Home Equity Loan Or Refinance?

Many of you have significant home equity after the price increases of the last few years. If you want to tap that equity for some spending, what’s the best way to do that? Here’s a brief article that explains when it’s better to refinance your current mortgage and when you should set up a home equity loan or line of credit.

For a cash-out refinance, you refinance your current mortgage and take out a bigger mortgage. For example, let’s say your home is worth $100,000 and you have a $40,000 mortgage on it. Remember, you have to keep 20 percent in, so $20,000. That means you have $40,000 in equity to tap. You refinance your current mortgage to up to $80,000. Pay off the old loan and have $40,000 left in cash.