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Real Estate | Homes for Sale | Houses for Sale | RealEstate | REALTORs ® | Real Estate Agent BUY A HOME SELL A HOME HOME LOANS NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION ABOUT US MY ACCOUNT FREE HOME PRICE CHECK ® Learn the Market Value of Your Home! NEW CONSTRUCTION Search for a New Home and get 1% Cash Back EXISTING HOMES Receive a Gift Card Worth up to $1,000 or more.** HOUSEWATCH SM Get notified by email as new home listings come on the market. PRE-QUALIFICATION Get up to 4 Mortgage Offers in Minutes HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER Find Pre-Screened Home Contractors in Your Area. REALESTATE.COM IN THE NEWS SEARCH OVER 1 MILLION HOMES GET YOUR CREDIT SCORE REAL ESTATE AGENTS View and Save homes easily. Please Choose Alberta, AB Alaska, AK Alabama, AL Arkansas, AR Arizona, AZ British Columbia, BC California, CA Colorado, CO Connecticut, CT District of Columbia, DC Delaware, DE Florida, FL Georgia, GA Hawaii, HI Iowa, IA Idaho, ID Illinois, IL Indiana, IN Kansas, KS Kentucky, KY Louisiana, LA Massachusetts, MA Manitoba, MB Maryland, MD Maine, ME Michigan, MI Minnesota, MN Missouri, MO Mississippi, MS Montana, MT New Brunswick, NB North Carolina, NC North Dakota, ND Nebraska, NE New Hampshire, NH New Jersey, NJ New Mexico, NM Nova Scotia, NS Nevada, NV New York, NY Ohio, OH Oklahoma, OK Ontario, ON Oregon, OR Pennsylvania, PA Rhode Island, RI South Carolina, SC South Dakota, SD Tennessee, TN Texas, TX Utah, UT Virginia, VA Vermont, VT Washington, WA Wisconsin, WI West Virginia, WV Wyoming, WY Lenders will look at your credit score. And so should you. Partner with a fast-growing online network today. CLICK HERE Buying a Home | Selling a Home | Homes for Sale | Credit Report & Score | House Prices at Domania New Home Construction | Find a Mover | Find a REALTOR ® | Home Financing | Real Estate Learning Center Customer Service | Publications | For the Media | News Releases | Join Our Real Estate Network | Post Home Listings Privacy | Security | Terms of Use | Jobs | Disclosures and Licenses | Sitemap | Loans | Commercial Real Estate Houses for Sale in: Atlanta | Austin | Boston | Charlotte | Chicago | Dallas | Denver | Houston | Las Vegas | Los Angeles Miami | Minneapolis | New York | Philadelphia | Phoenix | San Antonio | San Diego | San Francisco | Seattle Washington, DC | Real Estate in More Cities LendingTree technology and processes are patented under US Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816. © 1998 - Real Estate.com, a service of LendingTree, LLC. All Rights Reserved.This site is directed at, and made available to, persons in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii only. Conversion to LendingTree, LLC We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. 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. Not all of the real estate professionals participating in the "Agent's Competing" program are REALTORS ® , which are members of the National Association of REALTORS ® . The Home Depot ® is not affiliated with LendingTree, LLC. The Home Depot ® is a registered trademark of Homer TLC, Inc. RealEstate.com is not sponsored by or affiliated with the parent franchisor companies of any of the participating members of its network. * Represents amount of consumer incentives and rebates (in the form of gift cards or other incentives) paid to consumers since August, 2000. ** Full Terms and Conditions Partner Sites: Citysearch | Expedia | Hotels.com | Ticketmaster.com | Hotwire.com | Entertainment.com | Match.com Home Shopping Network | ReserveAmerica | LendingTree.com | iNest | ServiceMagic | Ask Jeeves | Gift Ideas Mortgage Calculator | Refinance at GetSmart | LendingTree Mortgage | Free Online Credit Report | Home Equity Loans

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Colorado Real Estate Colorado Real Estate Alabama Real Estate Alaska Real Estate Arizona Real Estate Arkansas Real Estate California Real Estate Colorado Real Estate Connecticut Real Estate Delaware Real Estate Florida Real Estate Georgia Real Estate Hawaii Real Estate Idaho Real Estate Illinois Real Estate Indiana Real Estate Iowa Real Estate Kansas Real Estate Kentucky Real Estate Louisiana Real Estate Maine Real Estate Maryland Real Estate Massachusetts Real Estate Michigan Real Estate Minnesota Real Estate Mississippi Real Estate Missouri Real Estate Montana Real Estate Nebraska Real Estate Nevada Real Estate New Hampshire Real Estate New Jersey Real Estate New Mexico Real Estate New York Real Estate North Carolina Real Estate North Dakota Real Estate Ohio Real Estate Oklahoma Real Estate Oregon Real Estate Pennsylvania Real Estate Rhode Island Real Estate South Carolina Real Estate South Dakota Real Estate Tennessee Real Estate Texas Real Estate Utah Real Estate Vermont Real Estate Virginia Real Estate Washington Real Estate West Virginia Real Estate Wisconsin Real Estate Wyoming Real Estate Welcome to the Colorado section of Real Estate Guide USA. We have one of the largest listings of independentreal estate agents online. Our goal is to showcase the premier Colorado real estate agent websites online. Be sure to feel out multiple real estate agents when searching so that you cansee first hand which are most responsive