Home equity loan to pay off mortgage early

Can you use a HELOC to pay off your mortgage? Let’s get to the bottom of it. A home equity line of credit, more commonly known as a HELOC, works a bit like a credit card. You get approved to borrow a certain amount and you can draw from that amount throughout a pre-determined draw period, usually about 10 to 15 years.

• In Short:
• How to Use Your HELOC to Pay Off Your Mortgage  
• Pros of Using a HELOC to Pay Off Your Mortgage
• Cons of Using a HELOC to Pay Off Your Mortgage

In Short:

Using a HELOC to pay off a mortgage is simple. Assuming you can get approval and have enough in equity, your HELOC funds will pay off the balance of your existing mortgage.

The process is best suited for a homeowner who:

• Has more equity than debt in a property
• Can get a lower rate on a HELOC than they have on their mortgage,
• Or has enough equity to also make some improvements on the home.

The advantage of a HELOC is that you can often borrow much more than you could with a credit card, and you can do so at a lower interest rate.

While a HELOC can offer tax benefits(1), there are limitations. You should consult your tax professional to learn more. These possible tax advantages are why many homeowners choose a HELOC, not only to pay off a mortgage, but also to make home improvements.

How to Use Your HELOC to Pay Off Your Mortgage  

If you’re planning on using a HELOC to pay off your mortgage, you first need to make sure that the amount you have available to borrow is equal to or greater than what you owe.

HELOC lenders will usually lend up to 90 percent of your home’s value, minus the amount that you owe on your mortgage. For example, if you have a $250,000 loan with a $100,000 balance, 90 percent of your home’s value would be $200,000. Subtract the balance on your mortgage and you have $100,000 available to borrow.

In this situation, you’d take the full $100,000 as soon as you were approved and send that money to your mortgage lender. You might choose to start repaying interest plus principal on your HELOC, or if your lender offers it, you may be able to make interest-only payments until the loan enters its repayment period.

Pros of Using a HELOC to Pay Off Your Mortgage

If you qualify for a good interest rate and choose the right option for your needs, using your HELOC to pay off a mortgage can be a savvy financial decision.  

1. You can end up paying less

The longer you carry a mortgage balance, the more interest you accrue. You still pay interest on a HELOC, of course, but you could score a significantly lower interest rate, especially if you took out a fixed-rate mortgage when market rates were higher. 

If that happens, then you’ll accrue less interest with the HELOC than you would with your original mortgage. Less interest accrued means a lower overall cost of the property.

2. You can do other things with the money, too

If you have more available to borrow than you’d need to pay off your mortgage, you can choose not to borrow the remaining amount, or you could do something else with it. 

Remember, you may be able to deduct HELOC interest from your taxes if you use the money to buy or improve your home. You should consult your tax professional to determine whether HELOC interest is tax deductible.

How great would it be to pay off your mortgage and update your kitchen and bathroom? If your renovation increases the value of your home, you’ll build your equity faster than if you were just paying off the loan.

Cons of Using a HELOC to Pay Off Your Mortgage

No loan product is perfect for everyone or every situation. Consider these factors before you commit to a HELOC.  

1. You still have to pay off the same principal amount

If you borrow $100,000 against your equity using a HELOC and use it to pay off your mortgage, you’ll still have to pay off your HELOC.

2. You could lose your home if you default.

Your home serves as collateral on a HELOC or a home equity loan. If you fall behind on payments, your lender can foreclose, just as your original mortgage lender could.

Interested? Learn more about the process of taking out a HELOC and determine whether it’s the right choice for your home and your finances.

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(1) Prosper does not provide tax advice. Please consult a tax advisor regarding the potential deductibility of interest and charges.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT.

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents.

Eligibility for a home equity loan or HELOC up to $500,000 depends on the information provided in the home equity application.  Loans above $250,000 require an in-home appraisal and title insurance.  For HELOCs borrowers must take an initial draw of $50,000 at closing. Subsequent HELOC draws are prohibited during the first 90 days following closing. After the first 90 days following closing, subsequent HELOC draws must be $1,000 or more (not applicable in Texas).

The time it takes to get cash is measured from the time the Lending Partner receives all documents requested from the applicant and assumes the applicant’s stated income, property and title information provided in the loan application matches the requested documents and any supporting information. Spring EQ borrowers get their cash on average in 26 days. The time period calculation to get cash is based on the first 6 months of 2022 loan fundings, assumes the funds are wired, excludes weekends, and excludes the government-mandated disclosure waiting period. The amount of time it takes to get cash will vary depending on the applicant’s respective financial circumstances and the Lending Partner’s current volume of applications.

Spring EQ cannot use a borrower’s home equity funds to pay (in part or in full) Spring EQ non-homestead debt at account opening.  For HELOCs in Texas, the minimum draw amount is $4,000. To access HELOC funds, borrower must request convenience checks.

Interest rates may be adjusted based on factors related to the applicant’s credit profile, income and debt ratios, the presence of existing liens against and the location of the subject property, the occupancy status of the subject property, as well as the initial draw amount taken at the time of closing. Speak to a Prosper Agent for details.

Qualified applicants may borrow up to 95% of their primary home’s value (not applicable in Texas) and up to 90% of the value of a second home. Home equity loan applicants may borrow up to 85% of the value of an investment property (not applicable for HELOCs).

All home equity products are underwritten and issued by Spring EQ, LLC, an Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #1464945.

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