Use our home equity line of credit (HELOC) payoff calculator to find out how much you would owe on your home equity-based line each month, depending on different variables. This is a handy tool to help you achieve your financial goals.
For HELOCs, use the calculator to find out:
You can input data including payoff goal, current interest rate, yearly rate changes and annual fees to get accurate totals.
HELOCs are variable rate loans, which means your interest rate will adjust periodically. If you’re worried about rising rates, see how much a fixed rate home equity loan could save you by keeping the rate change field at 0%.
HELOC payments tend to get more expensive over time. There are two reasons for this: adjustable rates and entering the repayment phase of the loan.
HELOCs are variable rate loans, which means your interest rate will adjust periodically. In a rising-rate environment, this could mean larger monthly payments.
Additionally, once the draw period ends borrowers are responsible for both the principal and interest. This steep rise in the monthly HELOC payment can be a shock to borrowers who were making interest-only payments for the first 10 or 15 years. Sometimes the new HELOC payment can double or even triple what the borrower was paying for the last decade.
To save money, borrowers can refinance their HELOC. Here we’ll take a look at two options and how they work.
You can take out a home equity loan, which has a fixed rate, and use this new loan to pay off the HELOC. The advantage of doing this is that you could dodge those rate adjustments. The disadvantage is that you would be responsible for paying closing costs.
Apply for a new HELOC to replace the old one. This allows you to avoid that principal and interest payment while keeping your line of credit open. If you have improved your credit since you got the first HELOC, you might even qualify for a lower interest rate.
If you’re interested in refinancing with a HELOC or home equity loan, use Bankrate’s home equity loan rates table to see current rates.
Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs, are two types of loans that use the value of your house as collateral. They’re both considered second mortgages.
The main difference between them is that with home equity loans you get one lump sum of money whereas HELOCs are lines of credit which you can draw from as needed.
The faster pay off your loan, the less interest you’ll pay. You might even be able to reduce your interest rate by refinancing your loan to a shorter term. Often, lenders will reward shorter terms with lower interest rates, so it’s worth investigating if you want to pay off your loan faster.
Before you get the loan, find out if there’s a penalty for paying it off early. If there is a penalty, factor that amount into your calculations.
You should also note any balloon payments that are included in your contract. These are large lump sums owed at the end of your home equity loan term. Some loans are not amortized, which means you could end up making interest-only monthly payments only to have the full principal balance due on a specific date.
This could mean trouble for homeowners who haven’t prepared. If your loan has a balloon payment, set aside enough money each month to make that payment when it comes due.
HELOCs are different from home equity loans in that they function more like a credit card. Your lender will extend credit, based on several factors including your credit history and the equity in your house. You only owe what you borrow. For example, if you’re extended $50,000 and use just $25,000, then you only owe $25,000.
Many HELOCs allow borrowers to make interest only payments during the draw period, which can vary. Normally, draw periods last between 10 and 15 years. When that period ends, you must make principal and interest payments.
HELOCs can become a drain on your finances if you put off making payments on the principal. If possible, make extra monthly payments on your principal. Like home equity loans, find out if there are prepayment penalties.