Best home improvement loans in October 2022
Home improvement loans allow you to finance home repairs and updates, which can improve your home’s retail value and aesthetic appeal. For example, you can use a home improvement loan to finance a kitchen remodel or finish your basement. Unlike home equity loans, which are secured by your home, unsecured personal improvement loans for home improvements do not require collateral.
home improvement loans
The best home improvement loans offer quick and easy access to funding, come with low APRs and no prepayment penalties, and have flexible repayment terms. When choosing a lender, it is important to look at the features of each loan product in addition to comparing rates. The goal should be to get the best loan for which you can qualify based on your credit score.
Applying for Home Improvement Loans
Once you’ve chosen a lender and pre-qualified for a loan, collect the necessary information and documents. You may need to provide information such as your Social Security number and proof of income. Decide whether you want to apply online with the help of customer service or over the phone and then go through the approval process.
The lender you choose may offer you multiple loan options. Choose the amount and term that best suit your needs. From there, create a new budget that includes improvement loans repayments. That way, you can set up automatic payments and feel confident that you’ll always have the funds available to cover your monthly installments.
Keep in mind that some lenders will allow you to choose and change your due date, which can be helpful if an emergency pops up and you need extra time to make your payments. Most lenders allow you to manage your account online or through a mobile app, so you can make changes without contacting customer service.
What is a home improvement loan and how does it work?
A home improvement loan is usually an unsecured personal loan used to pay for home repairs and improvements. An unsecured loan does not require you to put up an asset, like your house, as collateral. improvement Loans can range from $1,000 to $100,000 and typically have a fixed interest rate and a fixed monthly payment. They are available from traditional banks, credit unions, online lenders and peer-to-peer lenders.
home improvement loan
When you’re approved for a home improvement loan, you receive all funds up front, which you can then use to make your renovations. As soon as funds are disbursed, you’ll enter the repayment term, which can last anywhere from one to 15 years. During this time, you’ll make regular fixed payments on the loan, paying back the principal plus interest.
Related: How Do Best Acquisition Loans Work? 2022
Types of home improvement loans and their uses
There are many types of improvement loans that you can avail for home improvement. The most common are:
Personal Loans
A personal loan is an unsecured loan, featured on this page, that can be used for any purpose.
- Who it’s best for: improvement loans are best for those who want to avoid using their home as collateral to secure a loan. improvement loans are also best for borrowers with good credit, as interest rates are based on your credit score.
- What to watch out for: improvement loans can come with high interest rates and fees, so make sure you shop around and pre-qualify with lenders before committing to one.
- When to start: You should start looking for a personal loan when you know how much you need to borrow and have a good idea of your credit health. Funds can be disbursed quickly and many lenders approve applications on the same or next day, so you should wait until you are ready to use the funds to apply.
- How to get started: Find out how much you need to borrow and start comparing lenders. Once you have selected a lender, proceed with the application process.
Cash-out refinance
A cash-out refinance is exactly what it sounds like: refinancing your existing mortgage into one.
With a larger loan amount, you are able to withdraw equity in the form of cash.
Assuming you can secure a good interest rate, this can be a low-cost option for accessing funding. It can be an especially good choice if you need a large lump sum of cash to jumpstart your renovation. There are usually no restrictions on what the money from a cash-out refinance can be used for, so it can be a good option if you want to use some of the money for other expenses besides renovations or if you don’t want to take the leap. Through the hoops of a government-backed home renovation loan.
But be aware that cash-out refinancing can mean higher monthly loan payments (because your loan amount has increased) and a longer repayment period (if you reset the clock on the loan). Rising mortgage rates can also make refinancing less attractive, especially if you recently refinanced and don’t want to lose your current rate.
Home equity financing
If you don’t want to mess with your primary mortgage, you can also pursue a second mortgage – also known as a home equity loan.
There are two types of home equity improvement loans: A home equity loan is a lump sum of cash that you borrow upfront and pay back over a fixed term, like an installment loan. A home equity line of credit is more like a credit card: it allows you to continuously draw from the line of credit as much or as little as you need (up to the credit limit) for a certain period of time, so you only pay interest on the amount you use.
