Ultimate Guide to
Your Home Equity

+ What you can use it for

Directory on the Different Types of Home Loans

Ultimate Guide to Your Home Equity
+ What you can use it for

So you’ve finally built up some equity in your home. Congratulations! That’s something to be proud of. Now you’re wondering “how do I access equity in my home?”

Think of your home equity as a financial safety net. A cushion that you can fall back on in case of an emergency, or to help finance a big purchase. Here’s everything you need to know about your home equity, what you can use it for, and how to get the most out of it.

What is Home Equity?

Home equity is the difference between the market value of your property and the amount you still owe on your mortgage. It’s essentially the equity or ownership that you have in your home and it can be used as a financial asset for borrowing money or investing.

home equity

How to calculate equity in a home

Here’s how to calculate home equity: subtract the amount of your mortgage from the current market value of your home. For example, if you bought a house for $500,000 and have remaining $200,000 in existing loans, then your home equity is $300,000.

However, not all of your equity on home can be used. There is what we call usable equity, which refers to the equity in your home that you can actually access and use to increase your borrowing capacity.

How to work out your usable equity: calculate 80% of your property’s current value minus what you owe on the mortgage. The reason for this is that the lender will only allow borrowers to borrow up to 80% of the current value of the property without having to pay the LMI premium.

For example, if your home is valued at $500,000 and you owe $200,000 on your mortgage, your usable equity will be calculated as:

$500,000 x 0.8 = $400,000

$400,000 – $200,000 (existing loan) = $200,000.

Your usable equity is
$200,000.

How to use the equity in your home: step by step

Step 1: Calculate Your Equity

First thing you need to do is to figure out what your property’s current value is. To do this, you may get a property valuation from a real estate agent or your chosen lender. They are usually free and will take into account other properties in the area, data on recent sales, and the features of your property. Alternatively, you can also ask a Sunshine Coast mortgage broker to help you get a good estimate of your home equity. Then to work out the actual figure, you can use an online home equity calculator or use the calculation we outlined above.

Step 2: Choose the best option for using your equity

Once you know how much equity is available, it’s important to find the right loan product for your needs. There are a few different options available depending on what you are looking for, such as a line of credit, reverse mortgage, or a standard equity home loan. Each of these products has its own advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into consideration before making any decisions. We recommend talking to a home loan broker Sunshine Coast to know how to use equity in your home in such a way that you can maximise its benefits.

Step 3: Understand the terms and conditions of your loan

First thing you need to do is to figure out what your property’s current value is. To do this, you may get a property valuation from a real estate agent or your chosen lender. They are usually free and will take into account other properties in the area, data on recent sales, and the features of your property. Alternatively, you can also ask a Sunshine Coast mortgage broker to help you get a good estimate of your home equity. Then to work out the actual figure, you can use an online home equity calculator or use the calculation we outlined above.

Step 4: Compare different lenders

Shop around for lenders offering competitive interest rates and repayment plans that fit into your budget. Research customer reviews to get an idea of what people experience when they work with each lender.

Step 5: Prepare necessary paperwork

Be prepared to submit copies of income tax returns, bank statements, payslips, proof of identity documents etc., as well as any other relevant information requested by the lender.

Note:
Mortgage specialists and experts on Sunshine Coast loans can help you throughout this process so you can proceed with your home loan application with the least time and stress possible.

What you can use home equity for

Home equity can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the homeowner’s needs and financial situation.
home equity

Buying second home using equity to buy second home

home equity

Home renovations or improvements

home equity

Buying a car

home equity

Going on a holiday trip

home equity

Deposit on an investment property

home equity

Other investments like shares, secure bonds, managed funds, or other asset class

home equity

Wedding

home equity

Debt consolidation

home equity

Savings - your home value goes up over time!

home equity

Refinancing your home loan

Financing your child’s education

How The Home Equity Loan Works

What is a home equity loan? It is a type of loan that lets you borrow money against your home equity. Like a standard home loan, lenders will lend you 80% of the property value you want to purchase.

