Maybe the asphalt on your driveway is starting to break apart and is more rocky than you’d like. Or perhaps you desire a fresh look and smoother experience going down your driveway.
Whatever the reason, giving your driveway a makeover can add to your home’s overall aesthetic and boost its functionality. Research reveals that 79% of Realtors thought a home’s curb appeal was essential to attracting potential buyers.
That said, driveway paving comes with a hefty price tag. According to estimates from HomeAdvisor, the cost depends on the size and materials, but can be anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000, with $6,000 being the average.
Can you finance a driveway if you don’t have the cash on hand to cover the costs? The good news is yes, it’s entirely possible. In order to figure out the best choice for you, you’ll want to be clued in on your options. Here, we’ll walk you through different ways to pay for a new driveway.
Key Points
• Enhancing a driveway increases its attractiveness to potential buyers and boosts property aesthetics.
• Financing options for driveway paving include personal loans, home equity loans, contractor financing, credit cards, and government programs.
• Personal loans provide fixed interest rates and terms, offering a straightforward funding option for driveway projects.
• Home equity loans and HELOCs use home equity as security, offering low-interest rates on lump sums or revolving credit lines.
• Contractor financing can provide flexible payment plans through third-party lenders but may carry higher interest rates.
Understanding the Cost of Driveway Paving
Tracking home improvement costs? As mentioned, the average cost of driveway paving is $6,000. The main factors that determine how much you’ll be doling out are the size of your driveway and the type of material you’ll be using. As you might expect, different materials require a different investment of time and labor to install.
For instance, while gravel driveways are the least expensive to install, you’ll need to periodically replenish the gravel — ideally, every few years. On the flip side, driveways made of paved stone have the highest costs initially but can last the longest.
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Personal Loans for Driveway Financing
Personal loans can be a relatively easy route to financing a driveway paving. Most personal loan amounts range from a few hundred dollars to up to $50,000, while a few lenders have up to $100,000 available.
The terms of the loan repayment can be anywhere from one to seven years, and the APR, which is typically fixed, ranges between 8% and 36%. As of August 2024, the average interest rate on a 24-month personal loan hovered around 12.33%.
Personal loans usually have lower interest rates than credit cards, but the interest can make for an expensive way to borrow. Plus, there might be upfront fees, such as an origination fee, which is usually anywhere from 1% to 6% of your loan amount, and in some cases as high as 10%. While longer loan terms can mean lower monthly payments, you’ll be paying more interest for the loan.
Some lenders feature preapproval online and can offer a speedy application process that you can also do online. Once you’ve been approved for a personal loan, you may be able to receive the proceeds of the loan as soon as within one business day.
However, you should be aware that a personal loan for home improvement is an installment loan, which means you’ll receive the funds upfront and are responsible for making monthly payments from the start. When you apply, lenders do a hard pull on your credit, negatively impacting your credit score.
Home Equity Loans and HELOCs
If you’re a homeowner, you can borrow against the equity in your home to take out a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) to finance a driveway paving. Both are second types of mortgage, so you’re betting against your house. Home equity loans and HELOCs can be good ways to borrow money for a relatively low interest rate and lower fees.
Currently, the average interest rate on a home equity loan is 8.35%, and the average national interest rate on a HELOC is 8.69%.
Like a personal loan, a home equity loan is an installment loan, so you’ll receive the proceeds for the loan in a single lump sum. From there, you’ll have a fixed monthly payment for which you’re on the hook.
A HELOC is a type of revolving loan. Like a credit card, you’ll be approved for a limit and borrow as you need, up to the limit, for the draw period, which usually lasts 10 years. You pay as you go, and might be able to make interest-only payments during the draw period. Because a HELOC lets you borrow funds as needed, it could be a better fit for ongoing or multiple home improvement projects with an undetermined total price tag.
Unlike unsecured forms of credit, home equity loans and HELOCs can be easier to approve. That said, both types of loans require a hard pull of your credit, which may temporarily bring down your credit score by a few points. And because you’re putting up your home as collateral, if you put a halt on your payments, you risk foreclosure and losing your home.
Recommended: The Top Home Improvements to Increase Your Home’s Value
Contractor Financing and Payment Plans
Another option for financing driveway paving is to borrow directly from a contractor. Some contractors partner with a third-party lender that provides financing options. These may include same-as-cash options (which we’ll get to in a bit) or monthly payments that you pay back over the length of the loan.
The pluses of getting financing from a contractor are that it’s convenient and straightforward. The contractor may be able to offer you a flexible plan to meet your needs in financing for driveway paving. The approval process might also be quicker.
However, minuses of contractor financing may include higher interest rates. Plus, you’re tied to the contractor should issues arise during the project.
Credit Cards and Same-as-Cash Options
You can also use a credit card. If you don’t want to jump through the hoops of applying for a new home improvement loan and have a hard pull on your credit, you could use a credit card to finance a new driveway.
That said, credit cards typically have higher interest rates than other types of financing, which ratchet up the costs of your home improvement project. Currently, the average interest rate for credit cards is 21.76%.
Contractors may also offer a “same-as-cash” option. Also known as deferred interest financing, these loans feature a no-interest period, usually between three and six months. However, interest will accrue if you don’t pay off your balance when the promotional period ends. Typical interest rates on “same-as-cash” offers range between 25% to 30%, which makes for an expensive purchase.
If you’re considering the same-as-cash option, you might also want to mull over a zero-balance transfer credit card. Interest also doesn’t accrue on purchases until the end of the promotional period, and these credit cards have zero-interest periods that are up to 20 months, so you could have more time to pay it off.
The Takeaway
Figuring out the best option for financing a driveway improvement means knowing what’s available and weighing the pros and cons of each. Before deciding, estimate how much you anticipate spending on your driveway financing and then pore over your options.
Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.
FAQ
How much does driveway paving typically cost?
It depends on the size of your driveway and the materials used, but driveway paving typically costs anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000, with an average cost of $6,000.
Can I use a home improvement loan for driveway paving?
You can use a home improvement loan for a driveway paving project. You’ll want to look for a loan with the amount needed plus the lowest terms and flexible rates possible.
Are there government programs for driveway improvement financing?
Government home repair assistance programs exist, and you’ll need to check if you qualify for a home improvement loan. Eligibility criteria may include income, age, location, property type, and if you belong to a specific group.
Further, single-family housing repair loans and grants can be available at the state, county, and city levels. You’ll need to check locally to see what’s out there and how to qualify for a loan or grant to spruce up your home.
Photo credit: iStock/irina88w
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