Home equity improvement loans may have higher interest rates than cash-out refinances, but they typically have lower closing costs. If you need more flexibility, it can be a good option for refinancing, especially in the form of a HELOC. Be aware that like a primary mortgage or cash-out refinance, a home equity loan or HELOC is secured by your home, meaning you take on the risk of foreclosure if you default on the loan.
Personal Loans
If you don’t have any home equity to work with, a personal loan can also be an option to fund home renovations.
Personal loans are made based on your personal credit history, but because they are usually not secured by a physical asset (such as a home), the interest rates are usually significantly higher. That said, if you’re doing a small renovation of less than $10,000, it can still be a good choice for quick cash with few strings attached.
Home equity loan
Home equity loans are lump sum improvement loans that are mostly used for home related projects and needs. Your home is used to secure a home equity loan. Because of this, you can generally expect a lower interest rate than a personal loan.
- Who it’s best for: Home equity improvement loans are best for home owners who know how much they need to borrow and want to avoid high interest rate personal improvement loans.
- What to watch out for: Home equity improvement loans use your home as collateral, meaning you could lose your home if you don’t make payments.
- When to start: Before applying for a home equity loan, you should make sure you know exactly how much you need to borrow. Once you know what you want, it’s worth planning ahead and applying early. Home equity improvement loans typically require an appraisal and may take longer to get approved than personal improvement loans.
- How to get started: Once you know how much you need to borrow, you can start comparing lenders. Once you have chosen a lender, submit the application and follow the steps they indicate to complete the process.
Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Home equity loan
A HELOC is a revolving line of credit secured by your home equity. You can take money as needed for household expenses instead of a lump sum. Your home is used as collateral for a HELOC and you will get lower interest rates because of it.
- Who it’s best for: HELOCs are best for people undertaking major home improvement projects who don’t have an exact idea of how much money they’ll need. A line of credit lets you borrow what you need when you need it and is ideal for projects that require flexibility.
- What to watch out for: Since you’re not applying for a specific amount, it can be easy to spend or take on more than you can afford. A HELOC is secured by your home, meaning you can lose your home if you don’t make payments. Make sure you’re only borrowing what you need and can pay back what you borrow.
- When to start: Getting a HELOC usually requires a home appraisal, so it’s a good idea to think ahead and apply for a HELOC before you start your home improvement project.
- How to get started: Start by comparing lenders and finding the ones that meet your needs. Once you have a good idea of what rates and terms you qualify for, choose a lender and apply.
Home Renovation Loan Eligibility Criteria
Home renovation improvement loans are the best financial option to manage the expenses related to redesigning your home. To qualify for a loan, you need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
Any resident Indian can apply for a home extension loan
Both salaried and self-employed candidates between the age of 18 to 75 years
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) holding foreign passports can also avail the loan.
Co-applicant for home renovation loan
Candidates can also choose a co-applicant. The co-applicant must be an immediate family member
Age limit of co-applicants should be between 18 years to 75 years
Adding a co-applicant helps you apply for a larger loan amount.
IIFL Home Loan offers better interest rates to women co-applicants. You can apply for home improvement loan jointly with your wife or mother, even if they are not earning.
How to get home renovation loan?
Below is the step-by-step online renovation loan process
Step 1: Click on “Apply Now” and fill the online application form
Step 2: Enter basic details including name, mobile number and property city
Step 3: Click on “Submit”.
Step 4: You will soon receive a call from an IIFL Home Loan representative to guide you about the product application process and support.
Why Apply for Home Improvement Loan from IIFL Home Loan?
Beneficial Experience:
The biggest advantage of IIFL Home improvement Loans is that you can send a request for a home improvement loan by filling an online form and our representatives will contact you directly. In addition, our team also provides expert consultation and technical support for a smooth loan processing experience.
Quick support for your needs:
When you apply for a loan with us, you become part of the IIFL Home Loan family. Buying a home extension or renovation loan is not just an investment. We believe in providing fast support whether you need guidance for loan application, documentation or other services. You can contact our customer support @1800-267-3000 or Whatsapp @730 444 7444.
