Here are some tips:

Understanding home equity loans can be a bit confusing. Home equity loans are essentially a one-time consumer loan using your home as collateral. If your home is worth more than you owe on it, you have equity and may be able to use this equity to borrow money.

Generally, people use home equity loans to finance major expenses and milestones in their lives, such as sending your kid to college, starting a home renovation, or consolidating high-interest debt (think credit cards).

Here are a few more helpful tips to help you understand home equity loans and if they are right for you.

HOME EQUITY LOANS: A LOWDOWN

The good news is you can tap into your home equity by taking a home equity loan or opening up a home equity line of credit (HELOC). The bad news is you'll pay interest on the loan, and there are risks associated with taking equity out of your house. If you have a pressing financial need, it could make sense to accept those risks -- but be sure you know exactly what you're getting into.

One of the main benefits of taking out a home equity loan is that you can use the funds however you want. Also, since you’re using your home as collateral, interest rates tend to be much lower than those of unsecured debt, like personal loans and credit cards.

WHERE CAN YOU GET THEM?

You can apply for a home equity loan through multiple channels, all of which have their pros and cons regarding the type of assistance they offer, fees, discounts, terms, and interest rates.

●      Banks

●      Credit Unions

●      Online Lenders

When you apply for a home equity loan, there are five things lenders usually look at your combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV), debt-to-income ratio (DTI), credit score, available equity, and proof of income.

And besides checking your CLTV, DTI, available equity and credit score, there are a few other things experts recommend you do, prior to applying for a home equity loan, like:

●      Getting an appraisal

●      Having everything in writing

●      Not opening or closing any accounts just before applying for a loan.

Fixed-rate home equity loans and lines of credit can be a great way to get much-needed cash at a reasonable interest rate. Your home could be an untapped financial resource that can help you make improvements, pay for large expenses, or even just take a vacation.

Ultimately, whether or not a home equity loan is right for you will come down to your personal financial situation, how much equity you have in your home, and what you’d like to use it for. You want to treat a home equity loan with the same seriousness you would a regular mortgage. That’s the most important thing of all to know.