Home Loan How Much

Home Equity Loan | Home Equity Line of Credit -- BUY A HOME SELL A HOME HOME LOANS NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION ABOUT US MY ACCOUNT Find a REALTOR ® Buy or sell your home and you may receive a Gift Card worth up to $1,000. Find a REALTOR ® Find a Builder with iNest and Get 1% Cash Back! Finance Your Home Get a Mortgage Refinance Your Mortgage Home Equity Loan / Line of Credit Online Credit Report Search Homes for Sale Start Your Search Home Price Check ® Additional Services Insurance Quotes Get a Home Warranty Get a Home Inspection Find a Mover Find Home Improvement Professionals Change Your Address Setup Your Utilities Learning Center Qualifying for Home Loan How Much Can You Afford? How To Choose the Right Loan You are here: Home | Home Finance | Home Equity Loan Center Home Equity Loan Center Get up to 4 lenders competing for your home equity loan. When Banks Compete, You Win ® ! 3 Great Reasons to Use Your Home's Equity 1. Home Improvements Why wait to make needed home improvements. Redo your bathroom or kitchen now. 2. Major Purchases Thinking about buying a car or boat? Take advantage of low home equity rates now. 3. Dream Vacation The weather is getting warm. If you want to get away think about using a home equity line of credit. Login and View Your Offers Email: Password: Forgot Your Password? Know Your Credit Score. Make Smarter Decisions. Credit Reports TM , Score Power ® and Score Watch TM give you the tools you need to understand, manage and use your credit wisely. Need Help Before Getting Started? How large a line of credit can you obtain? Before You Remodel Your Home Should you consolidate debts? Home equity loan or an auto loan? Home Improvement What is a Credit Score? Furnishing on a Budget How to Find an Architect 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. 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

Home For Sale

RE/MAX | residential and commercial real estate Residential Home Page Property Search Luxury Home Search Find an Agent Find an Office Real Estate 101 Mortgage Tools Moving Assistance Commercial Home Page Commercial Property Search Find a Commercial Agent Find a Commercial Office Commercial Wants Why RE/MAX Commercial Inside RE/MAX Home Franchise Opportunities Become an Agent News & Events Corporate Relocation Corporate Information Welcome to RE/MAX , home of real estate's most experienced and professional agents. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. "Everybody Wins" A new book gives homebuyers and home sellers their first in-depth look at the world's most successful real estate network. "Everybody Wins: The Story and Lessons Behind RE/MAX" is an independent view of the history, culture and leadership of the organization that revolutionized the real estate industry. MORE Children's Miracle Network Susan G. Komen Foundation RE/MAX Worldwide Select your Country United States Canada Antigua / Barbuda Anguilla Argentina Aruba Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Belgium Belize Bonaire Botswana Bulgaria Caribbean Cayman Islands Central America Chile Croatia Costa Rica Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic Estonia Europe Germany Central Germany East Germany North/West Germany Southwest Germany Bayern Greece Guam Guatemala Honduras Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Lithuania Luxembourg Mauritius Malta Mexico Namibia Netherlands Nevis New Zealand Nicaragua Norway Oman Panama Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Saudi Arabia Scotland Singapore Slovakia Southern Africa Spain St. Barth St. Croix St. John St. Maarten/St. Martin St. Thomas Sweden Switzerland Turkey Turks & Caicos United Arab Emirates UK Midlands UK London UK North UK South U.S. Virgin Islands Venezuela Wales Zambia remax.com en español RE/MAX Mainstreet | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact RE/MAX © 2005 RE/MAX International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The RE/MAX franchise network is a global real estate system of franchisee owned and operated offices and their affiliated independent professionals. RE/MAX affiliates lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. RE/MAX International is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports the Fair Housing Act. Please select from the menu above

