Home Equity Loans: Advantages - Disadvantages

Debt Consolidation Home Equity Loans - Advantages And Disadvantages

Getting a home equity loan, or second mortgage, for the sole intent of consolidating and ultimately eliminating unnecessary debts is a great plan. Many consumers are burdened with high credit card balances, consumer loans, etc. Reducing or paying off debts takes time. Furthermore, many do not have the disposable income to lessen credit card balances.

Owning a home places you at a huge advantage. Those who have built equity in their homes may acquire a home equity loan as a way to reduce debts. These loans are affordable, and serve a useful purpose. However, debt consolidation home equity loans have certain risks.

How Do Debt Consolidation Home Equity Loans Work?

The concept of debt consolidation home equity loans is simple. Home equity loans are approved based on your home's equity. A home's equity can be calculated by subtracting the amount owed from the home's market value. Hence, if you owe $50,000 on a home worth $120,000, the equity totals $70,000.

Once the lending institution approves your loan request, and the money received, the funds are used to payoff creditors. Creditors may include high interest credit card balances, consumer loans, automobile loans, student loans, etc. Furthermore, debt consolidation can used to payoff past due utility bills and medical bills.

Debt consolidation loans are not free money. These loans have to be repaid within a reasonable timeframe. On average, home equity loans have short terms of seven, ten, or fifteen years - sometimes less. Because home equity loans have fixed and lower rates, these loans are easier to payoff than credit cards.

Pros and Cons of Debt Consolidation Home Equity Loans

The major advantage of home equity loans is the ability to become debt free. However, home equity loans involve careful planning. Once credit cards and other loan balances are eliminated, closing credit accounts is a smart maneuver. This way, you avoid accumulating additional debts.

Sadly, some consumers repeat past credit mistakes. Along with paying a home equity loan, they acquire more credit card debt, which increasing their debts and payments. Excessive debt makes it difficult or impossible to maintain regular home equity loan payments. This will present another home equity loan danger - inability to repay the loan. A huge disadvantage of debt consolidation home equity loans involves the risk of losing your home. Before accepting a loan, realistically analyze whether you can afford a second mortgage.

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Home Equity Loans Tax Deductions - What Are The Tax Advantages Of A Home Equity Loan?

Depending on how you used your home equity loan, there are a number of tax deductions available for your home equity loan interest. The largest deductions are available for home improvements. However, for loans used to consolidate debt or pay for college, you can still deduct interest with some limits. And if you use the loan for investment purposes, you can also deduct interest charges.

Home Equity Loans Used For Home Improvements

Interest on home equity loans used to build or improve a first or second home qualifies for the home acquisition debt deduction. With caps at one million dollars, it has the largest limits. Any debt over this limit may qualify for the home equity debt deduction.

If you take out a home equity loan 90 days after you purchased the home, you can still deduct the interest even if you don't use the money for home repairs. For example, you buy a house May 1 with cash. May 15 you take out a home equity loan for $10,000 and use it to go on vacation. You can still deduct the interest paid since you secured the loan before 90 days after buying the house.

Home Equity Loans Used For Other Expenses

Paid interest on home equity loans used to pay for college, credit card debt, or other expenses qualify for tax deductions under home equity debt. However there are limits on the debt amounts that qualify for this deduction.

The home equity loan amount must be less than $100,000 (or $50,000 if filing separately) or the fair market value of the house minus the acquisition mortgage. The interest on any debt above these amounts, however, may qualify for other tax deductions.

Deductions For Interest That Exceeds Limits

If you find that your home loan debt exceeds mortgage caps, you may still be able to deduct the interest as an investment cost or business expense. Otherwise, excess debt is considered personal debt and non-deductible. But the next year, your home equity debt interest debt may qualify if it meets all requirements. Before taking any tax deduction, verify that IRS rules have not changed in the preceding year.

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