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It varies, but typically a HELOC closing costs fall under $900 – no matter the amount borrowed. The cost could be higher if we have to order an in-person appraisal, for a professional to visit your home.

Some examples of items included in HELOC closing costs include:

  • Application fee - Application fees are standard when applying for any assistance, whether that be a home equity or conventional loan.
  • Appraisal fee - An appraisal is required when you apply for any home equity or HELOC loan program because the amount that you are awarded is based partially on the amount of money that your house is worth. The lender is going to want an accurate and recent estimate to base their calculations on, so it’s important to plan on having an appraisal done on your home.
  • Credit report fee - Depending on the lender, you may be required to pay a fee for running a credit report.
  • Title search fee - A title search is a search that is run to make sure that you are the owner of your home before awarding a loan to the borrower.
  • Attorney and notary fees - If you need a lawyer's assistance in drawing up any paperwork or need anything notarized, make sure to factor in some extra funds.

These are the customary charges that are standard across all home equity loans, but it may be useful to put some extra money aside for any unexpected costs that may occur.

It doesn’t cost anything to apply or have an initial conversation with us to find out if a HELOC is right for you. Apply online to get started.

Anything! Many members use the equity in their home to pay off higher interest debt as well as for home renovations, college tuition, vacations or unexpected expenses. Our team is here to help you explore if a HELOC is the right fit for you. Apply online to get started. 

In addition to filling out an application, you will be asked to submit the following:

  • Proof of income
  • Proof of homeowner’s insurance
  • Most recent mortgage statement

Our team will connect with you to verify your identity and information. Our experts will then briefly go over the HELOC process and learn your goals to ensure you’re borrowing what you need. Apply online to get started.

It is easy! You fill out an application, online or over the phone, and then submit the following:

  • Proof of income
  • Proof of homeowner’s insurance
  • Most recent mortgage statement

Our team will connect with you to verify your identity and information. Our experts will then briefly go over the loan process and learn your goals to ensure you’re borrowing what you need. Once we have that, we send your application to underwriting. This is a team that closely looks at your information. During underwriting, the team utilizes an online appraisal tool to estimate the value of your home. If this tool has the information it needs, sometimes you can get same-day approval for your HELOC! If your home’s information is unavailable within the tool, we will have to schedule a  traditional appraisal, which can make the process take a little longer. Most HELOCs close in less than two weeks. Apply online to get started!

It depends on a variety of factors, but in some cases, you can get approved the same day! Most of our HELOCs close in less than two weeks. The best way to ensure that the process moves quickly is to have all the information we request submitted at the time of your application. This includes proof of income, proof of homeowner’s insurance and your most recent mortgage statement. We can get working on your application right away. Apply online to get started!  

The short answer is yes. Your home equity loan application can be denied for a number of different reasons. The main reasons for getting declined when you apply for a home equity loan are:

  • Insufficient home equity
  • Poor credit score
  • Unreliable source of income or employment history
  • High debt-to-income ratio

When comparing home equity loans to other options such as refinancing, a big factor in the decision is whether or not you’ll be able to save a significant amount of money. When it comes to trying to decide between home equity and cash-out refinancing, there are pros and cons to both sides. Although there are higher closing costs for refinancing, there are usually lower interest rates and you’ll be able to save in the long term when compared to a home equity loan.

If you have excellent credit and are able to find a home equity loan with a low interest rate, there are many other advantages to applying, but generally, cash-out refinancing is going to be less expensive than other options.

HELOC loans are not for everyone, and there can be disadvantages to choosing one. One of the primary principles to understand is your home becomes collateral for your loan. If for any reason you are unable to pay back the HELOC loan that you received, there is a chance that your home could be taken by the lender.

These loans present a potential risk if there is a drop in the amount that your house is worth. For example, if there was a housing market decline and your home decreased in value, you will still be liable for paying back the loan amount in full. Since these loans are based on the amount that your home is worth, any devaluation that occurs can leave you with a loan that is harder to pay back than expected, or you can end up owing more than what your home is worth.

Other important points to consider when applying for a home equity line of credit include:

  • Higher closing costs ranging anywhere from 2% to 5% of the total loan amount.
  • Variability in your interest rates, which could increase in the future.
  • A set period of time during which you must draw out money.
  • A lengthier and more complicated application period.

These are just some of the areas to evaluate when you’re choosing which loan you want to take out on your home. It’s highly recommended that you do as much research as you can before deciding, or get assistance from an expert.

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