How to access equity
Calculate available equity – work out the amount of equity available in your property using the estimated market value of your home minus the balance of any loans for property. For example, if your home is worth $800,000 and you owe $450,000, your equity is $350,000. We can provide you with a free property appraisal, contact us to get this organise.
Calculate useable equity – lenders will typically offer 80 per cent of the value of your home – less the debt you still owe against it. This is considered your useable equity. For example, 80 per cent of $800,000 (property value) equals $640,000, minus $450,000 (owing on loan) equals $180,000. You may be able to use this $180,000 as a deposit for an equity loan.
Review loan options – start researching and assessing your home loan options. Do a health check on your current loan, comparing interest rates, fees and features with other lenders. Our Finance arm of M1 Realty – M1 Finance can definitely help you with this.
A home equity loan allows homeowners to borrow money against their home equity via several options, including a line of credit, a redraw facility on a variable rate mortgage, or by refinancing a mortgage.
Suppose you have owned your own home for a significant period (at least a couple of years) and have been consistently paying down off your mortgage on time. In that case, it is worth checking to see if you can refinance your loan at a lower rate. M1 Finance can assist with this also.
Calculate costs for accessing equity – the option you choose and the amount of equity you access may result in fees and expenses. Bear in mind Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) and remember that there may be associated fees if you decide to switch lenders. If the usable equity is not enough to cover the entire deposit, stamp duty and settlement costs, you will have to make a cash contribution.
How to build equity
Reduce your debt – building equity is about increasing the gap between what you owe and the value of your home. Investigate ways in which you could pay down your loan quicker by making extra repayments or changing the frequency of repayments. Be sure to keep an eye on the property market to track your property’s value as you pay off your loan.
Hold onto your property for longer – equity tends to build over time, as you continue paying off your loan and as your property value increases. Currently, Australian property prices are growing yearly, meaning most homeowners are gaining significant amounts of equity each year.
Increase the value of your home – undertaking renovations could boost the value of your home and therefore increase your equity. If you would like advice on how you can improve the value of your home, we would love to assist.
Things to consider
Loan requirements – even if you have significant equity, it is not always guaranteed that you can borrow against it. Much like applying for a home loan, lenders will also consider several factors such as income, age, dependants, additional debts.
Cross-collateralisation – the property from which you are taking equity will become additional security for your new loan. This means any decisions you make to one loan or property may impact the other.
Professional support – before you decide to use your home equity to fund an investment property, talk to a professional. A financial adviser will assess your assets, debts, and ability to fulfil loan obligations.
Whether you are buying or selling we can help you achieve your property goals.
