Home Equity Line Of Credit - HELOC

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Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Home Equity Line Of Credit - HELOC'

A line of credit extended to a homeowner that uses the borrower's home as collateral. Once a maximum loan balance is established, the homeowner may draw on the line of credit at his or her discretion. Interest is charged on a predetermined variable rate, which is usually based on prevailing prime rates.

Once there is a balance owing on the loan, the homeowner can choose the repayment schedule as long as minimum interest payments are made monthly. The term of a HELOC can last anywhere from less than five to more than 20 years, at the end of which all balances must be paid in full.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Home Equity Line Of Credit - HELOC'

Several factors can lead to strong growth rates in this type of borrowing:

-Increased retail sales channels, which have brought HELOCs to the masses. Most of these sales channels come from local banking institutions.
-Rising home values, which increase the amount of equity available to homeowners
-Prevailing low interest rates coupled with moderate inflation
-The fact that mortgage interest is often tax-deductible, making it more attractive than alternative borrowing methods

Because HELOC interest is variable, homeowners must be aware of prevailing interest rates -a spike can cause repayment balances to rise rapidly.

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