What exactly is home equity?<\/p>\n
Simply put, home equity is the difference between the current value of your property and how much you owe
\non it.<\/p>\n
If you have been paying your loan for a few years, you may have built up reasonable equity. For example, if your property is worth $500,000 and the current debt on your loan is $290,000, your equity would be $210,000.<\/p>\n
Can you use your home equity to buy a second property?<\/p>\n
The short answer is yes.<\/p>\n
You can borrow against your equity to purchase another property. But not just that, you can also use your home equity to fund other big-ticket purchases, such as renovating your home or starting a new business.<\/p>\n
A common way to access your home equity is to refinance your current loan. By borrowing against your home equity, your existing property becomes a security on the loan.<\/p>\n
Understanding total equity and useable equity<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ve established that you can use your home equity to buy another property. In the example above, your equity would be $210,000. Does that mean that you can put this amount towards a deposit on a second property? Not exactly.<\/p>\n How much can you actually borrow?<\/p>\n Using the example below: How much useable equity you\u2019ll be able to use will vary between lenders. Still, as a rule of thumb, lenders will generally lend you only 80 per cent of the value of your home, meaning that your useable equity should amount to at least 20 per cent of the property value to be used as a deposit. If your useable equity is less than 20 per cent, you may need to add from your pocket to make up the difference or consider other properties.It\u2019s worth noting that it\u2019s possible to borrow more than 80 if you take out Lenders\u2019 Mortgage Insurance (LMI).<\/p>\n Property experts suggest, however, that when it comes to buying an investment property, you should use the \u201crule of four\u201d, which consists of multiplying your useable equity by four to find out your maximum purchase price.<\/p>\n Accessing your equity is a great strategy to buy an investment property, but just like any big financial decision, it shouldn\u2019t be taken lightly.
\nProperty value: $500,000
\n80 per cent of property value: $400,000
\nMinus current debt on loan: $290,000
\nYour useable equity would be $110,000.<\/p>\n
\nOur specialist mortgage brokers can help you to work out how much home equity you have and the best way it can be accessed to fund your next investment. Book a free chat today.<\/p>\n