2nd Mortgage - Better Than Refinancing

You have probably received refinancing offers in the mail or advertised online touting your ability to pull out your home's equity. But a 2nd mortgage, also called an equity loan, may be a better financing option than refinancing your mortgage. 2nd mortgages are ideal when you just want to tap into your equity, plan to move soon, or are unsure about the amount you want to borrow.

Tapping Your Equity

Tapping into your home's equity is best done through a 2nd mortgage if you already have a low interest loan. Typically, applying for a 2nd mortgage requires fewer fees than refinancing a mortgage. 2nd mortgages are also paid back sooner, so your interest payments are less.

Short-Term Loan

With the costs involved in refinancing, you typically need to keep the loan for about two years to break even. However, with a 2nd mortgage you don't have those fees to worry about recovering. 2nd mortgages do have minimum balance and early pay off fees, but they are significantly less than refinancing fees.

Flexible Loan Amount

A 2nd mortgage allows you to take out your home's equity over the course of several years. The money can be accessed with a check, ATM card, or direct deposit, depending on how you set up your account with the lender. Additionally, you only pay interest on the money that you have withdrawn.

Higher Approval

Lenders tend to be more lenient with approving 2nd mortgages. Since the amount usually is less than a traditional loan, lenders remain confident that they will receive payment. If you have had a few credit glitches in the past two years, think about going with a 2nd mortgage.

2nd Mortgage Mistakes

2nd mortgages aren't for everyone. You should weigh the cost of PMI and payments when choosing your financing options. Borrowing more than 80% of your home's value will subject you to private mortgage insurance.

Your monthly payments should also be a factor in your decision. By taking out equity when refinancing your home, you will have a lower payment than if you had both a mortgage and 2nd mortgage payment. Also, if you refinance in the future, you will have to pay off your 2nd mortgage.

To view our recommended sources for 2nd mortgage loans online, visit this page: Recommended Mortgage Lenders Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.

In The News:

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Washington Times
The Truth About Mortgage Refinancing Revealed By Connecticut ...
SBWire (press release), WI - 17 hours ago
Westport, Connecticut based Mortgage Broker Don Caiati reveals mortgage refinancing secrets at a new web site that is full of free reports, a home buying ...
Refinancing suddenly booms Honolulu Advertiser
Lenders Backlogged By Refinancing Rush Washington Post
Low Mortgage Rates Bring Refinancing Boom MSNBC
Forbes - Washington Timesall 25 news articles

WJBF-TV
Average Mortgage Rate Hits 5%, Lowest in Decades
New York Times, United States - 9 hours ago
Of course, buying a home is a more lengthy process than simply calling up a mortgage broker to refinance, and activity typically slows during the holiday ...
US Banks Offer Mortgages Below 5% After Fed Action Bloomberg
Rates lowest since '71; time to refinance? Modesto Bee
Long-Term Mortgage Rate Falls Again Wall Street Journal
Forbes - Boston Globeall 626 news articles

Cardoza proposal could aid housing crisis
Stockton Record, CA - 2 hours ago
Under the Cardoza plan, the payment on that mortgage refinanced to 4 percent fixed rate would drop to $1194 a month. Contact reporter Bruce Spence at (209) ...

REFILE-UPDATE 1-US mortgage demand dipped before Fed move-MBA
Reuters - Jan 7, 2009
The jump in applications during December may have been driven by homeowners already "on the fence" and prepared to refinance on a drop in mortgage rates, ...
Mortgage applications down in latest survey Forbes
Week-to-week mortgage applications down 8.2% MarketWatch
Fewer apply for home loans; credit line delinquencies increase Los Angeles Times
KVOA.com - Kansas City Starall 63 news articles

Boston Globe
Fed’s Rosengren Calls for ‘Concerted’ Fiscal, Monetary Policies
Bloomberg - 4 hours ago
... to purchase or refinance homes,” Rosengren said. The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped for a 10th week to 5.01 percent yesterday, ...
Rosengren sees path to recovery Boston Globe
Fed's Rosengren says recession more severe than thought Reuters
all 51 news articles

Boston Globe
Congressional Press Release on Mortgage Deal
Wall Street Journal - 9 hours ago
"Despite efforts by Congress to address this issue, not enough lenders have come to the table to help borrowers with bad mortgages refinance into new, ...
Citigroup reaches agreement with key senators on mortgage ... Minneapolis Star Tribune
Citigroup agrees to allow judges to help modify some mortgages IdahoStatesman.com
all 536 news articles

TopNews
Question & Answer on mortgage refinancing
Boston Herald, United States - Jan 1, 2009
If I refinance the mortgage on my current house, will I hurt my chances for getting a loan for a new place later on? A: No. Refinancing a loan shouldn’t ...
MORTGAGES: 30-year Mortgage Rate Falls For Ninth Straight Week To ... CNNMoney.com
Mortgage Rates Hit 37-Year Low Poynter.org
Home-Mortgage Rates' Next Stop: Below 5% Wall Street Journal
Ventura County Star - Wall Street Journalall 457 news articles

Refinancing shoots through the roof
Plano Star Courier, TX - 15 hours ago
“Quite a few people have remortgaged,” said Craig Jarrell, loan officer with Pulaski Mortgage. “Most people who refinance are new homeowners as recent as ...

Mortgage refinancing skyrockets
Cincinnati.com, OH - Jan 3, 2009
... 2009 With US mortgage rates the lowest in 30 years, local lenders say they've seen a strong surge in loan applications as homeowners seek to refinance ...
Waco banks seeing a boom in mortgage refinance applications Waco Tribune Herald
Borrowers seeking to refinance may face challenges WTOP
As mortgage rates slide, refinancing applications take off Dallas Morning News
all 15 news articles

Congressman sees support for home refinancing bill
Central Valley Business Times, CA - Jan 8, 2009
“So many folks have found themselves underwater in their mortgage … they can’t refinance,” says Mr. Cardoza. Often those who have lost their investments in ...
Cardoza submits plan to refinance mortgages Merced Sun-Star
Congressman Cardoza Introduces Housing Legislation ABC30.com
Cardoza sponsors bill to reduce mortgage payments, stabilize ... Central Valley Business Times
all 5 news articles

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