an area of the city to another, you are welcomed and encouraged to use my services. As a relocation specialist I know how important it is to be able to learn about all the areas that might fit your needs. I have made it my business to compile as complete a website as possible, offering you information that you want...now! If you have additional questions please feel free to contact me either by telephone or e-mail. I promise I will answer your questions honestly and promptly and without pressure. Selling homes in and around Denver is my specialty...how may I help you? HOME BUYING DIRECTORY Buyer Broker Down Payment How to Qualify for a Mortgage Loan Application Locking in Interest Rate Earnest Money Loan Application Checklist Fico Scores Moving List Moving Pets What is PMI? Finance Glossary Financing Your Home Reverse Mortage Home Buying Process Closing Costs © Homes for sale... Beautiful Executive Home In Greenwood Village $579,900 All Execellent Cherry Creek Schools! Curved Stairway and French Doors to mainfloor Den. 5 Bedrooms, 5 Baths, Fully finished walkout basement. Click Here for more info Property Brochure Available Here. Castle Rock Home in the Villages $220,000 Newly redone with fresh paint and new carpet, this lovely Richmond two story has a great custom deck. Located in an established neighborhood you will love the price. Why wait for new? Call Kristal Kraft at 800-319-7739. Property brochure available online. Beautiful Historic Building! True, authentic Loft! Denver Loft Property brochure available here. Enjoy living in a Denver landmark in downtown Denver! (MLS #265755 Visual Tour #57003) Where? At the Denver Dry Lofts, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 22 foot ceilings, hardwood floor, timber beams, lots of vertical interest. HUGE PRICE REDUCTION! $239,900! Additionally the seller is offering incentives to the buyer...$5,000 worth! For more information, call your broker or call Larry McGee at 303-513-1436 View the visual tour of The Denver Dry Loft here. Looking for Lofty Living? (Tour #58151 MLS #268538) $319,000 Wow! Historic, Authentic loft completely renovated in 2005 with easy access to Lodo, Coors Field, restaurants and coffee shops. Light & bright end unit with plenty of space. Huge kitchen island with slab granite, Italian cabinets, lots of exposed brick & wood beemas, sealed concrete floors, large full bath, oversized tub, high ceilings, 2 storage units and plenty of room for your workspace. To see it, Call your agent or call Susie Farrar 303-350-5838 Brochure on Walnut Street Loft Take a virtual tour of the Walnut Loft Bank Owned, Bring Offer! (Tour # 434459 MLS #266663) Boulder County Townhome w/Contemporary Styling, fully finished basement, 3 bedrooms plus a loft, fireplace, 2 car garage. Backs to a huge open space. Priced to sell at $282,900. For more information call your Realtor or call Kristal Kraft at 303-589-2022 Take the Virtual Tour here. Attractive townhome with a courtyard (Tour #430692, MLS #264811) The beautiful open floor plan in this townhome with large rooms is all updated and ready for you to move in. This end unit with a main level entry faces a greenbelt. You will enjoy your private patio with additional storage, and easy access to highways, restaurants, and shopping. Call Susie to see it today! 303-868-8399 Preview this Hallcraft Townhome in Aurora, Colorado Cute Contemporary Home for sale at Sloan's Lake (Tour #64076 MLS #262198 ) You will love this home and location, 1864 sq. ft. 3 bedroom 2 bath home within walking distance to Highland Square. For more information call Laurie Reed 303-906-9172 Preview the home on visual tour Property brochure 4521 W. Hayward Place, Denver, CO 80212 Having a hard time finding a tour? Some computers will block "pop ups" preventing your computer from connecting to the tour. If this happens, hold down the "Ctrl" key and click the link. Or you can locate a Visual Tour by inputting the Tour # in the box below. FOR REALTORS ONLY - CAREER OPPORTUNITY If you are a Denver Realtor looking for a good environment in which to learn and prosper, follow this link . Kristal Kraft , ABR, CIPS, CRS Licensed real estate broker selling Colorado Since 1984 The Berkshire Group Realtors, Inc. 3801 E. Florida Ave, Suite 502, Denver, Colorado U.S.A. 80210 800-319-7738 toll free | 303-589-2022 direct | 720-554-7961 fax E-mail: Kristal Kraft, Realtor 1998-2005, © Reflective Motion Inc. | Privacy Policy | Site Credits | Disclaimer | Site Map ~2 ~3 ~4 Denver Relocation | Buy a Home In Denver | Sell a Home in Denver | Denver Map | Denver Neighborhood Profiles | Denver Sales Statistics | International Real Estate | A Bio | My Favorite Places | Real Estate Resources Denver Loft Homes | The Berkshire Group | Buy and Sell Denver | We Sell Denver | Denver Colorado Real Estate | Denver Blog

