What Are the Closing Costs and Lending Fees on a Typical HELOC Loan?
If you own your home, there’s a good chance your equity has grown in the last several years. Home values shot up during the pandemic era and millions of homeowners have more home equity than ever.
That’s why many homeowners are interested in taking out a home equity line of credit or HELOC. A HELOC is a type of second mortgage that gives the homeowner some of their home equity in cash.
Before getting a HELOC, however, you should understand what the typical closing costs and lending fees are for the loan. Learn about HELOC closing costs, lending fees, and other aspects of these loans below. If you want to apply or have questions, one of our loan professionals can help you today.
What Is a HELOC?
A HELOC is a unique type of home equity loan offered by banks and mortgage companies. It is a line of credit with a variable interest rate, based on the amount of equity in the home. Many lenders let you take out up to 80% of the home’s value, when combined with the first mortgage. The interest rate varies, but the initial period may have a fixed rate, depending on the lender. With the Federal Reserve hinting at rate cuts, this could be the perfect time to get a HELOC loan; interest rates may drop in the near future. You could take out your HELOC now, and the rate could drop in 2024 and beyond.
What Do HELOCs Cost?
As with any mortgage loan, a HELOC has closing costs and other fees. A closing cost can be any fee that you pay when you have a lender originate, underwrite, close, or record a loan. One of the benefits of getting a HELOC is many lenders may reduce your loan costs with lender credits, or could even waive them entirely in some cases. Some lenders may have included your closing costs and fees into the interest rate. You should understand what your closing costs and fees are and how you are paying them.
The average closing costs on a HELOC are typically between 1,5% and 5% of the loan amount. This accounts for all lending fees and any third-party services required for the loan. So, if you borrow $40,000 of your equity in a HELOC, you may pay between $600 and $2,000 in fees and closing costs.
Shop for No Cost HELOC Loans Today
In most cases, lenders charge closing costs for both home-equity loans and home equity lines of credit.
Most HELOC costs come within the range of 1.5% to 5% of the total amount of the HELOC account.
For example, if you take out a $60,000 home equity line of credit, the HELOC closing costs could amount to anywhere between $900 and $3,000.
Of course if you get approved for a no cost HELOC loan, you will pay zero in fees and closing costs.
Do HELOC Lines of Credit Have Closing Costs?
Make sure that you understand every closing cost and fee that you are being charged. Common HELOC closing costs are:
• Application fee, which is usually used to offset marketing and advertising expenses.
• Processing and underwriting fees, which pay for the company’s administrative costs for making the loan and administering it through closing.
• Appraisal fees, which are needed for the home to be appraised. This establishes what the fair market value of the home is. It also is important for determining your loan-to-value ratio or LTV.
• Escrow and title fees, which pay for the title search, title insurance, and administrative fees for notarizing, signing, and recording your loan documents.
Closing costs for a HELOC are usually lower than for a first mortgage; this is largely because the amount of the loan is smaller. The average home loan amount in the US is about $325,000, while home equity products are usually capped at only $250,000.
HELOC Fees to Try and Avoid
It should come as no surprise that some mortgage companies will try and charge as much lending fees as the borrower is willing to pay. Below we listed fees that some lenders will charge with HELOC loans.
Minimum draw: Some lenders mandate that you borrow a minimum amount of money when your HELOC closes, also known as an initial advance.
Annual fee: Certain lenders impose an annual fee, typically around $100, regardless of whether you utilize funds from the HELOC during that year. Others only levy this fee if you refrain from making any withdrawals. Some lenders, however, waive the annual fee altogether.
Early closure fee: If you close your HELOC within 36 months of its opening, some lenders may impose an early closure fee. Typically, these lenders do not charge any closing costs upfront, and the early closure fee usually represents a prorated amount of the unpaid closing costs. Common reasons for closing a HELOC prematurely include selling your home.
Fixed-rate conversion fee: A few lenders permit you to convert a portion of your HELOC into a fixed-rate loan and may levy a fee for this option.
How Do HELOC Loans Work
A HELOC is a type of second mortgage that works like a credit card. You can borrow up to 80% or 85% of your home’s value, including the amount of your first mortgage. The HELOC has a variable interest rate that can go up or down over time. The draw period for most HELOCs is 10 years, when only interest is paid. The interest only HELOC payment is attractive to borrowers looking at cash flow. When the draw period is over, you must pay back principal and interest. Once the HELOC is paid off, you can reuse it if you like.
Typical interest rates for HELOCs in 2024 are between 8% and 10%, depending on the lender and your credit score. Many homeowners opt for HELOCs because rates for first mortgages are in the 7% range today, which is higher than most homeowners already have. You can usually save interest by getting HELOC instead of applying for a credit card or personal loan, so many people use their HELOC funds to pay off credit card, cover home improvements, or pay medical bills.
Summary on HELOC Costs and Fees
A HELOC can be the perfect option for tapping low-interest cash, so speak to one of our lenders today for a quote. For any loan you consider, understand what your closing costs and fees are and how and when they are paid.
Consider you borrowing options by comparing cash out equity loans and HELOC offers from various lenders. Thanks to modern technology, obtaining loan estimates from multiple lenders is simpler than before, and it won’t negatively impact your credit if you close your loan in a timely manner
Shop lenders that covers your closing expenses. You need to determine whether opting for no closing cost HELOC in exchange for a higher interest rate is worthwhile. If you get a no cost HELOC loan and have to pay an extra half a percentage point to have no lending fees and you pay off the entire line of credit in a few years than it is likely a wise move.