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Johner Images/Getty Images October 20, 2022 Jennifer Calonia is an L.A.-based writer and editor. She's covered topics like debt, saving money and credit cards. You can find her work on Business Insider, Forbes and more. Suzanne De Vita is the mortgage editor for Bankrate, focusing on mortgage and real estate topics for homebuyers, homeowners, investors and renters. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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A gives you the ability to leverage the equity you’ve built up in your home. It functions like a credit card, allowing you to borrow and repay funds on an as-needed basis during a draw period. Your home is the collateral for the line of credit, which means falling behind on payments puts your home at risk of foreclosure. How a HELOC works
A HELOC is a with a variable interest rate. When you’re approved for a HELOC, you’ll be given a credit limit based on your available home equity. Typically, you can borrow up to 85 percent of your home’s value, minus outstanding mortgage balances. During the draw period, you can use funds from the HELOC using dedicated checks or a draw card. You’ll need to make monthly interest payments on the amount you borrow, but as you pay back your HELOC, the funds are replenished. This draw period typically lasts 10 years. After that, you’ll enter a repayment period, during which you’ll no longer be able to access funds and instead need to repay the principal and any outstanding interest. Most HELOC plans allow you to repay the remaining balance over a period of 10 years to 20 years. While you’ll only be on the hook for interest payments during the draw period, you can pay both principal and interest at this time if you choose. This can help keep your payments manageable when you enter the repayment term. How HELOC interest rates work
You’ll almost always encounter variable interest rates with HELOCs, but a few lenders offer exceptions. The variable interest rate on your loan is partly determined by publicly shared indexes, like the . The prime rate is set by collective financial institutions and is influenced by fluctuations in the (the rate that banks charge other banks for short-term loans). Because the prime rate is affected by market and economic conditions, your HELOC interest rate can increase or decrease over time. As a result, your monthly payment will change. However, there is a cap on how much your rate can increase over the HELOC’s lifetime. Some lenders, however, offer the opportunity to lock in a portion of your HELOC balance under a , essentially converting part of your HELOC into a . Typically, you’ll repay that portion of the loan over a period of five to 30 years, though the balance must be repaid by the end of your normal HELOC repayment period. If you’re interested in this option, look for lenders advertising “hybrid HELOCs” or fixed-rate locks. HELOC pros and cons
The include: Pros
Flexibility: While you’ll be approved for a maximum HELOC amount, you don’t need to use all of it. This makes HELOCs an attractive option for paying for ongoing expenses, as well as a “nice to have” for unforeseen emergencies. : During the draw period (the first 10 years), you’re only required to pay interest on what you use from the line of credit. This keeps your payments low, freeing up cash for other expenses or goals. Lower rates: HELOCs are secured by the equity in your home, so you’re less likely to stop making payments compared to a credit card or personal loan. Because of this lower risk, HELOCs and home equity loans tend to have lower rates than these other types of financing. Potential : If you use the funds from a HELOC to make home improvements, you might be able to deduct the interest on your tax return. Fixed-rate options: HELOCs come with variable rates, but some lenders offer a fixed-rate option that allows you to convert some of what you borrow to a fixed rate, protecting your budget from fluctuating rates. Cons
Variable rates: HELOCs have a variable interest rate, which means the rate can go up or down depending on the economy and prevailing market rates. If your rate goes up significantly, you might no longer be able to manage the payments. Secured by your home: A HELOC is tied to the equity in your home, so if you default on your payments, you could lose your home to foreclosure. Repayment structure: You might be able to afford your HELOC payments during the interest-only period, but once the repayment term kicks in, the combination of principal and interest payments could squeeze your budget. Possible fees: You might need to pay for an appraisal to obtain a HELOC, as well as an application fee and then an annual fee to keep the line of credit open. If you , there might be a fee for that, too. HELOC requirements
Each lender has its own for getting a HELOC, but there are some general criteria most lenders look for: Equity level: Most lenders require homeowners to have at least 15 percent to 20 percent equity. Credit score: Homeowners with credit scores in the mid-600s and higher have the best chances of being approved for a HELOC. If you’re approved with a lower credit score, you’ll likely have a higher interest rate. DTI ratio: Many lenders want to see reasonable debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 43 percent or less. However, a lender might approve you with a DTI ratio of up to 50 percent. Is it better to get a HELOC or a home equity loan
A HELOC could be better than a home equity loan if you want a flexible line of credit you can access on an as-needed basis. This offers the ability to only pay interest on the amount you borrow. With a home equity loan, you’ll be responsible for interest on the entire loan balance, even if you don’t use all the funds. If you’re planning to cover a significant expense in the near future and want to have a pool of cash readily available, a HELOC might also be the better choice. That’s only if you don’t mind a variable interest rate, however (unless the lender offers otherwise), and a fluctuating monthly payment. SHARE: Jennifer Calonia is an L.A.-based writer and editor. She's covered topics like debt, saving money and credit cards. You can find her work on Business Insider, Forbes and more. Suzanne De Vita is the mortgage editor for Bankrate, focusing on mortgage and real estate topics for homebuyers, homeowners, investors and renters.