Property Listing

Colorado HomeFinder | ColoradoReal Estate, Search ColoradoHomes for Sale in the MLS Call 800.231.9153 | Contact Us If you already have an account, sign in here Colorado Real Estate - find out first about the newest real estate listings! You learn about homes for sale the day they hit the market - before other buyers. Automated HomeAlert emails you new listings that fit your personal home search criteria and gives you access to all the Colorado real estate listings. It's easy - Just submit your email address and home search criteria. Your email is not shared or sold to anyone. You incur no obligation or cost for this free real estate service. Our Privacy Policy: We respect your privacy. All information provided is strictly confidential and you can unsubscribe at any time. Colorado HomeFinder will never sell or share your information with any outside parties. Click here to review our Privacy Policy . Your Automated HomeAlert Search Criteria * Required information Property Type: * Please select... Single Family Condominium or Townhome Any Property Price Range: * From Price.. 75,000 100,000 125,000 150,000 160,000 170,000 180,000 190,000 200,000 210,000 220,000 230,000 240,000 250,000 275,000 300,000 325,000 350,000 375,000 400,000 425,000 450,000 475,000 500,000 525,000 550,000 575,000 600,000 625,000 650,000 675,000 700,000 750,000 800,000 850,000 900,000 950,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 5,000,000 - To Price.. 100,000 125,000 150,000 175,000 200,000 225,000 250,000 260,000 270,000 280,000 290,000 300,000 310,000 320,000 330,000 340,000 350,000 375,000 400,000 425,000 450,000 475,000 500,000 525,000 550,000 575,000 600,000 625,000 650,000 675,000 700,000 750,000 800,000 850,000 900,000 950,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 5,000,000 10,000,000 Min Bedrooms: 1 2 3 4 5 Min Bathrooms: 1 2 3 4 Min Square Feet: No Preference 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 1,400 1,500 1,600 1,700 1,800 1,900 2,000 2,100 2,200 2,300 2,400 2,500 2,600 2,700 2,800 2,900 3,000 3,250 3,500 3,750 4,000 4,500 5,000 6,000 Age of Home: No Age Preference New Construction Only 5 years or less 10 years or less 20 years or less Older than 50 years City Preferences: * Select at least one city... Arvada Aurora Berthoud Boulder Broomfield Castle Rock Denver Englewood Erie Estes Park Evans Evergreen Firestone Fort Collins Fort Lupton Fort Morgan Frederick Golden Highlands Ranch Johnstown Lakewood Lafayette Littleton Longmont Louisville Loveland Lyons Nederland Niwot Parker Severance Superior Thornton Wellington Westminster Windsor Please select if necessary Arvada Aurora Berthoud Boulder Broomfield Castle Rock Denver Englewood Erie Estes Park Evans Evergreen Firestone Fort Collins Fort Lupton Fort Morgan Frederick Golden Highlands Ranch Johnstown Lakewood Lafayette Littleton Longmont Louisville Loveland Lyons Nederland Niwot Parker Severance Superior Thornton Wellington Westminster Windsor Please select if necessary Arvada Aurora Berthoud Boulder Broomfield Castle Rock Denver Englewood Erie Estes Park Evans Evergreen Firestone Fort Collins Fort Lupton Fort Morgan Frederick Golden Highlands Ranch Johnstown Lakewood Lafayette Littleton Longmont Louisville Loveland Lyons Nederland Niwot Parker Severance Superior Thornton Wellington Westminster Windsor Contact Information Name: * First Name: Last Name: E-mail: * (Valid email address is required to receive listings) Re-enter E-mail: * Phone Contact: * Home Phone: Work Phone: Information that will help us serve you better Your level of Interest: * I have a HIGH interest in buying a home and am ready to start visiting homes now. (Please provide your phone number) I have a MEDIUM interest in buying a home, but I just started my search and need to become more familiar with the market. I do not have any definite plans to move at this time. I am just curious about the listings that are currently on the market. I currently: * live in Colorado plan to move to Colorado Your Comments Any additional information that will help us better understand your needs I agree with Colorado HomeFinder Terms & Conditions Just getting familiar with Colorado real estate? Or, do you know the exact street where you want to live? No matter what stage you are in your home search, Automated HomeAlert is for you! The latest technology makes finding homes for sale easier than ever ! Automatic email notification of new listings and access to all the real estate listings from all the brokerages saves you time - and makes searching for homes fun. You are in control! Colorado HomeFinder lets you search for real estate at your own pace. If you are just thinking about a buying a home, no problem...the Automated HomeAlert System is a great way to get familiar with the Colorado real estate market. If you are ready to start seeing homes in person, just let us know. Our local, licensed REALTORs can show you any property on the market. Get matched with a great REALTOR When you're ready for the assistance of a REALTOR, we will match you with the Colorado HomeFinder REALTOR that knows your target market best. Colorado HomeFinder agents are hand-picked REMAX professionals that average over 15 years of experience. We're a Colorado company, not a national referral service with a "list of agents." Our REALTORs are some of the best in the business and are true Colorado real estate market experts! Colorado HomeFinder, RE/MAX Alliance 4770 Baseline Road, Suite 200 Boulder, CO 80303 Colorado HomeFinder | Buy a Colorado Home | Sell a Colorado Home | Colorado Homes for Sale | Browse Colorado Listings | Colorado Realtors | Colorado Mortgage | Colorado Relocation Call toll free (800) 231-9153 or local (303) 543-3083 to be connected with a local expert Colorado RE/MAX REALTOR. New listing emails: Colorado Real Estate Denver Real Estate | Boulder Real Estate | Fort Collins Real Estate | Colorado Real Estate Broomfield Real Estate | Castle Rock Real Estate | Evergreen Real Estate | Highlands Ranch Real Estate | Littleton Real Estate We're a Colorado company with a network of hand picked RE/MAX REALTORS in 17 local offices across the state. 2005, Colorado HomeFinder , all rights reserved. Each office independently owned and operated. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Buy property via the

UK Property & Housing Market News & Websites, Estate Agents; House Buying and Car Buying Websites UK Property Search Websites Mortgages & Building Societies Property News & Media Home RightMove.co.uk UK Housing Market Find A Property.com UK property search Fish4Homes AssertaHome.com www.Property Finder.com Net House Prices.com Search for sales prices of UK property Up My Street.co.uk Find out what your property is worth, and what's going on in your area, including schools UK.Real Estate.Yahoo.com Buy it Privately.com private property sales directory New-Homes-Direct.com off plan property, buy to let property IRED.com International Real Estate Digest Prime Location.com Home buying, selling, renting and investing Moves.co.uk Office and household removals Abbey Self Storage Business and private storage services Good Migrations.co.uk Moving planner; advice; estate agents; local information HBF.co.uk The House Builders Federation - the trade federation for private house builders in England and Wales UK Property & Housing Market News Find a Property/news | NewsNow.co.uk | BBC Nationwide | Hometrack | Land Registry Google News | MSN Newsbot | Yahoo News Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Net House Prices.com Property Entrepeneur.co.uk Details of worldwide properties in high growth areas Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) UK Property Shop.co.uk National directory of estate agents Property Live.co.uk UK House Market Your Mortgage.co.uk Includes advice on mortgage types, buying to let, moving checklist, property price calculator BBC Homes/.../ UK property price guide PrimeLocation.com Houseweb.com Rent, buy, or sell property within the UK Home Check.co.uk Advice for home owners and buyers about potential hazards such as flooding and subsidence Homeclick.co.uk Buy property via the internet without the need for an estate agent Pickfords.co.uk Domestic and international removals The National Federation of Builders National House Building Council (NHBC) Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RISC) Inside Housing.co.uk From Inside Housing magazine BBC.co.uk/homes DIY SOS | House Invaders | Big Strong Boys | To Buy or Not to Buy | Trading Up | Life Laundry | Sunday Home and Garden | Changing Rooms Channel4.com/4 homes Property