Are you considering opening a home equity line of credit (HELOC) but feel unsure of how much it will cost? A HELOC monthly payment calculator can help you estimate how much you’ll spend each month, as long as you know how much of the line of credit you are using, the interest rate, and the length of the HELOC repayment term.
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A HELOC monthly payment calculator is a tool that potential borrowers can use to determine how much you might need to budget each month when it comes time to repay your home equity line of credit. If you’ve ever used a mortgage calculator or a mortgage calculator with taxes and insurance, you know how useful computing payments can be.
The calculator will help you gain a general understanding of the cost of a HELOC, but keep in mind that HELOCs are a revolving line of credit: If you use some of your line of credit but not all of it, or repay some of what you borrowed during the HELOC’s draw period, the amount you owe each month can change. HELOC interest rates are often variable as well, meaning they will change over time.
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Using our monthly HELOC payment calculator is easy. To begin, you’ll enter your:
• Existing HELOC balance
• Repayment term
• Annual percentage rate (APR) offered to you on the HELOC
This calculator assumes you will make monthly payments on your HELOC.
Calculating monthly payments for your HELOC is important because it can help you understand how much you’ll owe every month if you tap into your home’s equity by using a credit line to borrow money. Once you see the monthly payment estimate, you can review your budget and determine if you can afford to take on this new debt.
If you’re not confident you’ll be able to make each monthly payment, a home equity line of credit might not be right for you. After all, HELOCs are secured by your property. If you fall behind on payments, the lender can foreclose on your home.
There are several benefits of using a HELOC monthly payment calculator, including:
• Understanding how interest rates impact borrowing money: Having access to cash when you need it — for renovations, debt consolidation, and emergency expenses — sounds nice. But once you see how much the interest rate can affect the cost of borrowing, you might think twice before taking out a HELOC if you’re not able to handle the repayment.
• Setting budget expectations: Thinking several years into the future can be tough, but it’s crucial that you do that when taking out a HELOC. Seeing what monthly payments will be for the 10 or 20 years can help you build your budget and make sure you have enough flexibility in your spending to afford the repayments.
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Just because you want a HELOC and think you can afford one doesn’t mean a lender will necessarily give you one. There are generally a few HELOC requirements that you must meet to qualify, including:
• Enough home equity: First and foremost, you need to have built up enough equity in your home, because that’s what you’re borrowing against. At a minimum, lenders may want to see 15% equity, and many prefer 20%.
• Strong credit: Though it can vary by lender, you’ll need at least a credit score of 680, if not 700, to get a HELOC. Have a score below 680? It’s not impossible to get a HELOC, though your choice of lenders may be more limited, and interest rates may be higher. Being on time with payments on your current mortgage is one good way to care for your credit score.
• A low debt-to-income ratio: Having strong credit is not enough. Lenders also want to see that you’ll be able to afford payments. That means you need to make significantly more money than you owe to outstanding debts (like a mortgage, car loan, or student loan). The lower your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, the more qualified you are as a borrower.
The process of applying for a HELOC is straightforward and akin to applying to one of the many different types of mortgage loans:
1. Shop around: Look for various lenders offering home equity lines of credit. Research their credit score requirements, as well as their interest rates and terms.
2. Apply: After you’ve selected your preferred lender, apply online or in person. If you went through a mortgage preapproval process, you’ll find this process is similar. You will likely need a home appraisal, and the lender will review your income, assets, and credit score.
3. Accept the offer: HELOCs take one to two months for approval. Once you’re approved, you can review the offer from the lender and begin drawing funds if you accept it.
In general, with a home equity line of credit, you can borrow up to 80% of the equity you’ve built in your home (though this can vary). Let’s see how that breaks down with an example:
• Home value: $500,000
• Amount still owed on the house: $200,000
• Equity built: $300,000
Assuming you are approved for 80% of your equity, your line of credit can be as large as $240,000. Of course, you might not need to use the maximum credit line. HELOCs can be especially helpful in situations, such as a home renovation, when you aren’t sure exactly what a project will cost (it can be hard to get a precise estimate as the cost of living differs by state).
Thinking about getting a HELOC? Here are some tips for getting approved and managing your line of credit responsibly. Many are the same tips to qualify for a mortgage you may have followed when you purchased your home:
• Shop around for lenders: Don’t go with the first lender you find. Compare rates, terms, and customer reviews.
• Improve your credit before applying: Pay down debts as much as possible to reduce your DTI, and make on-time payments and reduce your credit utilization to boost your credit score. This will help your chances of approval — and at a lower rate.
• Use a monthly HELOC payment calculator: Before accepting a HELOC offer, use our calculator to determine what your monthly payments will look like during the credit line’s repayment period. Review your budget to make sure you’ll be able to afford the repayments. Remember that during the HELOC’s “draw” period which is typically 5 or 10 years, you can borrow against the line of credit and pay only interest. But during the repayment period, your payments will get larger.
• Don’t overdraw: Only use your home equity line of credit for necessary expenses. Just because you have money available to borrow does not mean you have to borrow it all.
• Read the fine print: Make sure you understand how your repayments work, as well as potential fees, such as early cancellation penalties. Remember that if you decide a HELOC isn’t for you, there are other ways to access cash based on your home equity, including a mortgage refinance that could free up cash.
A HELOC can be a great way to tap into your home’s equity to fund renovations, pay down higher-interest debt, or cover unexpected expenses that life throws at you. However, it’s important to understand what you’re getting into by using a monthly HELOC payment calculator before applying.
SoFi now offers flexible HELOCs. Our HELOC options allow you to access up to 90% of your home’s value, or $500,000, at competitively low rates. And the application process is quick and convenient.
Unlock your home’s value with a home equity line of credit brokered by SoFi.
The monthly payment on a $50,000 HELOC depends on the interest rate and the term. For instance, if the interest rate is 7.00% and the repayment term is 20 years, the monthly payment would be $387. (This assumes a draw period of 10 years during which you make only interest payments on what you have borrowed.) A HELOC monthly payment calculator can help you do the math.
To calculate your HELOC’s monthly payment, you can use a monthly HELOC payment calculator. You’ll need to know the amount borrowed, the interest rate, and the repayment term.
The monthly payment on a $100,000 HELOC depends on the interest rate and the term. For instance, if the interest rate is 5.00% and the term is 30 years, the monthly payment would be $537. (This assumes a draw period of 10 years during which you make only interest payments on what you have borrowed.) However, this amount can change if you have a variable interest rate.
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*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances. ²SoFi Bank, N.A. NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC), offers loans directly or we may assist you in obtaining a loan from SpringEQ, a state licensed lender, NMLS #1464945.