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There comes a time in many people's life when we crave for more financial stability and wealth, but a limited fund prevents us from securing what we so earnestly desire. But if you are lucky enough to own a home already, this asset can provide you the means for furthering your dreams through the home equity loan.

You might have heard of people taking out home equity loans for various reasons such as for making home improvements or paying for medical bills or children's college fees. Home equity loans are also widely used for the purposes of debt consolidation.

Your home is the most valuable asset out of all that you possess. You can borrow money against your home on the basis of the value or equity of your house. But what does the term Home Equity actually refer to? In the United States, residential properties are most commonly bought through a mortgage. The mortgage amount can be paid over quite a long stretch of time. After you clear the entire mortgage amount, the property belongs to you. In the meantime, your property builds up a value of ownership; this value is the "equity" of the homeowner. This equity is worked out on the basis of the current market value of your property. The value of equity is calculated by subtracting the outstanding mortgage balance from the current market value of the home. You are eligible to get a home equity loan against this equity value of your home. One thing to remember though is that while your home equity cannot be sold, the financial institutions do not mind lending you money against it.

You have to opt from two main types of home equity loans, namely the traditional home equity loan, popularly known as second mortgage, and the home equity line of credit.

The traditional home equity loan will enable you to borrow a lump sum of money that is to be repaid over a fixed period. On the other hand, the home equity line of credit provides the borrower with a checkbook or a credit card which can be used to borrow cash against the home equity.

It is important to make an informed decision before you choose a financial institution from which to take out a home equity loan. It is often not the case that the institution that granted you the first mortgage will offer you the best deal the second time around. So shop around on the internet and choose a bank only after making a thorough comparison.