Here’s the real kicker: you can access your usable home equity for your deposit (typically 20% of the property value so you don’t need to pay the Lenders Mortgage Insurance premium) — so you will not have to present a cash deposit upfront. Remember that usable equity is only 80% of your actual home equity.

Home equity loans are popular in Australia because they offer borrowers a way to borrow money at a lower interest rate.

Frequently Asked Equity in home

The first thing to do is to know what your property is worth currently. For this you will need to get a property valuation. Then, you can calculate your usable equity by taking 80% of the property value, then subtracting from it what you still owe on your mortgage.

You can use the equity in your home or investment property as a deposit on a second property, while your current property becomes a security on the new debt. Using equity allows you to buy a second property with no cash deposit.

Yes, as with any form of borrowing there are some risks involved when taking out a loan against the equity in your home. If you are unable to make consistent payments on the loan then this could risk putting yourself into further financial difficulty or even foreclosure if it becomes too difficult for you to manage financially. It is important that before committing to a loan against your property that you fully understand all terms and conditions associated with it so that you know exactly what is expected from yourself before signing anything legally binding.

This will depend on which lender you choose and how quickly they can process an application for a loan against your property’s existing equity. Generally speaking though the process isn’t particularly lengthy – depending on circumstances most lenders should be able to provide an answer within 4-6 weeks from start to finish including legal paperwork etc..

This depends on how much existing debt remains on your property and also how much additional money is being added via a refinance or consolidation option through another lender. Most banks prefer that only up to 80% of total development costs are covered by their own funds; meaning that if more than this needs funding then the remaining amount needed has to come from other sources like personal savings and income etc.

Having an increased level of home equity can give homeowners greater financial security and flexibility, enabling them to make necessary repairs or renovations on their property without having to take out a large loan, or fund other major purchases such as education fees. Furthermore, having substantial amounts of equity may also allow you to access cheaper loans with lower interest rates since lenders will view you as a safer borrower with less risk involved.

No – unless used towards repairs / renovations which could increase its overall market value over time. Otherwise just having access doesn’t necessarily affect its current values.

Before taking out any form of loan against the equity in your home consider seeking professional advice from a qualified finance broker who will be able to provide advice tailored specifically for one’s current circumstances

