What You Need to Know Before Taking Out a Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit

By Debra Pangestu

With interest rates in Canada hovering at near-record lows and a steady increase in property values, a home equity line of credit has become an appealing financing choice for consumers and financial institutions alike. A home equity loan, also referred to as a HELOC or HELC, offers consumers access to a pool of funds – using the equity in their home as security – which they can use as they like.

Home equity loans and lines of credit appeal to financial institutions because they are secured by property, while consumers like credit lines because they can draw from them at will and at an interest rate much lower than any credit card. And unlike mortgages and unsecured loans, consumers can simply pay down the principal of their line of credit to make more funds available to them. The favourable interest rates, coupled with the revolving credit and the freedom to draw large amounts at will, have made home equity lines of credit a popular way to borrow.

What Can a Line of Credit be Used For? Is a HELOC or Home Equity Loan Right for You?

A line of credit can be used for anything from home renovations to big ticket purchases. How much you spend, and what you spend it on, is entirely up to you. As such, having a home equity credit line can be a terrific financial tool if you’re disciplined and diligently stick to a payment plan. However, for a lot of people, having a line of credit can be a means of getting – and staying – in debt. 

Before you take out a home equity credit line (HELOC) or loan, there are some things to keep in mind as you determine whether it’s right for you or not. 

Mortgage, Home Equity Loan, and Home Equity Line of Credit: What’s the Difference?

A home equity line of credit, a home equity loan and a mortgage are similar in that all 3 use your home as security for the debt. All 3 can also be used to consolidate debt. But that’s where the similarities end. 

What is a Mortgage?

A mortgage is a loan specifically to buy property. The mortgage uses the property as collateral for the loan, meaning that if the borrower doesn’t repay the loan, the lender has the legal right to seize the property. Like any loan, interest is charged on top of the principal, and each mortgage payment normally consists of repayment of principal plus interest. 

What is a Home Equity Loan?

A home equity loan, also referred to as a second mortgage, allows homeowners to borrow money from a financial institution, using the equity of their home as collateral. The loan can be used to finance expenses such as home renovations, medical bills or college tuition, and it comes as a one-time lump sum. The loan is repaid over a set amount of time at a fixed interest rate, which remains the same over the lifetime of the loan. 

What is a Home Equity Line of Credit, Home Equity Credit Line or HELOC?

Like a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a loan that uses the equity of your home as collateral, only the loan takes the form of a revolving line of credit instead of a lump sum. A credit line offers greater flexibility, in that you have access to a pool of funds, which you can use for emergencies, debt consolidation, a home improvement project, or even day-to-day spending.

Payments towards your line of credit are flexible as well, since you can pay as much off as you want, or as little as interest only, depending on your loan agreement. The line of credit also comes with a variable interest rate that is much lower than the interest rates on credit cards. And like a credit card, the payments you make each month towards what you owe free that credit up for you to use again. 

How Revolving Lines of Credit Work

Like credit cards, a home equity line of credit is a temptation to spend money you don’t actually have. Both credit cards and a line of credit are excellent examples of revolving credit, where you can borrow money up to a certain pre-approved limit, and each time you make a payment, you’ll have the credit available to you. 

For example, if you spend $20,000 of your $40,000 line of credit and you make a $10,000 payment, your available credit goes back up to $30,000 (minus interest, of course). And that means you have $30,000 available to spend on home repairs, gas, groceries or even to pay off high interest credit card debt. 

Revolving Credit Can Lead to Serious Debt Problems

Serious debt problems and financial trouble can result from living a credit-dependent lifestyle. With revolving credit, there are no fixed monthly payments and only a minimum payment is required. Without a fixed payment, it’s easy to lose track of what you owe or wait too long to pay off the debt.  

The problem can be much worse if the line of credit only requires minimum payments. With interest only payments it takes someone much longer to pay off the line of credit or home equity loan, and in some instances, they end up going down the “never-never” road and never pay off their debt. 

Decide if Your Purchase is a Need or a Want Before You Pay for Something with a Home Equity Line of Credit

Before using your home equity line of credit to make a purchase, ask yourself whether you can make the same purchase with cash. If it’s something you can easily pay for in cash, do just that. If it’s a big-ticket item that requires credit, determine whether the purchase is a necessity and how quickly you can pay it off, taking into account the fluctuating interest rate.

If it’ll take you years to pay off that purchase, give yourself a few days to mull it over. You may find that after a few days and a careful look at your household budget, you’ll realize that you don’t really need – or want – the item anymore.

How to Deal with Debt from Revolving Credit Lines or Loans

There are a few ways to avoid getting into trouble with revolving credit and living a credit-dependent lifestyle:

• Talk to your lender about setting up automatic monthly payments that cover the interest and principal, so that you’ll have your line of credit paid down over a specified period of time. 
• Set up automatic payments that cover more than just the interest with internet or online banking services yourself. 
• Create and actively use a realistic household budget that accounts for all of your weekly, monthly and irregular/seasonal expenses. It’s often these “seasonal” expenses that get paid for with a line of credit.
• Ask for help if you need it. If you’re in debt and struggling to get ahead, contact us by phone, anonymous online chat or email and one of our Credit & Debt Counsellors will be happy to review your situation with you.

Understand How Variable Interest Rates Work and How They Affect You

The home equity line of credit interest rate is the lowest interest rate available on revolving forms of credit. The rates can be as low as Prime minus 1 per cent (with Prime currently hovering around 3 per cent), whereas some credit cards have rates as high as 29 per cent. A home equity line of credit also comes with a variable interest rate, which means the amount of interest you pay can fluctuate. 

If the interest rates take a sudden upward turn, guess what happens? Your minimum payment also goes up. 

Before signing up for a home equity loan or line of credit, estimate whether you can absorb the full balance of your line of credit at double today’s interest rates. Today’s interest rates are uncharacteristically low, so it’s important to keep in mind that your payments will likely go up before you’ve paid off what you owe.

A Home Equity Loan or Credit Line Shouldn’t Be Your Personal ATM

A home equity loan or credit line can be a smart way to borrow, if you use it only for money emergencies and have a working household budget that lets you repay what you owe sooner than later. But rather than using a home equity line of credit as a financial safety net, borrowers often fall for temptation spending and use it to pay for everyday items, like electronic gadgets, groceries and new clothes. The frivolous use of home equity credit lines and loans has given rise to a borrowing phenomenon known as “using your home as an ATM.”

A line of credit can be a great financial tool for disciplined borrowers, offering low interest rates and flexible lending terms. But for those who don’t understand the implications of using low interest revolving credit, they could dig themselves deep in debt.

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