How Secure Is Your Home When You Use It As Collateral?

Regardless of whether it is refinancing, for availing a home equity loan, or seeking financial aid for home improvement, the majority of the homeowners make use of their home as collateral. As Dodson Management explains, the equity that is trapped in the property serves as security for the lenders, which they can make use of in the event you are not able to repay the loan.

In this article, let us find out more about the following sub-topics, namely,

1. Using home as collateral
2. Taking out a mortgage with the home as security
3. Difference between home loans and mortgage
4. How to avoid losing your collateral

So, let us take one sub-topic at a time.

Using home as collateral

Before deciding to use your home as security for a mortgage, it will be a wise move if you consult an attorney. There are few aspects that you must keep in mind under such circumstances, and these are-

• You must not allow anyone to compel you to use your home as collateral
• Despite using your home, if rates of interest are high, give it a second thought about applying for a mortgage
• Stay away from creditors that ask you to forge documents or fill in incorrect information or manipulate
• Creditors must extend a loan to you based on your repayment capacity and not on the amount of equity that is trapped in your home

Taking out a mortgage with the home as security

Have decided to use your home for taking out a mortgage? Then you must know the various ways in which you can protect your home from being taken away by creditors. And for that, you must do your bit of homework by carrying out due diligence and taking all measures possible to safeguard your nest. These are as follows-

1. Compare rates and quotes offered by creditors
2. Avoid using plastic cards in the process for repayment of the loan.

• Annual Percentage Rate– While comparing this is perhaps one of the most crucial aspects that you must take into account and compare between lenders. Aside from this, compare the mortgage broker fees, and additional charges, in the event they are applicable. Also, find out if there are any hidden costs that you will have to shell out.
• Non-refundable expenses – Some points and fees are levied upon the debtor when he takes out a mortgage. In the event you opt for refinancing, you may not get these fees back. While at the closing time of the loan, the bank takes these points into account.
• Duration of the loan- Do you have credit card debts or short term unsecured personal loans? Are you taking a loan to consolidate all the above loans? Be sure to find out the terms and conditions that will govern the loan.

Most importantly, make sure you will be able to make the repayment of the mortgage when you opt for a loan term. Also, the rates of interest will impact the loan tenure.

• Monthly payments- When it comes to monthly payments make the decision keeping in mind that you have to carry on with the mortgage repayment throughout the entire duration of the loan term. And the loan term can vary from 15 years to 30 years depending on your repayment capacity.

• Penalties for pre-payment – Not all creditors will offer you a home loan with the same terms and conditions. If at any point in time you want to close your home loan account, find out if you have to pay any charges towards pre-penalty fees. It can be best decided upon when you sign on the dotted line when you are initially taking out a loan.

• How will the interest rate be affected if you fall behind on payments- This is a crucial aspect that you must take into account. For instance, if you fall behind on monthly payments, will it impact the rate of interest or will it remain constant? You must find out from your creditor.

Difference between home loans and mortgage

A home loan is a type of mortgage loan in which you can use other assets as your collateral. However, in case you are taking out a mortgage, you have to use your house as collateral. The creditors can use it to recover losses if you default and do not pay the mortgage loan back. It is a kind of security that is used by the lenders since they take on the risk of giving you a loan.

How to avoid losing your collateral

It is something that you must work upon even before you take out a home loan or a mortgage. You can take the following steps so that the chances of defaulting are low throughout the tenure of the mortgage. These are as follows-

• Build an emergency fund- Assuming that you have been saving for the rainy day; keep aside a fund on which you can fall back upon in the time of need. For a month or two, if you are unable to pay for the mortgage, you can use money from this fund. Check Navy Fed credit cards to see how you can use the special offers for your purchases.
• Work out a secondary passive income – You will find that many people invest their money in stocks and trading. If you can invest some Benjamins in them, the profits you earn from these can serve as a monthly mortgage payment, if the profit you are making is adequate.
• Avoid expenses that you can defer- If possible; curb the number of costs and dine-outs you incur on fancy things and products. Remember, your home is more important than these trifle wishes. You can always keep your preferences for a later period once you have settled your mortgage loan.
• Seek professional assistance – Last but not the least, seek advice from a professional if you have doubts about how you can go about your mortgage or home loan repayment. Ask him to work out a repayment plan for you.

Implementing the above mentioned points will surely help you to avoid losing your collateral.