What our Clients Say

Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions - Mortgage Broker
Excellent
5.0
Based on 567 reviews
Thanks SCFS team for assisting with our refinance requirements. Absolutely outstanding service. Highly recommend!
Chris and the Team are amazing. This is the second time we have used them and cannot fault their service. They really support you through the whole process and no question is too silly. Thanks guys!!
Darly is an absolute Champion.
He was very professional, and very easy to work with, darly did not make us feel we were just a number, he genuinely cared about our complex situation and he worked very hard to help find the right home loan refinance with his “do not give up attitude “
I highly recommend Darly.
Peter and l were very pleased with Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions and would recommend them to anyone needing to use such a service. Daryl was friendly and helpful and kept us informed at all.times. we give Sunshine Coast Financial.Solutions a 10 out of 10.
Many thanks,
Peter and Marie.
Absolutely outstanding service. Our needs to re mortgage were far from simple yet SCF Solutions didn’t give up and persevered. Saying they went above and beyond would be an understatement. Would highly recommend their services again and again. Thanks
My husband and I just bought our second property with the guidance of SCFS. Chris, Adam & Shanina are all incredible at what they do which made the finance side of our purchase simple. They are always willing to go above and beyond for their customers and answer any question, no matter how small. We wouldn't use any other mortgage broker for our finance needs. Highly recommend!
Excellent experience with our finance requirements. Would highly recommend.
We are completely satisfied with, and trust this company to have our best interests at heart, so much so that we have recommended them to others who have then went on to do business with them.
We called Chris out of the blue and wondering if there was a clever way to secure finance for a dream house. Chris was friendly, approachable and straight away was able to offer solutions for our situation. He and Adam kept us up to date, were so easy to deal with and genuinely felt like they were on our side working with us for the best outcome. We have been very impressed and would highly recommend Chris, Adam, Shanina and the rest of the team for any finance needs. Thank you team for all your help.
Amazing crew to deal with. Always prompt and helpful. Their communication was outstanding and it was an absolute pleasure to deal with everyone involved.
Don’t hesitate to put your trust in these guys. They are very professional and very good at what they do. 10/10
Always a pleasure dealing with Daryl and team. Always prompt, efficient and helpful working towards best outcomes for us. It is greatly appreciated. Thanks team!
Highly recommend Adam at SCSF he made the whole loan process hassle free and their communication during the entire time was excellent.
Thanks to SCF for their unwavering support throughout our home loan journey. As first-time homeowners, the process felt overwhelming at times, but the team ensured that every step was covered and guided us toward the best loan option. They were incredibly attentive to every detail, always ready to clarify anything we needed. Working with them made us feel supported every step of the way. A special thank you to Chris, Adam, and Shanina for their exceptional help.
Chris has been amazing in helping me secure a huge decrease on my home loan interest rates. There is absolutely no way I could have achieved that without his advice. No only is he knowledgeable but incredibly friendly and an absolute pleasure to deal with. If I could give 6 stars I would 😊
I highly recommend Chris and his team! They have helped me twice in the last 3 years and I cannot thank them enough!
SCFS are brilliant. Chris and the team have been exceptional every step of the way and have really made things easy for us. Super efficient and generous with their time. Highly recommend!
Exceptional communication and highly efficient. Slightly complex case with one applicant PAYG and another being paid through owned businesses. Able to provide clear advice and guide us through the process when other brokers (including a bank directly) made it far more difficult. Approved within 2 days.
The whole team at SCF Solutions always exceed our expectations. everything is always taken care of in such a professional and punctual matter, and they always have your best interest at the forefront of any transactions. Would highly recommend their service. 10/10
I've been using Sunshine Coast Finance for a number of years over which time they have taken care of the finance for 3 properties. I can't recommend them enough.
Great! They got the deal done and over the Christmas break. Really good communicators and appreciated the initial Zoom meeting at a busy time and the continued easy, fast responsiveness.
Adam is fantastic from beginning til the end. No question or multiple phone call was a problem. Comunication and organising documents was timely. We are very grateful for helping us get our Loan. I give Adam and the team from SCFS 5 🌟
Great to deal with. Good communication and understood our situation and helped us achieve our goal. Made things so much simpler.
Chris and Daryl were a pleasure to deal with - attentive and on the ball. Both Extremely knowledgeable, they helped me select the right bank that would suit my individual needs. Thank you!
Once again, Chris and his team have gone above and beyond to achieve our goal. It was a stressful round this time, but the team worked their magic again. Special mention to Adam, this is the first time dealing with him, and he worked quickly, kepted us well informed the whole way and communication was excellent. Thank you again SCFS, you know we will be returning customers.
Can highly recommend Chris and his team at Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions. Chris always provides a prompt and professional service, nothing is ever too much trouble and always goes above and and beyond. Chris is extremely down to earth and explains things in simple terms. Thanks Chris for all your help you have provided and will most definitely continue to use you and recommend you.
Cannot recommend SCF enough!!!

2 years ago i reached out to the team hopeful to put a plan in place thinking we could purchase in a few years, only to find we were closer than we thought possible.

The staff provided the info and game plan we needed.
The process rolled so smoothly when we touched base a couple of months later. The team at SCF all played their part to make the process seamless and worry free.
We are now the proud home owners of a house in an area we dreamed of Sunny Coast

Fast forward to a few weeks ago I contacted SCF and the team were yet again proactive and efficient with coming up with a solution to our request which again happened sooner than imagined and were able to refinance to reach our desired outcome come .