to your needs. We are confident all of the agents listed with us will exceed your expectations. When you contact an agent please let them know that you found them through REGuideUSA.com. FREE Property Listings - Agents add your property listings for free at eHousingMarket! Buyers browse detailed property listings with no registration! Find A Colorado Real Estate Agent - Planning to Sell or Buy a Home? Compare REALTORS First. It's Fast, Free, and Anonymous! Keystone Colorado Resort Real Estate - Search all Summit County real estate including Keystone, Breckenridge, Dillon and Frisco Colorado. Homes, Condos and Land for sale. Helping Buyers and Sellers using latest technology. Colorado Real Estate Links - Colorado real estate new homes and home builder web sites. Nancy Gregory: Summit County Real Estate - Buy homes and condos in Summit County Colorado featuring Dillon, Keystone, Frisco, Breckenridge, Silverthorne and Copper Mountain properties Inthesprings.com - Christy Rauh - Colorado Springs Realtor, Specializing in the new homes, townhomes, and condos. Denver Homes Real Estate - Denver Colorado Real Estate: Search MLS Homes for Sale, Relocation/School Info and more. Buyer or Seller Realtor Representation. Golden, Genesee, Jefferson County Colorado Real Estate - Best, most informative site in the Denver West, Golden and mountain communtities of Lookout Mountain, Genesee, Evergreen. Search MLS, neighborhood information and links, relocation information, Search for homes by neighborhood. Must See!!! Metro Brokersales - Home sales and acreage property in North Metro Denver Colorado-Full MLS search available and you can save properties to your own personal folder Denver Lofts - Denver Lofts Real Estate Listings in the Denver Metropolitan Area Colorado Springs Real Estate - Black Forest Homes - El Paso County Real Estate - Real estate in Colorado Springs, Black Forest, Monument, Falcon, Peyton, Calhan, Fort Carson, and El Paso County. Search the MLS and find buyer seller tips! Colorado Springs Real Estate - Serving Colorado Springs and El Paso County. Help with military relocations. Colorado HomeFinder - Colorado Home Finder specializes in real estate throughout Colorado in Denver, Highlands Ranch, Boulder, Littleton, Aurora, Arvada, Lakewood, Englewood, Castle Rock, Golden, Thornton, Westminster, Parker, Lone Tree, Larkspur and other Colorado communities. The Gold Medal Team MLS Site - Comple MLS listings for Colorado Springs area homes, properties, rentals, town homes, and more Colorado Springs Real Estate - Monument Homes for Sale - El Paso County Relocation - Real Estate in Colorado Springs, Monument, Manitou Springs, Falcon, Fountain, Security, Woodland Park, Teller County, and El Paso County. Find buyer seller tips and free reports! Highlands Ranch Real Estate - Denver Homes - Arapahoe County Real Estate - Real estate in Highlands Ranch, Denver, Centennial, Littleton, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, Englewood, Parker, and Arapahoe County. Search the Denver MLS and get free reports! Colorado Springs Real Estate, Deb Jones - Real Estate assistance in the Pikes Peak region. Specializing in Military Relocation and First Time Home Buyers. Aurora Real Estate - Denver Homes for Sale - Arapahoe County Real Estate - Real estate in Aurora, Denver, Englewood, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Thornton, Northglenn, Westminster, and Arapahoe County. Check out our local partners and community links info! Hqhomes - Biggest Colorado home search. Free moving truck, free 1st months mortgage payment, only 1% listing fee for selling a home. Western Colorado Cedaredge Real Estate - Marsha Bryan - Marsha Bryan with RE/MAX Mountain West will help you with all of your Western Colorado retirement plans. Covering all of Delta, Montrose, and Mesa County. Call her 24/7 direct line at (970) 856-8800 to find out more right now or click to visit her website. Colorado Real Estate - Search for homes in the Superior, Colorado area including the Rock Creek subdivision. Free MLS access to search for new and resale homes. Get a cash rebate on any home purchase or sell with no listing commission. Sharon Been - Buying and Selling Real Estate along the 285 Corridor from Denver to Breckenridge. Specializing in Mountain Properties, Luxury Homes to Cabins, as well as resort properties and Denver Metro homes. Also, An expert in assisting homeowners with foreclosures and working with investors. Mortgage Calculator - This advanced mortgage calculator allows you to calculate your monthly mortgage and see what percentage of your monthly mortgage payment will go to interest and principal. A must for any active house seeker! Real Estate Topsites - Top Real Estate Sites! We showcase the world's best Real Estate, Property and Home related websites ranked according to their popularity! Top Colorado Real Estate Agents - TopAgents.biz is your one stop shop for finding qualified real estate agents in your area! We take the guesswork out of finding a realtor by listing the most popular realtors online. STARTPLANE: Colorado Real Estate - Colorado Real Estate Directory Add a Site about Colorado Real Esate

real estate investment management

