Getting a Home Improvement Loan: What Your Bank NeedsThe popularity of stores like Home Depot and Lowe's show how many homeowners are jumping on the home improvement bandwagon. Maybe you're thinking of redoing part of your house as well. Perhaps you want the kitchen of your dreams or an extra bathroom. You know you'll have to take out a loan to finance the project, but if you're just in the beginning stages of the planning, you may not know exactly how to go about it. Whether you're refinancing or taking out a home-equity loan, here's some information on what your bank needs: As with any loan, your bank will want to review your financial history before approving you for a home-equity loan. While different banks will have different loan criteria, there are a few things you can expect each institution to require: -Your address and how long you've lived there For home-equity loans, the bank will also need information on your house such as its age and current property value. Save time by bringing the current tax assessment for your property with you. For smaller loans (usually $2000 or less), this may be enough information to indicate the home's market value to the bank's satisfaction. However, for larger loans, banks will require professional appraisals. Home appraisals typically cost $200-$300. Above, I mentioned that banks want to know your total debt and monthly obligations. Specifically, they want to know your debt-to-income ratio. If your debt is greater than 30%-40% of your monthly income, the bank may be unwilling to offer a loan out of fear that you will not be able to make payments. To further protect their assets, the bank will require a copy of your credit history to make sure you're not a bad risk. A few months before you decide to take out a home-equity loan, it's a good idea to get a copy of your credit report and check it for errors. Contact the credit bureau and correct any errors ahead of time. This will save time later and help you get the right loan for your home improvement needs. TC Thorn writes for http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com This article may be reprinted so long as a link back to the site is included.
MORE RESOURCES updated Sat. December / 21 / 2024 Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 20, 2024: Rates are higher than last December Yahoo Finance Today's Mortgage Rates, December 21, 2024 | Rates Jumped Following This Week's Fed Cut Business Insider Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 18, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage servicers pressure homeowners to refinance after divorce, loss – CFPB Mortgage Professional Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 20, 2024 Investopedia Is now a good time to refinance your mortgage? Yahoo Finance 5 strategies to get the lowest mortgage rates in 2025 Yahoo Finance Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 13, 2024: 30-year rate drops 18 basis points in a month Yahoo Finance Best mortgage refinance lenders of January 2025 Yahoo Finance How The Fed's Rate Decisions Move Mortgage Rates Bankrate.com Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 16, 2024: Better time to buy than refinance Yahoo Finance Mortgage Rate History: 1970s To 2024 Bankrate.com Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 17, 2024: Rates increase ahead of Fed meeting Yahoo Finance Mortgage Refinance Rates Today: December 17, 2024 Update Norada Real Estate Investments 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 15, 2024: Month-over-month rates decrease Yahoo Finance Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Steady Ahead of Fed Announcement Business Insider Best cash-out refinance mortgage lenders of January 2025 Yahoo Finance Today’s Mortgage Rates Rise to 6.7% – December 20, 2024 Update Norada Real Estate Investments Refinance Rates Today: Compare Mortgage Refinance Offers Business Insider Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of December 2024 Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 14, 2024: Economic factors drive rates back up Yahoo Finance Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Remain in the Mid-6% Range Business Insider CFPB Report Finds Significant Drop in Annual Mortgage Applications and Originations in 2023 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Current Mortgage Trends: Are Mortgage Rates Going Down? Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 11, 2024: Rates up in anticipation of CPI Yahoo Finance MBA: Mortgage Applications Decreased in Weekly Survey Calculated Risk Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 12, 2024: 30-year rates drop for 3rd consecutive week Yahoo Finance Mortgage refinance demand surges 27%, as interest rates drop for the third straight week. NBC New York How to get the best refinance rate on your mortgage Bankrate.com Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Rise as Investors Gear Up for Fed Cut Business Insider Current VA Refinance Rates: See if Refinancing Is Worth It Right Now Business Insider Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 13, 2024 Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 10, 2024 Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Nov. 29, 2024 Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 9, 2024 Investopedia How to Decide If a Mortgage Refinance Is Right for You U.S News & World Report Money Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop Back - Sep 24, 2024 Investopedia Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of October 2024 The Motley Fool Here's How to Figure Out If It's Worth Refinancing to a 15-Year Mortgage U.S News & World Report Money Will Mortgage Rates Go Down In December? Bankrate.com Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop for a Third Day Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Are Down, But Should You Refi to a 30-Year, 20-Year, or 15-Year Mortgage? Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Oct. 7, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop Again Investopedia Mortgage Rate History | Chart & Trends Over Time 2024 The Mortgage Reports Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 5, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Dip Lower - Sep 30, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Climb to Two-Month High Investopedia 15.4 Mortgage Refinances per 1K New Jersey Households Last Year, Fewer Than U.S. Average The Eastern Progress Online
|