Compared to HELOCs, cash-out refinances are less risky for lenders, meaning they are often able to provide lower interest rates – though you may need to anticipate higher upfront fees in the form of closing costs.
If you know exactly how much you need to borrow, a home equity loan can be a better option than a HELOC. Home equity loans tend to have lower interest rates than HELOCS, and the rates are usually fixed for the life of your loan.
Cash-out refinancing is a very low-interest way to borrow the money you need for home improvements, tuition, debt consolidation or other expenses. If you have big expenses that you need to borrow money for, a cash-out refinance can be a great way to cover those expenses while paying little in interest.
HELOCs are generally the cheapest type of loan because you pay interest only on what you actually borrow. There are also no closing costs. You just have to be sure that you can repay the entire balance by the time that the repayment period expires.
Can you take equity out of your house without refinancing? Yes, there are options other than refinancing to get equity out of your home. These include home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), reverse mortgages, Sale-Leaseback Agreements, and Home Equity Investments.
To qualify for a HELOC, you must have equity in your home and maintain a low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. You will also need a good credit score and proof of income. The amount you can borrow with a HELOC depends on the value of your home and the amount of equity you have built up.
Most lenders require you to have a credit score of at least 580 to qualify for a refinance and 620 to take cash out. If your score is low, you may want to focus on improving it before you apply or explore ways to refinance with bad credit.
The minimum credit score you need for a cash-out refinance is typically 620. However, FHA and VA cash-out refinance loans might allow a slightly lower credit score. Lenders set their own minimums, so credit requirements can vary depending on where you apply.
HELOC rates are so high because the rates for home equity lines of credit change somewhat in accordance with the prime rate, which closely follows the federal funds rate that the Federal Reserve has been raising for months to try and control inflation.
There's a lack of inventory
With so many homeowners choosing to stay put and keep their low-interest mortgages, homes for sale are in limited supply — so many homeowners are opting to tap into equity and renovate their current homes rather than sell and buy.
A HELOC is a good idea when you're making home renovations that will increase the market value of your home. A HELOC provides an affordable credit line to finance ongoing expenses, with much lower rates than other forms of borrowing like credit cards and personal loans.
Pros of cash-out refinance
Your cost to borrow could be lower: Cash-out refinances often have lower rates than home equity loans, personal loans and credit cards. You can improve your credit: If you use your equity to consolidate debt, your credit utilization could drop. This can be a boon for your credit score.
Popular uses include making home improvements, paying off student loan debt, and funding large purchases. Tax benefits: Because the money you receive from a cash-out refinance is considered a loan rather than income, you don't need to pay taxes on the funds you receive.
The IRS doesn't view the money you take from a cash-out refinance as income – instead, it's considered an additional loan. You don't need to include the cash from your refinance as income when you file your taxes.
As of May 2023, the average rate for a cash-out refinance ranges between 5% and 7%, but you may be able to score a better deal by comparing options from several different lenders.
You'll usually need at least 20% equity in your home to qualify for a cash-out refinance. In other words, you'll need to have paid off at least 20% of the current appraised value of the house.
The borrower must have been on the title to the subject property for at least six months prior to the note date of the cash-out refinance mortgage.
No, the proceeds from your cash-out refinance are not taxable. The money you receive from your cash-out refinance is essentially a loan you are taking out against your home's equity. Loan proceeds from a HELOC, home equity loan, cash-out refinance and other types of loans are not considered income.
You'll need a minimum credit score of at least 620 if you want to take a cash-out refinance, in most scenarios. Rocket Mortgage will do a VA cash-out refinance with a median FICO® Score as low as 580 if you keep 10% equity in the home after the refinance.
It's easier to get a cash-out refinance
While getting a HELOC can require a credit score of up to 720, a refinance loan usually only requires a 620. Some lenders will accept a score of 580.
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.
Calculating the monthly cost for a $50,000 loan at an interest rate of 8.75%, which is the average rate for a 10-year fixed home equity loan as of September 25, 2023, the monthly payment would be $626.63. And because the rate is fixed, this monthly payment would stay the same throughout the life of the loan.
In October of 2023, Bankrate data showed rates were averaging 8.75 percent on home equity loans and 9 percent for HELOCs. There is one bright spot, though: If you use a HELOC or home equity loan for housing-related repairs or remodels, the interest can be tax-deductible. That can reduce the real cost of your financing.