If you are a homeowner, it is crucial to understand a home equity report and how to read it. This report will tell you how much equity you have in your home and how much money you could make if you decide to sell.
This blog post will discuss everything about CoreLogic home equity report and explain what they mean for homeowners. We will also provide tips on how to increase your home equity!
Table of Contents
What Is a Home Equity Report?
A home equity report provides a snapshot of the current market value of your home and details any liens, judgments, or unpaid taxes that could affect its value. You can obtain a home equity report from a credit reporting agency. You can also get one from your mortgage lender, and some real estate agents and title companies offer one as well.
What is the Use of Home Equity Report?
Mortgage lenders use reports like this to evaluate your loan application since they’re looking for buyers who have enough money for a down payment and closing costs and enough remaining funds to pay off any outstanding debts on their property. Credit reporting agencies use the information in these reports to determine your credit score, predicting if you’re likely to pay back any loans you’ve taken out, such as a mortgage.
Home equity reports are available in two different versions: the “open-end” report shows all the information on the home’s title but doesn’t include any additional information about the borrower’s history; an “open-end plus” version contains both sets of data.
What are the Benefits of a Home Equity to Homeowners?
Homeowners can use their home’s equity as a financial tool. The equity in a home is the difference between the market value of the home and any outstanding loans against it. Homeowners can use this equity to borrow funds or improve their houses. The loan amount must be less than the remaining balance on your mortgage loan.
Here is how you can borrow against your home equity
How to Borrow Against Your Home Equity
Home Equity Loan: A home equity loan is the most common way for homeowners to tap into their home’s equity. In this case, you’d borrow money from a bank and make monthly payments on the debt, just like with any other loan. This can be an effective way to use your home’s equity if you have relatively high-interest credit card debt or are planning a significant purchase
A home equity loan is also called a second mortgage, and it is similar to a traditional first mortgage in that it is secured by your property.
A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC): This allows you to borrow up to a certain amount against the value of your home at an interest rate that’s typically lower than a personal loan. You can use the money in a number of different ways, from paying off high-interest debt to purchasing major items like furniture or a new car. If you’ve already paid off your mortgage and have built up some equity, it can be an excellent option for borrowing money.
Fixed-Rate Home Equity Line of Credit: One of the most commonly used and well-known home equity loans is a fixed-rate home equity line of credit. This type of loan allows you to borrow money, repay it over time, and then borrow again as needed. The interest rate is fixed, and the amount you can borrow against your home depends on its value. If you have 20 percent equity in your home, then you can generally borrow up to 80 percent of that value. It could make sense to use this option if your mortgage has an interest rate higher than a HELOC’s rate because the HELOC will be at a lower rate with no points or fees.
A Cash-Out Refinance: This is when you refinance your mortgage by borrowing more than you currently owe on the property. This can be useful if you need to pay off other debt or if you’d like to make some improvements to your home. You can also use this type of refinancing to consolidate multiple debts into one low monthly payment.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll be approved for this type of loan. You must have enough equity in your home and meet lender requirements around income, debt, and credit history, among other things. But if you’re able to get this loan, it will give you more financial flexibility and more options for what you do with your money going forward.
How to Increase Your Home Equity
Make a large down payment: You’ll have less money to work with when you put down less than 20% of the price of a house, and you’ll also have more monthly mortgage payments. If you can swing it, go for a bigger down payment. It’ll cost you less each month and give you more room to make improvements or sell the property if necessary.
Know the type of mortgage you’re getting: To increase your home equity, know what kind of mortgage you already have. If you’ve already refinanced your mortgage, this should be pretty straightforward. If you haven’t, it’s essential to know whether you have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) or a fixed-rate mortgage (FRM). A fixed-rate mortgage will have the same interest rate for the term of the loan, which could be as short as three years or as long as 30. An ARM, on the other hand, has an interest rate that can change over time. It’s crucial to know what kind of mortgage you have because it will affect how much you can refinance and what type of refinance loan you need.
Bottom Line
Homeowners are experiencing a rise in their home equity in their homes. This is good news for homeowners, as it represents an increase in potential net worth. But it also provides an opportunity to refinance, consolidate debt, or improve their home. The Realtor® association notes that home appraisals are typically higher if there has been significant improvement to the property.