Debt Consolidation: Home Equity To The Rescue

Finance Articles | July 24, 2007

There are several advantages to a debt consolidation home equity loan compared to other forms of borrowing. There are also some risks, so be careful.

A debt consolidation loan allows you to pay off your outstanding bills like credit cards and unsecured loans. It will simplify payments and probably lower your interest rate and monthly payments. This new loan doesn’t reduce your debt; it just restructures it, which can help you get right-side-up financially.

Debt consolidation financing has to be underwritten by some sort of collateral, usually real estate or a home. You are covering your current unsecured debt with a secured loan. The terms on the loan can range over several years and your collateral will be tied up for the life of the loan. If you default on a debt consolidation loan, you could lose your home, so be careful.

Debt Consolidation Pros And Cons

There are several advantages to a debt consolidation home equity loan compared to other forms of borrowing. It is easier to get, comes at a lower interest rate, and has tax benefits that other loans don’t. It can help borrowers clear up outstanding bills and improve their credit rating, provided they use the money wisely and avoid the danger of “reloading.”

Reloading is a cycle of getting a debt consolidation loan to pay off bills and free up credit that is then use to make additional purchases. This spending spiral can result in homeowners owing more than their home is worth. The loan is no longer fully secured and if the borrower’s income goes down or the home’s market value plummets, the owner could face foreclosure or bankruptcy.

You can get a Debt Consolidation Loan Worksheet to help catalogue the costs and determine what you can afford; plus a no-risk loan quote at Simple-Mortgage-Refinancing. This is a quick and convenient way to see how much you could be qualified to borrow today.

Article Tags: Debt Consolidation Loan, Home Equity, Debt Consolidation, Consolidation Loan

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Hamel is the author of three business books and several articles about mortgage financing. His material is featured on sites like Simple-Mortgage-Refinancing.