Ladder | House In The Sun | The Property Chain | Relocation Relocation | Room For Improvement | Grand Designs International Real Estate Directory.com Worldwide directory of estate agents, builders, relocation consultants and more The Move Channel.com UK property information / UK property proces UK Property Guide Homes-Exchange.com Private central London homes and apartments for rent and sale Buying Property in Spain I am Moving.com Free change of address service The Big Yellow.co.uk Storage services Estate Agency News.co.uk latest developments affecting the residential market Mortgages & Building Societies menu/top Money Supermarket Financial products compared Money.MSN.co.uk More financial websites... Charcol Online.co.uk Mortgages-Online.co.uk Your Morgage.co.uk Find.co.uk/mortgages Complete A-Z of UK websites for mortgages, covering lenders and brokers Mortgage Point.co.uk Mortgages 2 homes.co.uk Apply for a mortgage online, even with adverse or bad credit Money Supermarket Britannia.co.uk Cheshire Building Society Coventry Building Society.co.uk Cumberland Building Society Darlington Building Society Derbyshire Building Society Dudley Building Society Dunfermline Building Society Ecology Building Society Furness Building Society Hinckley and Rugby Building Society Ipswich Building Society Kent Reliance Building Society Lambeth Building Society Leeds & Holbeck Building Society Leek United Building Society Loughborough Building Society Manchester Building Society Mansfield Building Society Market Harborough Building Society Marsden Building Society Melton Mowbray Building Society Mercantile Building Society National Counties Building Society Nationwide Building Society Newbury Building Society Newcastle Building Society Norwich and Peterborough Building Society Nottingham Building Society Portman Building Society Principality Building Society Progressive Building Society Scarborough Building Society Scottish Building Society Skipton Building Society Stafford Railway Building Society Staffordshire Building Society Stroud & Swindon Building Society Swansea Building Society Teachers Building Society Tipton & Coseley Building Society Universal Building Society West Bromwich Building Society Woolwich.co.uk Yorkshire Building Society

Real Estate Broker

Weichert Realtors: Homes for Sale & Real Estate Listings in NJ,NY,FL,VA,MD,DC,CT,PA,MA,SC,NC,TX,GA,DE,OH,TN,WV En Espanol City & State, or Zip: MLS #: Price Range: $ ,000 To: $ ,000 Rentals Careers at Weichert Luxury Homes Historic Homes New Homes and Land Corporate Housing Commercial & Investments Insurance Gold Services Relocation Real Estate Schools Referral Associates Franchise Opportunities Start your Home search here, or click on the map. Please Select Alabama Arkansas Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Illinois Maryland Massachusetts Missouri New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennesee Texas Virginia Washington, DC West Virginia Weichert, Realtors proudly donated $1.3 million to the American Red Cross for the victims of Hurricane Katrina Also Search For: Selling · Open Houses · Mortgages · Associates · Offices Browse By State: Alabama Real Estate Properties New York Real Estate Properties Arkansas Real Estate Properties North Carolina Real Estate Properties Connecticut Real Estate Properties Ohio Real Estate Properties Delaware Real Estate Properties Pennsylvania Real Estate Properties Florida Real Estate Properties South Carolina Real Estate Properties Georgia Real Estate Properties Tennesee Real Estate Properties Illinois Real Estate Properties Texas Real Estate Properties Maryland Real Estate Properties Virginia Real Estate Properties Massachusetts Real Estate Properties Washington, DC Real Estate Properties Missouri Real Estate Properties West Virginia Real Estate Properties New Jersey Real Estate Properties Call 1-800-USA-SOLD (1-800-872-7653) Buying a House | Selling a Home | Open Houses | Real Estate Agents | Realtor Offices Find a Mortgage | My Real Estate Listings | About Weichert | Home | Contact Us Real Estate Franchise Opportunities | Weichert Careers © 2005 Weichert Realtors. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Statement REALTOR® -- A Registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS ® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Inquiries regarding the Code of Ethics should be directed to the board in which a REALTOR® holds membership. © 2005 Weichert Realtors. All Rights Reserved.

