2nd Mortgage

You have probably received refinancing offers in the mail or advertised online touting your ability to pull out your home's equity. But a 2nd mortgage, also called an equity loan, may be a better financing option than refinancing your mortgage. 2nd mortgages are ideal when you just want to tap into your equity, plan to move soon, or are unsure about the amount you want to borrow.

Tapping Your Equity

Tapping into your home's equity is best done through a 2nd mortgage if you already have a low interest loan. Typically, applying for a 2nd mortgage requires fewer fees than refinancing a mortgage. 2nd mortgages are also paid back sooner, so your interest payments are less.

Short-Term Loan

With the costs involved in refinancing, you typically need to keep the loan for about two years to break even. However, with a 2nd mortgage you don't have those fees to worry about recovering. 2nd mortgages do have minimum balance and early pay off fees, but they are significantly less than refinancing fees.

Flexible Loan Amount

A 2nd mortgage allows you to take out your home's equity over the course of several years. The money can be accessed with a check, ATM card, or direct deposit, depending on how you set up your account with the lender. Additionally, you only pay interest on the money that you have withdrawn.

Higher Approval

Lenders tend to be more lenient with approving 2nd mortgages. Since the amount usually is less than a traditional loan, lenders remain confident that they will receive payment. If you have had a few credit glitches in the past two years, think about going with a 2nd mortgage.

2nd Mortgage Mistakes

2nd mortgages aren't for everyone. You should weigh the cost of PMI and payments when choosing your financing options. Borrowing more than 80% of your home's value will subject you to private mortgage insurance.

Your monthly payments should also be a factor in your decision. By taking out equity when refinancing your home, you will have a lower payment than if you had both a mortgage and 2nd mortgage payment. Also, if you refinance in the future, you will have to pay off your 2nd mortgage.

To view our recommended sources for 2nd mortgage loans online, visit this page: Recommended Mortgage Lenders Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.

Latest News


Interest rate drop opens door to refinancing
Austin American-Statesman, TX - 7 hours ago
By Shonda Novak, MS Taboada The recent sharp drop in mortgage interest rates is creating a window for homeowners nationwide to refinance and providing an ...
Looking to refinance? Now might be the time Boston Globe
all 2 news articles

FinFacts Ireland

Ben Bernanke: Fresh Attack on Mortgage Rates
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 14 hours ago
Lower rates will enable some borrowers to refinance out of adjustable and into fixed-rate loans. But those who need to refinance the most have homes with ...
Long Bond Returns Most Since 1995 as Rosenberg Sees ‘Bubble’ Bloomberg
Treasury Yields Hit Record Lows, But Will it Last? Housing Wire
REFILE-TREASURIES-Bonds rally, helped by weakening economy Reuters
Hemscott - Bloomberg
all 150 news articles

Self-Employed Are Frozen Out of Mortgages
Wall Street Journal - 6 hours ago
He's been unable to find a lender willing to refinance the $900000 adjustable-rate mortgage on his primary residence, which he says is worth around $1.1 ...

Md. sees drop in loss of homes
Baltimore Sun, United States - 2 hours ago
Many borrowers took on mortgages at the height of the housing boom, believing they could eventually refinance to a lower loan rate or sell their homes if ...

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services Begins Development of Hope for ...
MarketWatch - 19 hours ago
For borrowers who refinance under H4H, lenders are required to "write down" the mortgage to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-provided ...

Washington Post

Mortgage rates fall, but many borrowers will have trouble qualifying
Los Angeles Times, CA - Nov 27, 2008
Jeff Lazerson, a Laguna Niguel mortgage broker, said all the customer calls he received Tuesday were from people seeking to refinance, not buy homes. ...
Mortgage-market revival: Try, try again CNNMoney.com
Last Call for Smart Homeowners Motley Fool
US move cuts mortgages to lowest rate since February Baltimore Sun
Bloomberg - AHN
all 2,159 news articles

New mortgage crisis looming, experts caution
San Bernardino Sun, CA - 7 hours ago
And since investors no longer want to buy commercial mortgages, banks are reluctant to write new loans to refinance those facing foreclosure. ...

Good time to refinance your mortgage?
WKTV, NY - 17 hours ago
By GARY LIBERATORE (WKTV) - If you are in the market to buy a home, it's a really good time, but if you're selling, it's not so good. ...

A recession Q&A
Newsday, NY - 1 hour ago
... take measures that will result in lower mortgage rates, "so people can afford to buy up housing inventory and refinance mortgages at affordable rates. ...

Great Wolf continues mortgage negotiations
Wisconsin State Journal, WI - 14 hours ago
Because of the economy, refinancing arrangements are taking longer and are structured differently than in the past, he said. The resort continues to operate ...
BRIEF: Great Wolf still talking with lenders Trading Markets (press release)
all 4 news articles

Resources