Example 2: 15-year fixed-rate home equity loan at 9.13% interest. The current interest rate for 15-year home equity loans is slightly higher at 9.13%. If you borrow $75,000 with these terms, you'll pay $62,971.97 in interest over the course of the loan — but your monthly payment will be lower at $766.51.
Example 2: 15-year fixed home equity loan at 9.07%
As of December 21, 2023, the average national rate for a 15-year loan was nearly the same as for a 10-year loan: 9.08%. With that rate and term, you'd pay $764.27 per month for the loan.
Loan payment example: on a $50,000 loan for 120 months at 8.40% interest rate, monthly payments would be $617.26. Payment example does not include amounts for taxes and insurance premiums.
Example 1: 10-year fixed-rate home equity loan at 8.75%
If you took out a 10-year, $100,000 home equity loan at a rate of 8.75%, you could expect to pay just over $1,253 per month for the next decade.
For this example, we'll calculate the monthly cost for a $25,000 loan using an interest rate of 8.75%, which is the current average rate for a 10-year fixed home equity loan. Using the formula above, the monthly payment for this loan would be $313.32 (assuming there are no extra fees to calculate in).
Assuming principal and interest only, the monthly payment on a $100,000 loan with an APR of 6% would be $843.86 on a 30-year term and $599.55 on a 15-year one.
The Bottom Line
Home equity loans can be a great way to improve your home, consolidate debt, pay for student loans or help alleviate other financial strains on your budget.
HELOC or GELOC minimum monthly payments are determined by the HELOC or GELOC interest rate. HELOCs or GELOCs that closed at an interest rate of 8.0% or lower: Minimum monthly payment is 1% of the member's unpaid principal balance.
It's difficult to get a $75,000 loan if you have below 670. Even lenders that accept bad and fair credit typically don't offer the highest loan amounts to borrowers that just meet the credit score requirements. To increase your chances of approval: Use an online lender.
Some will want a credit score of at least 740, others will consider borrowers with credit scores of around 600. Since lenders have different qualifying criteria, the best thing to do is apply. If the lender needs security or a cosigner, they will let you know.
Assuming you have enough equity and your credit and finances are in order, you can get a home equity loan or HELOC by applying with a lender. Many banks provide home equity loans, and increasing numbers of online lenders do, too. To help narrow down your options, review home equity lender reviews and testimonials.
Despite their advantages, home equity loans come with many risks — like losing your home if you miss payments. You could also wind up underwater on the loan, lower your credit, or see rates on the loan rise. Reading your loan documents carefully can help you prepare for and avoid many of these risks.
A home equity loan term can range anywhere from 5-30 years. HELOCs generally allow up to 10 years to withdraw funds, and up to 20 years to repay. A cash out refinance term can be up to 30 years.
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.
Borrowers often wonder if they can pay off their home equity line of credit (HELOC) early. The short answer? A resounding yes, because doing so has many benefits. If you're making regular payments on your HELOC, you may be able to pay off your debt sooner, so you're paying less interest over the life of the loan.
What is a good amount of equity in a house? It's advisable to keep at least 20% of your equity in your home, as this is a requirement to access a range of refinancing options. 7 Borrowers generally must have at least 20% equity in their homes to be eligible for a cash-out refinance or loan, for example.
Both home equity loans and HELOCs are secured by borrowing against your home equity, which means your home acts as collateral for the loan. This is hugely significant because if you default on the loan, your bank or lender can repossess the property.
Though taking out a home equity loan can cause your credit score to drop, the impact is usually fairly small, and you can improve your score over time by managing your credit responsibly.
Past Bankruptcy or Foreclosure
Having a bankruptcy or foreclosure on your short- to mid-term credit history will likely make it difficult to qualify for all types of loans, including HELOCs. These marks against your creditworthiness are not permanent, but they also don't vanish overnight.
If you take a loan for five years and your interest rate is 4%, your monthly payment for a $40,000 loan will be $737. Remember that the longer the loan period, the more money you will overpay to the bank.