Real Estate Broker Code

DRL - Real Estate Broker Home Login About DRL Site Map Contact DRL FAQ Business Professions Health Professions All Boards Definition Download Help Duplicate License Education FAQs Fees Forms Practice FAQs Obtain License Organizations Renew Online Rules Statutes Verifications What's New Real Estate Broker Code Book A real estate broker is an individual who: a. For another, and for commission, money or other thing of value, negotiates or offers or attempts to negotiate a sale, exchange, purchase or rental of an interest or estate in real estate; b. Is engaged wholly or in part in the business of selling real estate to the extent that a pattern of real estate sales is established, whether or not such real estate is owned by such person. Five sales in one year or 10 sales in 5 years is presumptive evidence of a pattern of sales. c. For another and for commission, money or other thing of value, negotiates or offers or attempts to negotiate a sale, exchange, purchase or rental of any business, its goodwill, inventory, fixtures or an interest therein; or d. Is engaged wholly or in part in the business of selling business opportunities or goodwill of an existing business or is engaged wholly or in part in the business of buying and selling, exchanging or renting of any business, its goodwill, inventory, fixtures or an interest therein. e. For another, and for commission, money or other thing of value, negotiates or offers or attempts to negotiate a sale, exchange or purchase of a time share. f. Is engaged wholly or in part in the business of selling time shares to the extent that a pattern of sales is established, whether or not the time shares are owned by such person. g. For another, and for a commission, money or other thing of value, promotes the sale, exchange, purchase, option, rental or leasing of real estate or business opportunities. This paragraph does not apply to a person who only publishes or disseminates verbatim information provided by another person. For exceptions to the above, see s. 452.01(3), Wis. Stats. No person may engage in or follow the business or occupation of, or advertise or hold himself or herself out as, or act temporarily or otherwise as a broker without a Wisconsin real estate brokers license. The purpose of licensure is to ensure that only qualified people handle real estate transactions and supervise licensed salespersons in Wisconsin. It ensures proper listing, selling, buying, exchanging, leasing or renting of real property or a business opportunity. Last updated: Wednesday, January 7, 2004 Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing. All Rights Reserved. If you have suggestions about how to improve our website, contact our webmaster . Disclaimer | Privacy Statement