home equity lines of

What You Should Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit ESPAÑOL More and more lenders are offering home equity lines of credit. By using the equity in your home, you may qualify for a sizable amount of credit, available for use when and how you please, at an interest rate that is relatively low. Furthermore, under the tax lawdepending on your specific situationyou may be allowed to deduct the interest because the debt is secured by your home. If you are in the market for credit, a home equity plan may be right for you. Or perhaps another form of credit would be better. Before making a decision, you should weigh carefully the costs of a home equity line against the benefits. Shop for the credit terms that best meet your borrowing needs without posing undue financial risk. And remember, failure to repay the amounts youve borrowed, plus interest, could mean the loss of your home. What is a home equity line of credit? What should you look for when shopping for a plan? Costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line How will you repay your home equity plan? Lines of credit vs. traditional second morgage loans What is a home equity line of credit? A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral. Because the home is likely to be a consumers largest asset, many homeowners use their credit lines only for major items such as education, home improvements, or medical bills and not for day-to-day expenses. With a home equity line, you will be approved for a specific amount of credityour credit limit , the maximum amount you may borrow at any one time under the plan. Many lenders set the credit limit on a home equity line by taking a percentage (say, 75 percent) of the homes appraised value and subtracting from that the balance owed on the existing mortgage. For example: Appraised value of home $100,000 Percentage x 75% Percentage of appraised value = $ 75,000 Less balance owed on mortgage - $ 40,000 Potential credit $ 35,000 In determining your actual credit limit, the lender will also consider your ability to repay, by looking at your income, debts, and other financial obligations as well as your credit history. Many home equity plans set a fixed period during which you can borrow money, such as 10 years. At the end of this draw period, you may be allowed to renew the credit line. If your plan does not allow renewals, you will not be able to borrow additional money once the period has ended. Some plans may call for payment in full of any outstanding balance at the end of the period. Others may allow repayment over a fixed period (the repayment period), for example, 10 years. Once approved for a home equity line of credit, you will most likely be able to borrow up to your credit limit whenever you want. Typically, you will use special checks to draw on your line. Under some plans, borrowers can use a credit card or other means to draw on the line. There may be limitations on how you use the line. Some plans may require you to borrow a minimum amount each time you draw on the line (for example, $300) and to keep a minimum amount outstanding. Some plans may also require that you take an initial advance when the line is set up. What should you look for when shopping for a plan? If you decide to apply for a home equity line of credit, look for the plan that best meets your particular needs. Read the credit agreement carefully, and examine the terms and conditions of various plans, including the annual percentage rate (APR) and the costs of establishing the plan. The APR for a home equity line is based on the interest rate alone and will not reflect the closing costs and other fees and charges, so youll need to compare these costs, as well as the APRs, among lenders. Interest rate charges and related plan features Home equity lines of credit typically involve variable rather than fixed interest rates. The variable rate must be based on a publicly available index (such as the prime rate published in some major daily newspapers or a U.S. Treasury bill rate); the interest rate for borrowing under the home equity line changes, mirroring fluctuations in the value of the index. Most lenders cite the interest rate you will pay as the value of the index at a particular time plus a margin, such as 2 percentage points. Because the cost of borrowing is tied directly to the value of the index, it is important to find out which index is used, how often the value of the index changes, and how high it has risen in the past as well as the amount of the margin. Lenders sometimes offer a temporarily discounted interest rate for home equity linesa rate that is unusually low and may last for only an introductory period, such as 6 months. Variable-rate plans secured by a dwelling must, by law, have a ceiling (or cap ) on how much your interest rate may increase over the life of the plan. Some variable-rate plans limit how much your payment may increase and how low your interest rate may fall if interest rates drop. Some lenders allow you to convert from a variable interest rate to a fixed rate during the life of the plan, or to convert all or a portion of your line to a fixed-term installment loan. Plans generally permit the lender to freeze or reduce your credit line under certain circumstances. For example, some variable-rate plans may not allow you to draw additional funds during a period in which the interest rate reaches the cap. Costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line Many of the costs of setting up a home equity line of credit are similar to those you paywhen you buy a home. For example: A fee for a property appraisal to estimate the value of your home An application fee , which may not be refunded if you are turned down for credit Up-front charges, such as one or more points (one point equals 