Using a HELOC to finance investments can be a smart move, but it is important to consider the potential risks. Before committing to a HELOC for investing in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, evaluate your current financial situation and understand the associated costs and risks.
A HELOC can be used to buy an investment property. In fact, if you are going to use a HELOC on anything, you might as well put it into a sound investment. Unleveraged equity is, after all, dead money that could end up costing you in the long run.
While having an unused HELOC can be advantageous in many ways, it's essential to be aware of the potential costs. Some HELOCs come with annual fees or maintenance fees, which you might still have to pay even if you don't use the credit line. The fees you could incur, even with an unused HELOC, include: Inactivity fees.
Key Takeaways
In a true financial emergency, a HELOC can be a source of lower-interest cash compared to other sources, such as credit cards and personal loans. It's not a good idea to use a HELOC to fund a vacation, buy a car, pay off credit card debt, pay for college, or invest in real estate.
3. Rental Properties. Owning a rental property could be one of the most profitable ideas for how to invest $200,000 for monthly income over the long term. You could invest your $200,000 towards the purchase of a rental property, then collect rental income for as long as you hold it.
Having a HELOC could increase your debt-to-income ratio, making it more difficult to be approved for other loans or credit.
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.
Don't worry, we've all bought stuff we don't need. But financing unnecessary consumer goods, such as luxury electronics or a new car, with a HELOC generally is not recommended. These items often depreciate in value over time, and using a long-term loan like a HELOC for short-term enjoyment can lead to long-term debt.
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.
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.
Having a HELOC won't prevent you from being able to sell your home. You'll need to repay that HELOC before you see any money from the sale of your home. Paying it off early could come with penalties, so review the paperwork you got when you opened your HELOC to see if yours does.
"I am of the belief rates for HELOCs will fall in 2024, as well as interest rates in general," says Mark Charnet, founder and CEO of American Prosperity Group. "This means the varying rate of a HELOC will benefit mortgagers as the rates fall." The Federal Reserve adjusts interest rates in response to economic activity.
Yes, having a HELOC or home equity loan on your home does not usually complicate the home sale process. When you sell your home, proceeds from the sale will be used to cover the outstanding balance on your primary mortgage, HELOC or home loan, and any other liens on the property.
Having a HELOC doesn't prevent you from selling. However, your HELOC balance is repaid from the sale proceeds along with your mortgage, which means less money in your pocket at closing. Additionally, certain scenarios, such as depreciated home values or short sales, can make selling with a HELOC extra challenging.
A second mortgage is a home-secured loan taken out while the original, or first, mortgage is still being repaid. Like the first mortgage, the second mortgage uses your property as collateral. A home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) are two common types of secondary mortgages.
Is 3.5% a good HELOC rate? In today's market, 3.5% would be an uncommonly good HELOC rate. Since 3.5% would currently fall below the Federal Funds Rate, lenders couldn't offer this rate on any home loan without losing money.
Example 2: 20-year fixed-rate home equity loan at 8.85%
So, for a 20-year, $100,000 home equity loan, you could expect a slightly higher rate than on a 10-year term. In this case, let's say you qualified for an 8.85% rate. This would result in a monthly payment of $890 — much lower than the payment on a 10-year term.
Now let's calculate the monthly payments on a 15-year fixed-rate home equity loan for $20,000 at 8.89%, which was the average rate for 15-year home equity loans as of October 16, 2023. Using the formula above, the monthly principal and interest payments for this loan option would be $201.55.
A HELOC stands for a home equity line of credit, and if you decide to take one out to access funds, it could directly affect your credit score. Additionally, taking out a HELOC requires a lender to run a hard inquiry—this can temporarily decrease your credit score by a few points.
Here are some disadvantages of a home equity line of credit: Interest Rates May Rise: All HELOCs start with a variable rate and quite often it is a promotional rate that changes to a higher variable rate after the promotion ends. After the HELOC draw period (usually 10 years) a HELOC will adjust to a fixed rate.
Paying off your HELOC will improve your debt-to-income ratio overall, but closing a HELOC shouldn't negatively affect your credit score if you've been paying it off on time.
Rental Properties
You could invest your $200,000 towards the purchase of a rental property, then collect rental income for as long as you hold it. Rental properties can be a great way to hedge against inflation since housing prices tend to rise in tandem with increases in other consumer prices.
The best way to invest $200,000 is through a diversified portfolio that includes a mix of individual stocks, index funds, real estate, and fixed-income options like bonds or CDs. Counting on your risk tolerance, time, and monetary goals, the allocation between these asset classes will vary.