Thanks so much Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions!
The team at SCFS helped us to buy our first home and we couldn’t be more impressed with the service. Chris, Adam and Shanina were extremely knowledgeable and always available when we had questions, and they worked with us to find a finance solution that was tailored to our needs. We are so grateful for their services + would definitely work with them again in the future!
Would highly recommend Adam, Chris and the team. Efficient, professional and excellent communication. Thank you
Very pleased, efficient, transparent and supportive! Thanks Guys.
Working with Chris and Adam from Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions has been a breeze! They made the whole mortgage process super easy, offering great advice and always being there to answer any questions. Their expertise and friendly approach took the stress out of it all. Highly recommend them!
Always had a good service from Chris and his team. They’ve sought out the best deal for our family. Highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We had an excellent experience with Adam from SCF Solutions! He made the entire application process smooth and stress-free, showing an incredible level of knowledge and professionalism throughout. Adam’s expertise really stood out as he navigated us through a tricky financial situation with ease, finding a solution that worked perfectly for us. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome and highly recommend Adam and the team at SCF Solutions to anyone looking for expert financial assistance.
Huge thank you to the team at SCF! Chris, Daryl and Shanina made purchasing our first home an absolute breeze and put our minds at ease with their expertise! Definitely recommend them to anyone! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The service and experience the team provides, has been amazing, professional and smooth, Chris, Daryl and Shanina have been a absolute pleasure to work with during what should be a stressful time but completely took all of the stress and guess work out of the experience. I highly recommend the team and look forward to working with them again in the future. A+++++++…
Chris and Daryl were fantastic from start to finish. Chris worked through multiple options with us over 12 months and when we finally found our perfect first home, he and the team were there to provide expert advice to get us over the line. The process was simplified and we felt confident in the teams hands.
Always an amazing experience! Supportive, knowledgeable and professional. Nothing is too much for Chris and his team. Always happy to provide assistance in anyway possible. Special thanks to Adam & Shanina! I look forward to working with the SCFS team for all my future financial needs.
We have had multiple dealings with Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions.
Chris and the team have always been very helpful and transparent through the whole process.
Would definitely recommend.
Thanks once again to Chris and his wonderful team for a smooth and beneficial refinance, we're always happy with the knowledgeable advice and help we receive thanks SCFS!
Recently dealt with Chris and Adam with respect to my finance application. My personal circumstances had changed from being an employee to then being self employed with only had received 3 months of dividends. Chris and Adam were able to work through this challenge and find me an excellent deal and got the job done. I cannot recommend a better team. I will be no doubt referring friends and colleagues to the Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions team!!
Very proffesional and courteous staff , always a pleasure to deal with.
Chris goes above and beyond to make sure you get the outcome your looking for and has delivered for us every time
Can't fault the team at SCF. They helped us every step of the way and made sure we understood the whole process throughout. Friendly and professional, I would highly recommend them.
Adam and Shanina made the whole loan process hassle free and their communication during the entire time was excellent. We highly recommend the whole team at SCSF.
Chris and Adam were so helpful and professional. Continual follow up and delivery while setting clear and accurate expectations. Excellent follow up and communication made our process seamless. We really appreciate your time, advice and service thank you.
Highly recommend the team at SCF Solutions. Chris, Daryl and Shanina we're awesome to work with, helping us get our new home loan over the line.
Best in the biz! We can't thank Chris, Daryl, Shanina and the team at SCF Solutions enough for helping us secure our new home loan. From start to finish they were very pleasent to deal with. Well done, team!
Highly recommended.
We had never owned a house and new to the whole process including First Home Owners Grant.
Everyone in this office made this process very easy and simple to understand.
Couldn’t recommend a better company to assist anyone buying their first home.
I've now used Chris, Adam, Shanina, Tracey and the rest of the team at SCF Solutions on a number of occasions. They make the process of obtaining a mortgage - whether new or refinance - so easy and streamlined. They kept me well informed of the process; let me know what the next steps would be and timeframes and were absolutely amazing to deal with. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again or recommend them to others. Thank you team 🙂
Highly recommend Chris and team!! Professional, very friendly, always helpful and awesome service. Always go above and beyond to ensure we are looked after, got the best product for our needs and that we understand the details. Always impressed and satisfied!
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