Best in Housing Finance
IIFL Home improvement Loans is one of the largest housing finance companies that has helped 1,25,000 families across the country realize their housing dreams.
What are the pros and cons of getting a home improvement loan?
home improvement loan
pros
- Get your loan proceeds faster than some secured forms of financing
- Pay in predictable fixed monthly payments
- Collateral like your house or vehicle is not required
opposition
- Home improvement loan rates can be higher than secured forms of financing
- Risk of default if your financial situation changes
- Paid as a lump sum (if you don’t know how much you’ll need it’s better to draw from the line)
How We Choose the Best Home Improvement Loans
Our team evaluated 38 lenders and collected 1,520 data points before choosing our top picks. We weighed more than 20 criteria and gave more weight to those with a more significant impact on potential borrowers.
The top picks were selected based on factors such as membership requirements (weighted 15%), average fixed APR (weighted 15%), and average origination fee (weighted 10%).
We also considered flexibility of repayment terms, helpful features like pre-qualification and whether co-signers or joint applications are allowed to ensure borrowers get the best possible experience. For more information on our selection criteria and process, our full methodology is available.
Benefits of Home Improvement Loan
Home improvement loans are a good option to borrow money for renovation and improvement work. Many borrowers apply for home improvement loans to fix their home maintenance and other renovation work. Investing money in home improvements and renovations is a good idea with a long-term perspective. Taking a home improvement loan is a thousand times better than taking a personal loan. These home improvement loans offer you many financial benefits and tax benefits. The upper limit of this loan is higher than the personal loan. It is better to get a secured loan in the long term. Here are some of the benefits and advantages of a secured home improvement loan.
Low Interest Rate:
The biggest advantage of securing a home improvement loan is the low and fixed rate of interest. If you take a personal loan, you need to pay a higher interest rate. In addition, you will pay a fixed rate of interest in a home improvement loan. If you calculate a low interest rate on a high amount over a long period, you will save a lot of money in the long run. When you pay low interest rates for a long period of time, paying off the loan amount becomes easier and more rewarding.
Low EMI:
If you have taken a loan at a low interest rate for a long period, your EMI will be of a lesser amount. You will pay less EMI every month compared to availing loan at higher rate of interest. If you are a salaried person with a limited source of income, getting a low interest rate loan with lowest EMI will prove to be a boon for you. So, getting a secured home loan is always the best option to stick to your monthly budget.
Less paper work:
This type of loan requires less paper work if you have taken a home loan from the same bank. There are banks that will do physical verification of the property before sanctioning the loan, but there are banks that will consider your previous loan history and documents with minimum paper work for disbursing your home improvement loan with the same bank.
But, if you are taking this loan for the first time, in such a case you have to go through all the procedure and process of applying for the loan and disbursal formalities.
Flexibility to use:
You have taken a home improvement loan to renovate your home. You can use it to extend a room or two in your home. Build a new balcony, or extend the covered area of your home. If you manage to save money from this renovation and extension work, you can use this money to add new cabinets to your room or repair your kitchen doors and cabinets. This type of secured loan gives you the flexibility and freedom to use it for various improvement tasks.
More Lender Options:
When you are eager to take a personal loan you have limited options or if you fall into a low salary bracket or have a bad credit history only a few lenders agree to offer you an unsecured loan. But, if you are taking a secured loan, more lenders will agree to lend you money for renovation work. You can get better loan amount as well as lower interest rate with this type of loan.
Methodology
To select the top home improvement loan lenders, Bankrate considers 15 factors. These factors include credit requirements, APR ranges, fees, loan amounts and flexibility to account for a wide range of credit profiles and budgets. Of the lenders reviewed, 7 made Bankrate’s Best Home Improvement Loans list. Each lender has a Bankrate rating, which consists of three categories.
These categories include:
- Affordability: Interest rates, penalties and fees are measured in this section of the score. Higher scores result in lower rates and fees and fewer potential penalties.
- Availability: What is the minimum loan amount, its eligibility requirements and loan turnaround are considered in this category.
- Customer Experience: This category covers customer service hours, online applications if available, online account access and mobile applications.