In a word, yes. The lender requires an appraisal for home equity loans—no matter the type—to protect itself from the risk of default. If a borrower can't make his monthly payment over the long-term, the lender wants to know it can recoup the cost of the loan. An accurate appraisal protects you—the borrower—too.
Most lenders require an appraisal before approving you for a HELOC or home equity loan. This appraisal will confirm the current value of your home. After all, a lender needs to know how much your house is worth to calculate how much you can borrow.
Sometimes, the system accepts the borrower's loan application without the need for an appraisal. Put simply, this means the lender accepts the sale price, or the estimated home value, as the actual value of the property. Usually, only strong borrowers with significant equity achieve an appraisal waiver.
Yes, you can still get a home equity loan without getting a formal appraisal done on your property. Lenders have options for determining the market value of your home beside using traditional, full appraisals. These can involve the use of data analysis, public records or even a quick drive-by observation.
Determining Appraised Value
A bank uses a licensed appraiser to determine the current price of a home. The parameters that appraisers consider is the square footage of the home, the size of the lot, how many bedrooms and bathroom the home has as well as any extras such as a den, smart home features, a pool or shed.
Things that can hurt a home appraisal
A cluttered yard, bad paint job, overgrown grass and an overall neglected aesthetic may hurt your home appraisal. Broken appliances and outdated systems. By systems we mean plumbing, heating and cooling, and electrical systems.
Loan payment example: on a $50,000 loan for 120 months at 6.10% interest rate, monthly payments would be $557.62.
When a consumer takes out a home equity loan, that adds a large balance or credit line to their credit report. Credit scoring agencies consider the total amount of money a consumer owes, and a large increase in outstanding debt drives scores lower.
How Long Does It Take To Get A HELOC? HELOCs are generally approved and cash dispersed in one to two weeks. The time it takes will depend on how quickly you can supply the lender with the required information and the lender's underwriting process.
What Is a No-Appraisal Mortgage? The term no-appraisal mortgage refers to a type of home loan that doesn't require an appraisal. This means an independent opinion of the property's current fair market value (FMV) is not necessary.
An Appraisal Is Not Needed
Lenders might waive a new in-person appraisal because the home's market value was calculated so recently. The same can be said for refinancing a home. If little time has passed since the original appraisal, a lender may be willing to waive the in-person appraisal when refinancing.
There is no legal requirement to carry out appraisals, but most employers have a yearly or twice-yearly review process. Appraisals are often used to determine whether targets have been achieved and make decisions about future work. Another reason for appraisals is to discuss career plans.
The entire home equity loan process takes anywhere from two weeks to two months. A few factors influence the timeline—some in and some out of your control: How well you're prepared. Your lender will want to see copies of your current mortgage statement, property tax bill, and proof of income.
Although the amount of equity you can take out of your home varies from lender to lender, most allow you to borrow 80 percent to 85 percent of your home's appraised value.
It can take up to four weeks to close on a HELOC. Of course, several factors can impact that timeline, such as the appraisal process and documentation delays. You may have to wait a few days, or even weeks, to access your funds after closing.
Your credit score is one of the key factors lenders consider when deciding if you qualify for a home equity loan or HELOC. A FICO® Score☉ of at least 680 is typically required to qualify for a home equity loan or HELOC.
While home equity loans enable you to take out a second mortgage on your property, cash-out refinances replace your primary mortgage. Instead of obtaining a separate loan, the remaining balance of your primary mortgage is paid off and rolled into a new mortgage that has a new term and interest rate.
A refinance typically takes 30 to 45 days to complete. However, no one will be able to tell you exactly how long yours will take. Appraisals, inspections and other services performed by third parties can delay the process.
You'll go through an appraisal when refinancing your mortgage, just as you did when you bought the home. The appraiser looks at safety, size, location, and any home improvements you've made since buying. Consider repainting to increase the home value, and provide documents for any home improvements.
Your appraised value affects how much you can borrow
If you refinance a $200,000 loan and your lender requires a maximum LTV of 80%, your home would need to appraise for at least $250,000 ($250,000 X 0.8 = $200,000). If your home appraises for less, you would need to lower your loan amount to qualify.
For a $150,000, 30-year mortgage with a 4% rate, your basic monthly payment — meaning just principal and interest — should come to $716.12.
The Bottom Line
Paying off your home equity loan early is a great way to save a significant amount of interest over the life of your loan. Early payoff penalties are rare, but they do exist. Double-check your loan contract and ask directly if there is a penalty.
How long do you have to repay a home equity loan? You'll make fixed monthly payments until the loan is paid off. Most terms range from five to 20 years, but you can take as long as 30 years to pay back a home equity loan.