Home Equity Line of Credit
A home equity line of credit offers low interest rates for homeowners with accumulated equity. For this financing, you use your house as collateral. This enables you to borrow a specific percentage of the equity amount. Once set up, this money is available to you in an account from which you can borrow. Many consumers may not qualify for these terms due to low equity amounts accrued for mortgages. Approval times can be lengthy and you may need to schedule an inspection to ensure that your house is free of defects.
Short-Term Personal Loan
If you have decent credit and a working relationship with a lender, you might qualify for a short-term personal loan with your credit union or bank. This type of financing can be either secured or unsecured. The term of the loan can range from 24 to 60 months. Generally, interest rates are less than credit card rates, as long as you have solid credit scores. Rates will vary depending on your credit score, the amount of cash you borrow, and the term of the loan.
Cash-Out Refinancing
You might be in a position to execute a cash-out refinance if you've successfully made a dent in your mortgage principal balance and your home has gone up in value. This scenario will likely result in higher monthly mortgage payments and lower interest rates, but it will give you the cash you need to pay for home improvement work.
Title I Home Loan
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development insures lenders from potential loss on property improvement loans made to homeowners. To apply, you need a good credit score and your income must be able to cover repayment. You can use this money to pay for repairs, site improvements, and modifications of single-family dwellings. HUD only approves certain lenders so you need to find an approved lender and submit an application. The maximum financing amount for a single-family house is $25,000 and the maximum term allowed is 25 years. Interest rates are fixed, based on common market rates in your area.
Contractor Loan
The company you hire to perform a home improvement project may offer financing packages to help you pay for the work. Before signing any agreements, research the terms of the loan to ensure that the rates and terms are competitive. It's also important to confirm the source of funding to make sure the contractor isn't receiving undisclosed kickbacks from a lender.
A little creative financing should help you get your home improvement project underway in no time.
