Things Not Advisable to do with your HELOC

Although the funds that are made available to you through your HELOC Equity credit facility can be used for any purpose, it is advisable that you do not use the credit line for luxury purchases, vacations, or new cars. Again, it is completely up to you how to use these funds. However, it is important to remember that you are extracting the equity out of your primary residence (which for most people serves as their principal life investment). The temptation to use a HELOC Equity line for luxury purposes is quite understandable. In regards to acquiring credit, a HELOC is one of the east financing vehicles that an individual can obtain. Again, this is because banks and mortgage companies like making loans against tangible collateral such as real estate (especially owner-occupied residences). For most people, acquiring a HELOC gives them more access to capital than they have ever had in one sitting.

 

If you have spent twenty years paying your mortgage then there is a substantial chance that you have built a massive amount of equity into your home. If you own a $300,000 and have $100,000 left on your mortgage then you have almost $200,000 of net value in your home. Given today’s loan-to-value rates, you could potentially receive a line of credit that equals $150,000 to $160,000 based on your equity. For most people, obtaining a HELOC Equity line feels like a windfall profit. However, it is not. It is a loan. Like with any debt instrument it should be used wisely. Many people would not quickly rack up $150,000 of credit card debt, but for some reason, studies have shown that they have a greater inclination to do so with a home equity line of credit. As such, when thinking about acquiring a HELOC Equity facility, it is imperative that you think of the ways that you intend to use the proceeds.