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Sunday, February 5th
LendingTree is an online loan marketplace for every type of borrowing, from home improvement loans to credit cards and more. You can use this service to easily compare offers from up to five lenders at a time, helping you access good rates and terms for your home improvement loan. We love the detailed information provided on each lending partner, with thousands of client reviews to help determine which one is the best choice for your needs. LendingTree has a great reputation and is a trustworthy option if you want to use a referral service to research and secure a home improvement loan.
If you'd like to compare rates across multiple lenders with a single application, Credible is a good resource for home improvement loans. While that kind of one-stop shopping saves you some time, you'll still need to research each lender and read your loan terms carefully. Still, Credible has a strong reputation and earns high marks in our review.
If you're looking to finally renovate that kitchen straight out of the 70's, or build on the extra bedroom you need, chances are good that you don't just have the cash sitting around to get it done. Most homeowners use a home improvement loan to access the funds required to turn their house into a "home sweet home" .
There are several types of financing that can be used to make improvements or repairs. These depend on a variety of factors: the amount of equity you have already built up in your property, your credit history, and the amount of money you need.
If you have little equity in your home - in other words, you haven't made many payments on your mortgage yet, and you didn't put down much money at closing - you'll most likely use a home improvement loan to fund your projects. These loans are based on your overall credit history; the higher your credit score and the lower your debts, the better rates and terms you'll get.
On the other hand, if you've built up equity in your home, you'll be able to access three other types of home improvement loans: cash-out refinancing, a home equity loan (HEL), and a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Each type has its ins and outs, and not every loan type is appropriate for a particular borrowing need. For example, a cash-out refinance is great if you can reset your mortgage at a much lower interest rate - but it also comes with closing costs (which can sometimes be rolled back into the loan amount). HELOCs let you take money out as-needed, but interest rates can be higher than some home equity loans and are often adjustable: your payments may increase in the future.
As you can see, choosing a home improvement loan leaves you with some research to do. While considering your options, here are some guidelines to help clarify which service you should use:
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