Real Estate CU Home Libraries Home Search | Site Index | FAQ | Help Search Library Catalog: Title (start of title) Journal (start of title) Author (last, first) Keyword (and, or, not, "") Subject Go To CLIO Find Databases: Title Keywords Title (start of title) Keywords Go To Databases Find E-Journals: Title (start of title) Title Keywords Subject Keywords Go To E-Journals Search the Libraries Website: Go To Advanced Website Search Libraries & Collections About the Libraries Libraries Collections Digital Collections Special Collections -- Hours Directions to Columbia Map of Campus Libraries Locations & Contact Info More... Catalogs CLIO (Columbia's Online Catalog) Course Reserves Educat (Teachers College) Pegasus (Law) WorldCat More... E-Resources Citation Finder Databases E-Journals E-Books E-Data E-News E-Images DigitalCommons -- Subject Guides More... Report Problems Request It BorrowDirect Medical Center/Morningside In Process/Ordered Science Fast Track Interlibrary Loan Recommend Titles for Purchase More... Ask Us Contact a Reference Desk Email a Question Frequently Asked Questions Make a Suggestion Online Chat Service (Ask Us Now) Report an E-Resource Problem Schedule a Research Consultation Staff Contacts & Directories More... Using the Libraries My Library Account Borrow & Renew Computing, Laptops, Wireless Course Reserves Info Frequently Asked Questions Hours Library Access & Privileges Printing & Photocopying Workshops & Research Help More... Real Estate In addition to the resources found in the Business and Economics Library, Avery Library has an extensive real estate collection. These resources were selected for their authority, ease of use, and accessibility. If you need more assistance, speak to a reference librarian. See http://www.columbia.edu /cu/lweb/indiv/business/refservices.html for Reference Desk hours or email the reference librarians: business@libraries.cul.columbia.edu Additional resources can be found in CLIO , the library catalog. Contents: Directories Handbooks Periodicals Indexes, Abstracts and Full Text Internet Resources DIRECTORIES Crittenden Directory of Real Estate Financing. HG2040 .C7 (Reference) Alphabetical directory of real estate lenders (banks, REITs, pension funds, etc.) throughout the U.S. Includes type of financing, type of projects, and contact information. Cross-indexed by real estate sector (apartments, offices, industrial, etc.). Crittenden Directory of Real Estate Investors & Buyers HD1361.D57 (Reference) Directory of real estate investors. Manhattan Cooperative and Condominium Directory. AA50 M3 (Avery Reserves) Directory of cooperative and condominium apartment houses in Manhattan. Nelson's Directory of Institutional Real Estate. AA50 N33 (Avery Library Reference) Separate sections cover real estate investment management firms, real estate service firms, pension funds and foundations that invest in real estate, the 2,000 largest corporations with active real estate operations, and real estate investment trusts. Each entry includes an overview of the firm, names of key executives, and contact information. Searchable geographically and by type of service offered. Covers mainly the U.S., with some foreign entries. Back to the table of contents. HANDBOOKS Handbook of Real Estate Terms. HD1390 .D48 (Reference) Brief definitions of 2,700 terms and acronyms. McGraw-Hill Real Estate Handbook. HD1375 .M17 1993 (Reference) Has 31 chapters by various authors on aspects of the real estate business, financing, buying and selling, and taxation. Back to the table of contents. PERIODICALS National Real Estate Investor http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3327469.001 Also available in print: Slot N-254 (Current Periodicals) Forecast -- Conditions in Leasing, Financing, Construction and Investment Trends: published in February. Real Estate Alert http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3327945.002 Professional newsletter covering the industry. Real Estate Economics: Journal of the American Real estate and Urban Economics Association http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3430028.004 Also available in print: Slot R-200 (Current Periodicals) Scholarly journal covering various aspects of real estate markets. Real Estate Finance http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3430029.001 Also available in print: Slot AB R221 (Avery Library Reserves) "The quarterly review of commercial finance techniques." Published by Institutional Investor, Inc. Real Estate Finance and Investment http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio4814204.002 Also available in print: KF5698.3.Z9 .R42 (Business Reserves) Professional newsletter covering the industry. Real Estate Forum http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3431203 Also available in print: Slot R-206 (Current Periodicals) Real Estate Issues http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3430030.001 Also available in print: Slot AB R224 (Avery Library) Real Estate Review Print: Slot R-220 (Current Periodicals) Covers real estate market trends, financing and investment opportunities. Back to the table of contents. DATABASES ABI/Inform on ProQuest Direct . http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/4371876.html Online database which contains citations and abstracts of over 1700 business and economics journals with over 700 of these available