What is a home equity loan?

Published by MFAA

A way to utilise the equity in your home.

Many Australians own homes that are worth more than the balance of their mortgage. With a home equity loan, you can unlock that 'equity'.

What is home equity?

You’ll hear a lot about equity in relation to home loans. Equity is the difference between what your home is worth today and what you still owe on your mortgage.

For example, if your home is worth $800,000 and you owe $300,000 on your mortgage, you have $500,000 in home equity. 

Utilising your home equity with a home equity loan

With a home equity loan, the lender lets you borrow against the equity you have built up in your loan. Let’s say you need money for a renovation, you don’t have any ready cash but you do have equity in your home. A home equity loan is one of a range of possible solutions.

Home equity loan – a better interest rate

You could use a credit card or take out a personal loan to fund something like a renovation, but you’ll probably get a better interest rate with a home equity loan because the loan security – your house – is a strong asset.

Monthly repayments

One thing you need to remember with a home equity loan is that you still need to make monthly repayments. 

To learn more about home equity loans, contact an MFAA Accredited Finance Broker.