Designing your home or restructuring it can be a massive undertaking resulting in a more valuable and comfortable house. However, it can cost quite a lot of money to get things going, so in this article, we’ll cover a few ways you can finance your home project.
1. Mortgage refinance
Refinancing is a viable option for financing your home design project, even if it’s often a step homeowners take for other reasons.
Mortgage refinancing is when you replace your existing mortgage with a new arrangement with a different lender. The new mortgage should have better terms and interest rates for you. The new lender would then pay off your debt so that you only need to pay one mortgage that you direct to them instead of the new and old ones.
If you don’t know how to deal with this but are still interested in trying mortgage financing, work with local mortgage brokers like mortgage brokers in Christchurch to help you with it.
First, you need to be aware of your equity, as that will dictate the amount of money you can borrow from your lender.
If you’ve agreed to the loan and interest rates, your lender would then get your home an appraisal to ensure the refinance amount you want. If it matches, then you get the cash you can use for whatever, including home projects. However, if your house value is lower, expect not to have the desired amount of money for your project.
Remember that each lender may have different requirements and criteria for approving a mortgage refinance. Asking them about their specific conditions and documentary requirements reduces the hassle on both sides, so make sure to do so.
2. Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
Another way to finance your home design project is through a home equity line of credit (HELOC). A HELOC loan allows you to borrow against the equity you have built in your property while using your home as collateral.
It works similarly to a credit card, where you can access a certain amount of funds and withdraw as needed. The amount you can borrow is based on the appraised value of your home and the remaining balance on your mortgage. However, it’s more flexible because you can use as much or as little funds for the project.
One thing worth noting is that interest rates fluctuate, so if your home design project takes too long, it will cost you much more to repay. Even though interest rates fluctuate, you can still deduct the interest you pay here on your tax return.
3. Personal Loan
Another financing option worth taking is a personal loan. If you don’t know what it is, it’s an unsecured loan that allows you to borrow money for any purpose, including home design projects. Loans taken out for that purpose usually are called home improvement loans.
Unlike a HELOC, a personal loan doesn’t put your house up as collateral if you fail to uphold your end of the bargain, which is why it’s called unsecured.
An advantage of using a personal loan for your home design project is the speed and convenience of obtaining one. The application process is typically straightforward; you can even complete an application online. With quick approval times and fast disbursal of funds, you can start working on your project without unnecessary delays.
Another reason a personal loan might be better is that it preserves other lines of credit for emergencies. Separating your home design financing from other financial obligations, you don’t leave yourself financially vulnerable.
This financing option is great if you don’t have a high enough equity yet and have a solid credit score. However, they usually come with higher interest rates for the lenders’ protection. Also, the interest rates for your loans won’t be deductible through your tax returns, unlike a HELOC.
4. Home equity loan
A home equity loan is another viable option for financing whatever home design project you want to take. People might often confuse a home equity loan with a HELOC, but those two are different.
To make it easier to discern the differences, a HELOC has:
- a changing interest rate
- a balance of funds like a credit card
- the ability to borrow as much or as little funds as you need
On the other hand, the home equity loan has:
- a fixed interest rate
- a fixed loanable amount
- a specific timeline for payment, like a mortgage
The main similarity between the two is that your home serves as collateral in both cases. They also have interest rates you can deduct through your tax returns.
It’s best to use a home equity loan over a HELOC if you have a pretty good idea of what you’ll be using the funds for and know what you’ll get. For example, replacing a garage door as a project is pretty straightforward, and the expenses should be precise.
5. Credit cards
If you have a solid credit score, then why not take advantage of your credit cards and use them to fund your next home design project? As long as you know you can pay off the credits at every billing cycle, there should be no issues with using a credit card to finance it. However, if you’re not disciplined enough, this might not be the best option.
6. Cash savings
It’s always a good idea to save for a goal if you’re set to take it like a significant home design project. If you want to avoid incurring debt or taking out a loan, then relying on your cash savings is excellent.
Just ensure you’re not tapping into emergency funds for your project, as it can leave you in a financial place you don’t want to be in.
7. Government loans
There are certain government loans that you can get that can help you with your home design project. For example, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD has the FHA 203(k) loan program.
This loan is when the amount you need to repair and rehabilitate your home is in the mortgage refinancing or if you’re purchasing a new home that may be a fixer-upper. That way, you get the money to buy the property you want while having enough to fix it.
Conclusion
These should be the most reliable ways to finance a home design project.
Each option has pros and cons, so take your time deciding between one or the other so that you take on a loan with no regrets. After all, most of these will be long-term undertakings, so the last thing you want is to carry this burden for as long as you design your home.