Cash refinances and home-equity loans are two of the most popular tools available to homeowners who want to access the equity they have accumulated in their home. Cashout refinances pay off your current mortgage and give you a new one, while home-equity loans give you cash in exchange for the equity you have accumulated on your property. Both options allow the homeowner to access the equity they have accumulated in their home, either through regular mortgage payments or through an increase in the value of their home. The biggest similarity between the two options is that both allow the homeowner to access the equity they have accumulated in their home.
However, there are some key differences between cash-out refinances and home-equity loans that homeowners should be aware of before making a decision. Cash-out refinancing replaces your current mortgage with a new mortgage loan that has a larger loan amount, allowing you to pocket the cash difference. This option tends to have a lower interest rate than other financial products, and there are no restrictions on how to use the money. However, establishing a new mortgage as part of a cash-out refinance could introduce the mortgage insurance requirement, which protects the lender in the event that the borrower defaults on the mortgage.
Homeowners who have less than 20 percent accumulated in their home are generally required to pay mortgage insurance until they reach that level of capital. A home equity loan is a type of second mortgage that gives you cash in exchange for the equity you have accumulated on your property. This option avoids the need to worry about mortgage insurance because it's separate from the home's main mortgage. Home equity loans generally come with fixed interest rates and terms of between five and 30 years, and they also come with closing costs.
The main drawback of a home equity loan is that it comes with a second monthly payment, and rates may also be higher. When deciding which option is best for your situation, consider your single budget, the terms of your original mortgage, and your long-term plans as a homeowner. Cash-out refinancing tends to have a lower interest rate than a home equity loan would have, but it comes with additional payments. Home equity loans allow you to maintain the terms of your original mortgage, but they come with higher interest rates and closing costs.
Both cash-out refinancing and home equity loans can help you convert principal into cash, but it's important to consider all factors before making a decision. The net worth you have accumulated in your home over the years remains yours even if you refinance or take out a loan against it, so make sure to weigh all options carefully.
