Average Mortgage Rates

Loan Type Rate APR
30 years fixed 5.81% 6.01%
15 years fixed 5.55% 5.83%
$30k Home Equity Loan 8.24% -  
 
Last updated:05-09-2008

Bad Credit Won't Keep You from an Equity Loan

Refinancing an existing mortgage or obtaining a home equity loan has helped many people. A poor credit rating is no longer an excuse for not being able to get a loan package.

You would like to refinance your property or get a home equity loan but are worried about your credit history? Don't give up. There are other options available to you. Even if you have a poor credit history, it is possible to refinance your home or to get a home equity loan or line of credit. There are new guidelines that make it much easier to get a loan package that will suit your needs at affordable interest rates.

The factors that will decide the approval of your loan application are:
Your current mortgage package,
Interest rate,
What terms you are on,
How long you intend to stay in the home,
The amount of overall debt you have.

When you have equity in your home, your chances of getting a lower interest rate will be higher than if you have no equity or only a little. Many lenders will offer you as much as 125% of what your home is worth.

Obtaining a home equity line of credit is often the best solution for those that want to renovate, put kids through college or even provide a little extra cash for emergency financial situations. This is what will help you exploit the money value of your home equity, and you will have the peace of mind knowing that you are prepared for unforeseen problems.

A home equity line of credit works like a revolving account and you use your home as security against the loan. How it works is that you will have a set amount that you will be able to borrow at any given time, and you won't be allowed to borrow additional amounts until after repayment. The maximum amount that you can remove at any time will depend almost entirely on your credit limit.

When you get a home equity line of credit, you will be approved for a set amount of credit. Home equity lines of credit typically come with a variable rate of interest, though you may be fortunate enough to find a fixed rate. You will be given a specific schedule as to when you can borrow the money from your current available credit.