Choosing the right home equity loan can be tricky; you have to consider interest rates and repayment schedules, among others. Choosing the right lender, however, does not have to be a difficult task. If you ask the right questions, you can pick the best lender for your needs. The following is a list of seven essential questions that you should ask any potential lender.
1. What are the terms? This will include interest rates and the length of the loan. Some lenders may require you to carry private mortgage insurance or to pay your mortgage through ACH deposit. Get the terms in writing, so that you can compare them with other lenders.
2. How about my credit? Your credit score may play a huge factor in deciding which lender to go through. If you have bad or no credit, many lenders may not be able to help you. So you will want to find a lender that offers sub-prime loans for borrowers of your credit status. Bad credit does not necessarily disqualify you for a loan, but it will make the process a bit more difficult.
3. What is their reputation? The lender will delve into your personal and financial history, so why shouldn't you do the same? If the company is public, you should have no trouble finding financial and news information. Look for recent mergers or restructurings that could indicate a potential problem. Be weary of lenders that are not publicly traded. Many lenders use the same underwriters, so do your homework beforehand.
4. How much will the loan cost me? Closing costs can be a major concern for most homeowners. You probably need the home equity loan because you are short on funds or in debt, so coming up with a few thousand dollars for closing costs can be all but impossible for many borrowers. Your lender should be able to provide you with a good faith estimate (GFE) that will outline the fees that you will be responsible for.
5. How long is the process? A typical home equity loan, should not take more than a month on average. Ask your lender how long the process will take from the initial application to receipt of the funds. This can be particularly critical if you are needed to do repairs on your home, such as purchasing a new water heater.
6. Is the staff knowledgeable? Never underestimate the power of a good customer service representative. Ask the loan officer and others in the office the various questions that you have. They should be knowledgeable on the loan process, and be able to guide you through the process.
7. Early payment penalty? If you won the lottery or got a big raise, would you be able to pay your loan off early? Many people forget to ask this question when choosing a lender, but it can save you thousands of dollars. So, make sure that if you choose to sell your home before it is paid off, you will be covered.
Use your common sense when choosing a home equity loan bank. Research the company just as you would with any major purchase. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and to try another lender if you don't get the answers that you desire. It is your home and your money on the line, so do your homework!
John Ross is a freelance author who writes articles about financial loans including: home equity loans company, online home equity loans, and fixed rate home equity loans. The Loanchbox is a user friendly website designed to inform beginners about home equity loans.
![]() Google News Updated : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:51:33 GMT Forecast: Summery Sunshine Sticks Around - Washington Post
Washington Post - Columbus Day will feel a lot more like Labor Day as temperatures climb to around 80 degrees. This unseasonably warm weather will continue for the next several days. Enjoy a warm, sunny Columbus Day Beautiful start to the work week Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:03:26 GMT European, Asian markets bounce back - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - LONDON (AP) - European markets opened strongly Monday following Asia's lead in response to the widespread government efforts over the weekend to shore up the world's troubled financial system. The financial crisis A light at the end of the tunnel? World stock markets welcome European bank rescue Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:23:04 GMT Fantastic finishes: 5 NFL games down to the wire - Washington Post
Washington Post - Dallas Cowboys' Mat McBriar (1) has his punt blocked by Arizona Cardinals' Sean Morey as Monty Beisel (52) looks on during overtime of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. Blocked punt downs Dallas Backups Burst Through Line and Lift Cardinals in Overtime Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:15:50 GMT Manatee dies before reaching rehab site - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - By Emily Canal After a 27-hour trip to Florida, Dennis the manatee, rescued from the frigid waters of Cape Cod, died in Orlando yesterday as SeaWorld employees carted the mammal to a rehabilitation center. Video: Rescued Manatee Dies After Mass. Rescue Manatee rescued off Cape Cod dies en route to Florida Sea World Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:21:21 GMT 1.5 million G1 Android phones pre-ordered - TG Daily
TG Daily - By Wolfgang Gruener Chicago (IL) - T-Mobile’s upcoming G1 may not be the best-looking iPhone rival, it may not have the most complete feature set and T-Mobile may have undersold the device at the recent launch event. Get ready for next-gen mobile HTC G1 Android Phone Racks up 1.5 Million Pre-orders Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:21:21 GMT Dodgers stand up to Phillies in Game 3 win - FOXSports.com
FOXSports.com - by Ken Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX. LA revitalized at Moyer's expense Kuroda's pitch serves its purpose for Dodgers Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:00:36 GMT UK government takes stake in three banks - CNN International
CNN International - LONDON, England (CNN) -- The British government on Monday said it would make a multi-billion investment in three of the country's major banks to help them through the "first financial crisis of the global age. In quotes: Bank bail-out reaction TEXT-Lloyds TSB terms for acquisition of HBOS Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:18:47 GMT Amazon RSS |
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