|
Home Equity Loan – Not just for home
repairs, and tax deductible, too!
by Charles Essmeier
Thanks to the combination of low interest rates and skyrocketing property
values, home equity loans are more popular than ever. The value of home equity
loans taken out by Americans has doubled in the last two years, and the market
for them shows no signs of slowing down.
Obtaining a home equity loan is usually a fairly simple process involving some
paperwork, a credit check, and a home appraisal, and the entire process can
often be done in just a few weeks. Lenders will often lend up to 80% of the
value of the home’s equity, and some lenders will even lend up to 125% of a
home’s equity. Home equity loans are quite useful, and have several advantages
over other types of loans, such as credit card loans or more traditional secured
loans. The biggest advantage is that the interest on home equity loans is tax
deductible. The interest rates on home equity loans are already pretty
competitive, but the addition of the tax deduction makes them pretty hard to
beat.
But do you have to use a home equity loan to improve your home in order to
qualify for the tax deduction?
Many people do not realize that improvements on your home are not necessary in
order to take the tax deduction. While home improvement is probably the most
popular reason for taking out a home equity loan, many people use them for any
one of a number of other reasons -- buying a boat or RV, taking a dream
vacation, or even just using the money for to debt consolidation. The relatively
modest interest rates charged for home equity loans are far more favorable than
the 20% or so charged by many credit card companies.
Whatever the reason for taking out a home equity loan, be it home improvement or
otherwise, the tax deduction makes it a pretty good way to borrow money.
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro
Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com,
a Website devoted to debt consolidation information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a
site devoted to information on home equity loans.
This article is reprinted with permission from www.WritingCareer.com |