Understanding Home Equity Loan and Mortgage Options in Canada

What Is Home Equity?

Home equity can be defined as the actual value of your property. Simply put, home equity is the difference between what you owe on your home and your homes fair market value. For instance, if your home has a market value of $300,000 and you only owe $50,000, you have $250,000 of equity in your home.

One of the biggest advantages of home ownership is the opportunity to build equity. Even though you may not be able to sell your equity, home equity loan options allow you to access the equity in your home to take care of any of your needs, expenses, or to simply live a higher quality of life. Generally, there are three different types of home equity loan options for seniors: a home equity line of credit, a second mortgage, and a reverse mortgage. The following information explains each of these three options in detail.

What Is a Home Equity Loan?

A home equity loan is a type of loan in which the borrower uses the equity of his or her home as collateral. Home equity loans are often used to finance major expenses such as home repairs, medical bills, a new car, university tuition for child, or other contingencies faced by homeowners. Home equity loans can be used only as re-finance options and not as collateral to purchase a new property.

What Is a Second Mortgage?

Home equity in Canada can be used as collateral for a second mortgage on your home. The bank issues you a cheque in a lump sum based on the available equity in your home for you to spend as you like. A second mortgage typically has a set amount of time you have to repay the loan (term) as well as fixed interest rate. After you have received the proceeds from your loan, you need to make monthly payments on the second mortgage until its paid in its entirety.

What is a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)?

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is similar to a second mortgage. However, the issuing financial institution doesn’t release all of the funds in one lump sum. The money can be accessed as you need to or when you choose to for whatever reason. For example, if you have $200,000 of available equity and have a HELOC for $125,000, you can access these funds using similar features as you would for a chequing account. You will only be responsible for paying interest on the amount of equity you actually use.

A few typical characteristics of HELOCs are:

Fluctuating interest rates

In many cases, lenders offer a special low “introductory rate.” However, this rate will commonly increase after a month or two. While HELOCs may seem to be the best way to access the equity in your home, the fluctuating interest rates can cause your payments to drastically increase.

Advance periods

The majority of HELOCs have what is known as an advance period, which is a set period of time you are allowed to access the money in the HELOC. This period can be five years, ten years, etc. After the advance period is over, you are not able to withdraw any additional money. More importantly, following the advance period is the repayment period, which is the time you are supposed to repay any borrowed monies.

Reverse Mortgage Home Equity Loans

If you are a homeowner in Canada and are 55 years of age or older, you may qualify for a reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage is designed for you to convert the equity in your home into cash to help pay for increased living expenses, health care costs, a home renovation, a vacation, or anything else you need. While traditional mortgages require you to pay monthly payments, a reverse mortgage does not require monthly payments. With a reverse mortgage the bank makes monthly payments or a lump-sum payment to you based on a percentage of the value and equity of your home, your age, amount of secured debt, property type, and property location . You continue to live in your home and must meet certain requirements. Reverse mortgages are designed to offer you another stream of income so you can spend your golden years living comfortably. After you are deceased, move, or sell, the loan will be reconciled with the value of the property.

Key Differences in Home Equity Loan Options

Disbursing funds

• Reverse mortgages offer an enhanced level of flexibility. You can receive monthly payments or you can choose to receive a large lump sum payment.
• Home equity lines of credit allows you to access the funds through a credit card and/or a checkbook. However, it’s important to understand you will only be able to access this credit line during a set advance period. After the period has expired, you will be expected to begin repaying the balance.
• Second Mortgages in Canada disburse the proceeds in one lump sum payment.

Repayment

• Reverse mortgages offer the premier and most formidable solution for seniors in Canada with deferred repayment. This means your loan will only become due if you become delinquent on your insurance and/or property taxes, you move, if the home falls into disrepair, you sell the home, or you pass away. In most cases, a reverse mortgage is repaid from the sale of the home after the death of the homeowners. This allows the seniors to live comfortably, vacation, and enjoy time with their family while they are alive without amassing a significant amount of secured debt.
• HELOCs have a repayment function based on the amount that was borrowed as well as the current interest rate. Considering interest rates change, your monthly payment could be affordable one day and unaffordable the next. This repayment option is the least favorable for individuals who are on a set income. It may become a challenge for seniors to service the debt, especially if they are looking for home equity loan options to supplement reductions in income during retirement. Seniors may find it difficult to qualify for a HELOC as there are income requirements. They may stand to lose the property to repay the loan, if the lending institution decides to recall the loan.
• Second Mortgages set monthly payments based on a fixed interest rate, which is more favorable than the HELOCs’ fluctuating payments, but less favorable than the terms of a reverse mortgage.

Second mortgages, reverse mortgages, and HELOCs all enable you to get cash out of your available equity. While they have this in common, they differ in terms of disbursement, repayment, and several other areas. If you are over the age of 55 and are interested in a source of long-term income, reverse mortgages are the premier solution.

Reverse mortgages are designed to allow you to truly enjoy your golden years in your home. With the proceeds from reverse mortgages, you can pay off debts, renovate your home, cover health care costs, help family members, take a vacation, and live comfortably. These types of home equity loans offer you another stream of income, so you can enjoy the rest of your life.

This article is the property of HomEquity Bank and has been published with permission.