Home equity lines were a reliable source for borrowing over the past decade, but things are quickly changing as the housing market turns south. Here’s how you can evaluate your home equity line of credit and determine just how much you can expect…
- Find the Value. The true value of your home will tell you how much equity is available to borrow against. So, the first step to evaluating your home equity line is finding out exactly how much your home is worth and subtract out the amount of debt left on the house.
- Pay Down Debt. Banks look at your debt-to-income ratio to determine your credit-worthiness. Paying down debt or increasing income are the only two ways to improve these ratios, and given the economy, the latter may be the easiest to do for now.
- Get Approved Now. If you have a home equity line of credit expiring over the next few months, don’t wait until the last minute to get it extended. Start at least two or three months in advance in order to deal with the paperwork and being proactive can get you pre-approved.