INVESTMENT PROPERTY IN ROMANIA

Romania Real Estate - Investment Property - Economic Statistics for Romania Home | Statistics | Registration | Contact us | Company Profile | Newsletter | Print this page //-- Sponsored by Addison Read Romania Geography Climate Topography Natural Resources Energy Land use & Agriculture Population Demographics Government Cabinet Members Economy Exchange Rates Communications Transport ADDISON READ ROMANIA REQUEST PROJECT PROSPECTUS Romania Property Market Land Price Guide - 2005 Bucharest residential market supply & demand Investment - Commercial property Residential property - New build Foreign ownership of land in Romania Martha Bibescu - Villas - New build project Representative projects South-East Europe drives growth in the New Europe REPORTS Addison Read Brochure pdf Romania Property report 2005 pdf REAL ESTATE MARKET Industrial Parks in Romania Bucharest office market Business Park -Bucharest Business Park - Iride GENERAL REPORTS GDP comparison - ro - hu - bg - cz Relocation services Cost of living Indices by country / Descending order Detailed report - Bu Land for Sale in Transylvania The following plots will not be available to speculators. Addison Read will interview applicants......... ROMANIA'S REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS - ADDISON READ - FOR ALL INVESTMENT PROPERTY IN ROMANIA Addison Read have packaged Investment Land Location of Land The Investment Opportunity Reasons to Invest for Foreign Investors by incorporating a company for each land parcel - Land is located close to the planned Bucharest multi-lane ring highway, a 30 minute drive from the city centre in rush hour - Apply for prospectus Addison Read offer retail, commercial & logistics sites on a the location of a 400 acre business city 5 miles from the western edge of Bucharest. - Apply for prospectus ROMANIA'S REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS - ADDISON READ - LAND INVESTMENT OF THE CENTURY Land for sale at Poiana Mica - 17ha first offer above €35 secures Regional Location details & map Announcements in November 2005 - that will instantly cause price rises estimated to reach €250-€370 per sqm by mid 2006 New Gondola Ski Transport ropeway to be opened at Poiana Brasov by Christmas Contract to construct 18 hole Golf Course at Poiana Mica (adjacent to Poiana Brasov) Canadian company to build international airport at Ghimbav (8.3 kms from Poiana Brasov) More details... New Doppelmayr Gondola - Ski Transport system - Capacity 3,000 pers. per hour to be opened Chistmas 2005 Golf course construction contract signed with Brasov planning authorities Canadian construction company signs contract to construct International airport at Ghimbav - less than 20 minutes from Romania's premier ski resort at Poiana Brasov ADDISON READ ROMANIA RAISES PROFILE OF ROMANIA'S PROPERTY INVESTMENT MARKET Addison Read International is a UK Property Investment Group that has recognised the high investment potential of Real Estate investment in the SE European countries - initially Bulgaria and now Romania. The company has the widest range of Land & Property acquisitions, and provides a full services package to foreign investors, including company formation, due diligence and legal services. Call us before your arrival in Romania on +40 21 312 4828. There was a strong logic to the strategic reasoning to first enter the Bulgarian market with its associated infrastructure investments in Tourism. In 2005, Romania's Real Estate market is entering a boom period for all types of property - residential, commercial & land. This boom is fuelled by a growing national economy that has a solid basis to it - having attracted higher levels of FDI in 2004 than any CEE country other than the Czech Republic. Romania's GDP growth in 2004 was second only to Latvia at 8.3%. Addison Read represent investors large and small and combine the highest professional standards available on the market with an unmatched knowledge of all real estate investment sectors. The company's mission is to optimise investor's profits and minimise market risks. Click for Why Invest in Romanian Property Click for Addison Read's Romanian Brochure Contact: Richard Prior - +40 722 304 773 or Phil Stapley +40 743 145 443 for more information ROMANIA PROPERTY MARKET - A GOOD INVESTMENT OR A BUBBLE... A recent commentary by the UKs Telegraph property correspondent suggests that there is little understanding of the economic engine that is driving the Real Estate market in Romania & Bulgaria. Ms. Rosie Murray-West should take note, and reconsider advice to UKs enthusiastic stream of investors that have cottoned on to economic growth taking place in SE Europe..... LAND FOR SALE IN TRANSYLVANIA... In response to requests, Addison Read provide details of some land parcels that we have available in Transylvania - in some of Europes finest mountain scenery. Land prices are escalating rapidly, and provide sound investment opportunities yielding in excess of 25-30% capital growth. CLICK ON THE MAP - FOR LAND DETAILS LAND FOR SALE IN BUCHAREST... Addison Read have land opportnities for Investment & Development in all areas indicated on the map below. We aquire land and develop projects for Investors across the globe. Addison Read control risks and optimise investor return possibilities that yield in excess of 25-30% annual capital growth. INDUSTRIAL PARKS IN ROMANIA Industrial Real Estate in Romania produces highest yields in Europe... You will find details here of all Industrial Parks in Romania. Investor Services has been associated with the initial planning phases of many of Bucharest's business parks - and is well placed to assist companies with the selection of office or industrial space requirements please do not hesitate to contact Richard Prior at richard.prior@addisonread.ro Or Give us a call on +40 722 304 773 or +40 722 304 772 and we will be glad to talk to you. ROMANIA - TOURISM - THE HIDDEN JEWEL OF EUROPE Over the last 10 years, The Editor has observed the steadily widening gap between the improving tourism infrastructure and the 'black hole' - an almost total lack of organised marketing effort. A few years ago, much of Romania's tourist industry was "in the wrong hands" - owned by those who imagined that quick profits would be obtained - for both little investment & even less effort..... The tourism and hospitality business does not grant quick profits to cheap operators.......! Now, in 2004, there are strong signs that the right people are getting into the industry & the infrastructure is developing rapidly - certainly in the premier mountain resorts - if not the Black Sea resorts. At Poiana Brasov for example, there are many new hotels & villas in the market, together with a well developed infrastructure for ski lifts and cable cars & restaurants - BUT the tourist board is ineffective and