Managing Home Improvement Finances: A How-To Guide
Home improvements make a difference to our home while contributing to the value. With a record number of people conducting home improvements throughout the pandemic, you might be tempted to make some changes yourself.
Know how to manage the finances associated with home improvements here. Breaking down the options available, we feel confident you will find a way of financing your home improvement plans.
Savings:
Fortunate individuals will have access to a sizeable amount of savings. Use savings for funding home improvements. More so, if you have been saving money to be used for the sole purpose of completing home improvements.
Many people struggle to save money. Low income and expensive repairs can put a stop to any saving plans you might have.
There are other methods available for funding home improvements and managing the associated costs.
Credit Cards:
Use this as a means of funding smaller costs within your home improvement project. Ensure you pay off credit used as soon as possible to avoid any issues.
Many credit cards offer 0% interest rates. Use this to your advantage. Fund elements of your home improvement project using a new credit card without worrying about paying any extra costs inflicted.
Use and pay off the credit card costs to contribute towards your credit score. Having a high credit score helps when acquiring loans from banks or lenders in the future.
Federal Housing Association (FHA) Loans:
Receive loans backed by the FHA to fund your home improvements. Use your home equity to refinance your mortgage. Lower your existing monthly payments and receive lower interest rates also.
Compare the costs of your existing mortgage versus that of getting a new one. Determine what money you can get from an FHA refinance, which can be put towards your home improvement costs.
Use professional services from The Home Loan Experts to navigate this process. Your house will be used as collateral. Ensure you keep up with repayments moving forward to avoid foreclosure of your property.
Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs):
The mortgage version of a credit card. Lenders provide you a total amount of which you can borrow. Take what you need when you need it. Pay interest only on what you have borrowed, not the total amount.
Some home improvements take months to be completed. HELOCs are an ideal way of managing the finances associated with a long-term project. Withdraw money when you need it, rather than in one lump sum.
Keep costs low by using only what you need. Do not go overboard through temptation. Analyze expenditures throughout the project to ensure you can repay anything you have borrowed.
Home-Equity Loans:
Use a home-equity loan to fund your project when faced with higher costs. Receive a lump sum of money in one go and pay it back over an extended period.
Interest rates are fixed. You will know what you are paying month in, month out. Budget using this knowledge and remember rates might be higher than other lending options.