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A home equity line-of-credit is usually better choice. With this type of loan, you will be able to write 'checks' against amount of line-of-credit, which may be as much as 125% of value of your home. For example, if you obtain a $10,000 line of credit secured by equity in your home, and use $2,000 of it to pay off an outstanding credit card balance, you've essentially only borrowed $2,000, and that's amount on which you'll pay interest.
When looking for your loan, it's essential that you shop around--not only for best interest rates and terms, but for a company that you can trust. Ask for referrals from your bank, friends and coworkers. In addition, you can check them out on Internet.
You will need to determine value of your home so will know how much money you will able to borrow against it. It's a good idea to get a current appraisal of your home, and always smart to have it appraised by several different companies.
Finally, in order for you to get most out of your home equity loan, you will need to choose lender that offers you best interest rates. Remember that fees and other charges can vary widely from company to company, so make sure you do some comparisons.
Once you've been approved, you can use all or part of your home equity loan to pay off your current unsecured debt. Keep in mind that you'll only STAY out of debt if you avoid temptation to run those credit card balances up again!
To view our most recommended home equity lenders visit this page: Recommended Home Equity Lenders
Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans. The site has informative articles and the latest finance news.