full-text and/or imaged. Delivery options include email, downloading, and printing. Coverage: 1971 to present; Updates: Weekly Bloomberg. Business Electronic Resources (Library Use Only) Bloomberg is rich with information on Real Estate Investment Trusts, Real Estate Financing, and related data. Tye "REL" and hit the GO key for the real estate menu of equity analytics. Coverage: varies; updates: constant. Business Source Premier http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/4784657.html Covers all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, accounting, finance, international business, econometrics and economics. Contains full text of the Harvard Business Review, California Management Review and other important journals. BSP also includes country reports from EIU and Global Insight as well as company reports from Datamonitor. Factiva http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/3272677.html Factiva is an excellent resource for finding company and industry information. Factiva contains a database of nearly 8,000 publications, including: academic and trade publications, industry newsletters, international and regional newspapers, business magazines, and business newswires. The two sections of the database that are most commonly used for this assignment are the "Factiva Library" (which allows researchers to search the 8,000 sources) and the "Quick Company Search" (which contains company profiles - information about: finances, competitors, company history, etc.). LexisNexis Academic http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/2100385.html Comprehensive online database which affords access to hundreds of information sources, including the full text of newspapers, magazines, wire services, newsletters, journals, and broadcast transcripts. Coverage: Varies by source; Updates: Varies by source ULI Development Case Studies http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/4823442.html Access to more than 300 detailed case studies of completed projects ranging from low-income housing to mixed-use downtown developments to commercial and industrial projects. The case studies provide photographs and site plans, information on costs and rents, innovative features and strategies of the project, and an explanation of the entire development process. It covers projects from 1985 to the present. Thirty new case studies are added every year. Back to the table of contents. All electronic services are restricted to current students, staff, and faculty at Columbia University, Teachers College, and Barnard College with a valid CUNIX ID and logon. © Columbia University Libraries My Library Account | Hours | Contacts | Suggestions Last update: 2005-11-30

Home Equity Loans Home

Home Equity Loans, HELOC, Home Improvement Loan - HomeLoanCenter.com Home Home Equity Mortgage Refinance Home Equity Loans Home Purchase Credit Concerns Debt Consolidation Check Loan Status Loan Calculators Rate Quote Rate Watch FAQs Find the Right Loan 5 Reasons To Refinance Home Buying Tips Mortgage Terms Glossary Besides the tax benefits you’ll receive, there are many reasons to get a home equity loan and even more reasons to get one with HomeLoanCenter.com. Less paperwork No appraisal required Cash in 10 days No closing fee options Perfect credit not required No application fee Learn More: What is a home equity loan? What is a home equity line of credit? What is the process of getting a home equity loan? Schedule a FREE loan consultation today Start here! Finish in 3 minutes. Get a decision on your loan in as little as 30 seconds. Required Field Borrower Information: First Name: Last Name: M. Initial Suffix -Choose One- Jr Sr II III IV Home Phone: Work Phone: Will there be a co-borrower? Yes No *$208.33 payment is based on $40,000 loan amount for a 25-year Home Equity Line of Credit with a 3 month introductory rate of 6.25% and 7.00% Annual Percentage Rate. Rate is variable and subject to change. Offer is for new applicants only. To qualify for this payment borrower credit score must be 720 or greater and loan-to-value must not exceed 70%. The interest rate and payment for your line will vary based on your credit qualifications and loan to value ratios and will range from Prime -0.25% (currently 6.75% APR) to Prime +2.75% (currently 9.75% APR). Prime is the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate and is currently 7.00%. Changes to Prime may change your payment amount and APR. Maximum APR will not exceed 18%. An annual fee of $75 will be charged after the first year. Rate and terms offered may vary depending on your credit history and other qualifications, amount of equity in the property, location, and type of property, and other factors. Not available in all states. Rates are subject to change without notice. Site Map | About Us | Contact Us | Business Hours | Careers | Privacy Policy | Our Guarantees | Licensing | Legal Information Loan Payment Calculator | Mortgage Refinance | Home Equity Loan | Home Purchase | Adjustable Rate Mortgages | Second Mortgage Tools & Resources | Mortgage Interest Rates | Home Loan | Equity Loan | Debt Consolidation © 2005 Home Loan Center, Inc. All rights reserved. Loan programs are offered by Home Loan Center, Inc.

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