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Home equity loan: Access the equity built in your home
Taking home equity loans depend on the current needs and desires that prompt you to go for home equity loans as the first choice. Home equity loan has become a fast-track way of paying down debt consolidation, for home improvement, for higher education, unexpected family emergencies, medical expenses, etc.
Home equity loans are secured against the equity in your home. Home equity is the sum total of two things:
The down payment and the monthly repayment that the borrower i.e., the homeowner has made against the total mortgage balance on his or her home.
The amount with which the property has appreciated in price will also affect the homeowner equity.
Many of us think that for taking home equity loans, you will have to sell the house. But its absolutely wrong. Being a homeowner, you can take home equity loan without selling your home. The value of your home will determine the loan amount and the rate of interest. If you want loans at low interest rate, you will have to offer high equity collateral.
In Home equity loans, bad credit report does not make too much difference. Bad credit is common now-a-days. But, having a good credit record can definitely fetch you loan at comparatively low rate of interest.
Once you have calculated the value of your home, its now time to apply for the loan. For applying home equity loans, you should bring with you the credit card or some other document for identity purpose. Lenders offer home equity loans with competitive rates on interest. So, market survey is a must. Choose the lender who provides you the best loan deal.
0 APR Credit Card Truths and Traps (Page 1 of 2)
If you are struggling with ever-increasing credit card debt, a 0 APR credit card could be the magic wand for you. There are a number of 0 APR credit cards in the marketplace. These 0 Interest credit cards offer cardholders zero percent on new purchases and certain 0 APR credit card offers also allow balance transfers, lowering the interest burden even further.
The Truth About 0 APR Credit Cards
These types of 0 APR credit cards are offered by popular credit card lenders including American Express, Citibank, Chase, HSBC, and Discover. These cards have many benefits to offer if you have a good to excellent credit rating.
Keep in mind, that the zero percent offered with these cards is not permanent. It is an introductory rate and is typically offered for ninety days to as long as 12 months. At the end of the interest-free or zero percent periods, cardholders will have to pay a higher ongoing interest rate. Generally, these rates could vary between 10 % – 14% and sometimes can be as high as 24%.
A 0 APR credit card is ideal when you want to purchase something expensive but cannot find another way to finance it. There will be no interest charges for the in and you will have the introductory buffer period to pay off the expense. But buyer beware … make sure you can pay the purchase off before the introductory APR expires.
Most 0 Interest credit cards allow balance transfers from your existing higher interest cards and many will waive the transfer fees. This is one of the best methods to pay off debts at a faster rate, leading to substantial savings on the interest charges incurred.
It is possible that a single credit card can have multiple APRs including the following: 1) One APR for balance transfers, one for purchases, and one for cash advances the APR normally would be higher for cash advances compared to balance transfers and purchases. 2) Tiered APRs Different APR levels can be assigned for different account balance levels or tiers, e.g., 15% for balances between $1 – $500 and 17% for balances higher than $500, etc.. 3) Introductory APR 0 APR as the introductory offer and a higher rate upon expiration of the introductory period. 4) Penalty APR A penalty APR rate may apply if you are late with your payments.
The Traps to Watch Out For: A 0 APR credit card is an attractive proposition, and often is too tempting an offer to resist. However, it is essential to be informed about the often-untold catches in these lucrative offers.
1. The 0 APR is a Limited Time Offer In general, the 0 APR offered is only for a limited period. The period could vary from 3 months to 12 months. This implies that purchases made during this period will not attract any interest. You need to be cautious about the expiry period and remember to pay off before the period ends inorder to avoid hefty interest charges.
2. Once the introductory period is over, the 0 APR credit card may have a ridiculously high interest rate like 20% or higher.