Tue 29th Sep, 2009
A Guide to Home Improvement Loans
If you are looking to increase the value of your home then a home improvement loan might just be what you need to renovate or restyle your property. Tradesmen such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, plasterers are an expensive addition to the overall home improvement budget but for many homeowners they have no alternative as their own skills are not sufficient.
A home improvement loan is a borrowing option that is open to most homeowners and there’s a choice for you to take a secured loan or a loan with no equity required. Loans that do not require security are quite flexible and even new homeowners can apply. Finance which is used to improve the home is seen as a good investment in the property and even if equity in the property is not required, the loans can be organized for up to 15 years at a time.
However, one stipulation for a zero equity finance arrangement is that the combined income of the owners reaches a specified limit but it must not be greater than the limit imposed by the county where they live. The eligibility of the borrower, the property type and the improvements planned are all considered because this type of loan may only have minimal documentation and is relatively easy to process.
Home improvement loans which are secured against the property are just a way of releasing spare equity that the property has available. This is not the same as your original mortgage; instead, it is an additional loan that is often easier to obtain and process compared to a regular mortgage; usually providing lower interest rates than other types of finance.
Still before a secured loan can be arranged, the equity available in your home will need to be agreed upon by the lender. All factors are considered before a final amount is agreed upon and that includes how much is owed on the mortgage, its current value and what other debts the owners may have.
The lenders will assess all this information before furnishing the homeowner with the amount they are prepared to lend them. Although it is not set in stone, the amount they are prepared to lend will be based on a percentage of the property valuation but some lenders will actually lend as much as a quarter again as the property is worth.
Over extending your ability to pay is the quickest way for a person to lose their home when they cannot keep up the repayments. Many people do not consider these facts when they arrange home improvement loans to improve their house, often borrowing far more than they can comfortably afford; do not let this be you.