1 percent of the credit limit) Closing costs, including fees for attorneys, title search, and mortgage preparation and filing; property and title insurance; and taxes. In addition, you may be subject to certain fees during the plan period, such as annual membership or maintenance fees and a transaction fee every time you draw on the credit line. You could find yourself paying hundreds of dollars to establish the plan. If you were to draw only a small amount against your credit line, those initial charges would substantially increase the cost of the funds borrowed. On the other hand, because the lenders risk is lower than for other forms of credit, as your home serves as collateral, annual percentage rates for home equity lines are generally lower than rates for other types of credit. The interest you save could offset the costs of establishing and maintaining the line. Moreover, some lenders waive some or all of the closing costs. How will you repay your home equity plan? Before entering into a plan, consider how you will pay back the money you borrow. Some plans set minimum payments that cover a portion of the principal (the amount you borrow) plus accrued interest. But (unlike with the typical installment loan) the portion that goes toward principal may not be enough to repay the principal by the end of the term. Other plans may allow payment of interest alone during the life of the plan, which means that you pay nothing toward the principal. If you borrow $10,000, you will owe that amount when the plan ends. Regardless of the minimum required payment, you may choose to pay more, and many lenders offer a choice of payment options. Many consumers choose to pay down the principal regularly as they do with other loans. For example, if you use your line to buy a boat, you may want to pay it off as you would a typical boat loan. Whatever your payment arrangements during the life of the planwhether you pay some, a little, or none of the principal amount of the loanwhen the plan ends you may have to pay the entire balance owed, all at once. You must be prepared to make this balloon payment by refinancing it with the lender, by obtaining a loan from another lender, or by some other means. If you are unable to make the balloon payment, you could lose your home. If your plan has a variable interest rate, your monthly payments may change. Assume, for example, that you borrow $10,000 under a plan that calls for interest-only payments. At a 10 percent interest rate, your monthly payments would be $83. If the rate rises over time to 15 percent, your monthly payments will increase to $125. Similarly, if you are making payments that cover interest plus some portion of the principal, your monthly payments may increase, unless your agreement calls for keeping payments the same throughout the plan period. If you sell your home, you will probably be required to pay off your home equity line in full immediately. If you are likely to sell your home in the near future, consider whether it makes sense to pay the up-front costs of setting up a line of credit. Also keep in mind that renting your home may be prohibited under the terms of your agreement. Lines of credit vs. traditional second morgage loans If you are thinking about a home equity line of credit, you might also want to consider a traditional second mortgage loan. A second mortgage provides you with a fixed amount of money repayable over a fixed period. In most cases the payment schedule calls for equal payments that will pay off the entire loan within the loan period. You might consider a second mortgage instead of a home equity line if, for example, you need a set amount for a specific purpose, such as an addition to your home. In deciding which type of loan best suits your needs, consider the costs under the two alternatives. Look at both the APR and other charges. Do not, however, simply compare the APRs, because the APRs on the two types of loans are figured differently: The APR for a traditional second mortgage loan takes into account the interest rate charged plus points and other finance charges. The APR for a home equity line of credit is based on the periodic interest rate alone. It does not include points or other charges. Disclosures from lenders The federal Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose the important terms and costs of their home equity plans, including the APR, miscellaneous charges, the payment terms, and information about any variable-rate feature. And in general, neither the lender nor anyone else may charge a fee until after you have received this information. You usually get these disclosures when you receive an application form, and you will get additional disclosures before the plan is opened. If any term (other than a variable-rate feature) changes before the plan is opened, the lender must return all fees if you decide not to enter into the plan because of the change. When you open a home equity line, the transaction puts your home at risk. If the home involved is your principal dwelling, the Truth in Lending Act gives you 3 days from the day the account was opened to cancel the credit line. This right allows you to change your mind for any reason. You simply inform the lender in writing within the 3-day period. The lender must then cancel its security interest in your home and return all feesincluding any application and appraisal feespaid to open the account. The information on this site is adapted from the brochure "What You Should Know about Home Equity Lines of Credit." Single or multiple copies of the brochure are available without charge. Order the brochure by telephone, mail, or fax . Order online . Glossary | Where to go for help | Checklist Home | Consumer information | Publications | Brochures Accessibility | Contact us Last update: March 1, 2004