disorganised at getting out the message - that Romania has the most dramatic tourist assets of '"New Europe'. The final & essential element of apres-ski environment is dependent upon an effective Tourist board. Private operators, such as Andrei of Villa Andrei lead the way in terms of quality & value BUT need an influx of international tourists to generate the next steps of development. Romania is Europe's hidden jewel....... INVESTOR SERVICES - MARKET ALERTS Investor Services provides monthly Market Alert reports - detailing the market research activities of multi-national companies that are actively investigating the Romanian market. Gain and edge on your competition by responding to your target clients needs - before they approach the market. The reports are intended for senior management, and include Company profiles, Contact details and a charted analysis of research activities on the Romanian market. Contact: Richard Prior For executives relocating to Bucharest, Factbook has collaborated with Investor Services srl to provide a full relocation support service - A first stage is our offer of an interactive settling-in support sytem that is compatible with PDAs, Notepads & PCs. Apply for details FDI / LABOUR COSTS & COST OF LIVING For Transnational companies researching the Romanian market, Investor Services has provided a series of decision support reports covering FDI , Labour Cost s & Cost of Living comparisons. If you are seeking specific market research for the Romanian market, we shall be pleased to provide a compatitive quotation. In the first instance contact richard@ines.ro QUALITY CHAUFFEUR-DRIVE CAR HIRE - A BETTER OPTION THAN TAXIS IN BUCHAREST "Chauffeur Mercedes" provides E-Class saloons for the discerning Businessman or Diplomat. Immaculately dressed drivers - trained to the highest standards. Airport Transfers & for all your transport needs in Bucharest & throughout Romania Rates are surprising value - Drivers are a refreshing change from the near lethal tactics of the average Romanian Taxi driver. .... If you value your health - try Chauffeur Drive TRAVELLING TO ....... OR INVESTING IN ROMANIA. - 2005 The Editor has spent several years working in Hungary and other Central European countries. Each country has its strong points - Romania has now taken over as the fastest growing economy in the developing countries of Europe. GDP Growth is at the top of the European League. Foreign Direct Investment is 50% higher than Hungary for 2004 at EUR 3.5bn. Multi-National companies are increasingly migrating operations to Romania & the property market is booming. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR INWARD INVESTORS Check out Investor Services before taking a decision about selection of your primary professional service provider. Our business partner iNES Advertising has extended the its range of services - for details see:- site UK LAND BANK OPPORTUNITY - 19 MILES LONDON 8.3 acre site - Located in attractive commuter village 19 miles North of London. Strong Residential development opportunities. WORLD STATISTICS OF MUSLIM POPULATION -COUNTRY BY COUNTRY Business leaders are aware of the waves of Anti-american, Anti British - and generally anti western feelings that are erupting throughout the Muslim world Just what is the extent of the Muslim world. Factbook has produced World Statistics for Muslim Population on a country by country basis - including world map of Muslim distribution. REPORT - EUROPEAN FILM INDUSTRY Factbook has published a detailed statistical report on the European Film Industry. Similar in style to the Global Traffic Accident report, with statistics ranging from admissions per film by country to Cinemas, revenues, GDP etc. Whether you are an industry professional or an amateur cinema buff this is worth a look... POWER GENERATION PROJECTS The modernisation and development of Romania's energy infrastructure represents one of the most significant opportunities for Power Generation and Construction companies during the period leading up to EU accession. more Current projects call for investments totalling over EUR 4 billion. Nuclear - €1.018bn Conventional - €2.465bn Hydro projects - - €651.2bn Our team have key experience with World Bank infrastructure financing in China, Malaysia, Turkey & Hungary. INVESTMENT IN ALLOY WHEEL PRODUCTION UNIT Investor Services are in discussions with leaders in the Automotive industry - with a view to locating a Wheel Production unit at a Romanian 'Free trade' Zone. East European Vehicle Production 2001 Projects The project includes proposals to locate a Wheel/Tyre assembly plant at the same location with a view to providing added value services to European car manufacturers. Project outline - English or Italian - for Cast alloy production unit. Sponsored by Addison Read Romania - Investment Property in Romania - Contact:- sales@addisonread.ro service provided by Investor Services , 33 Maguricea, Bucharest 1, - t. +40 722 304 773/2 fx. +40 21 232 6737 & iNES , © Factbook 2000; Site search Search Factbook Search WWW

home equity plan may

When Your Home Is on the Line: home 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 law--depending on your specific situation--you 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 you've borrowed, plus interest, could mean the loss of your home. What is a home equity line? What should you look for? How will you repay your home equity plan? Lines of credit vs. traditional second mortgage loans Disclosures from lenders 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 consumer's 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 credit--your 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 home's appraised value and subtracting from that the balance owed on the existing mortgage. For example, [D] 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 you'll 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 equitylines--a 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 pay when 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 lender's 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 plan--whether youpay some, a little, or none of the principal amount of the loan--when 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 homeequity 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 mortgage 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 fees--including any application and appraisal fees--paid to open the account. The material on this site is adapted from the brochure "When Your Home Is on the Line." Single or multiple copies of the brochure are available without charge. Order the brochure by telephone, mail, or fax . Order on line . Glossary | Where to go for help | Checklist Home | Consumer information | Publications | Brochures Accessibility To comment on this site, please fill out our feedback form. Last update: July 25, 2001