Home Equity Loans: Financing College with Your Home

From books and tuition, to lab fees and living expenses, college can be an expensive undertaking – but it’s one that’s well worth the investment. And whether you’ve saved for years and just need a little extra money to fill in the gap or your college savings is nil and you need to fund your entire education, if you own a home, a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) may be just what you need to pay for the education you want.

The Benefits

Obviously there is a multitude of ways to pay for college, but with a home equity loan or home equity line of credit, there are some real benefits. Some of them include:

• Home equity loan and home equity line of credit interest rates are often lower than other types of financing.

• Potential tax benefits (which you should discuss with your financial advisor)

• Because a home equity loan or a HELOC doesn’t require a full-time course load, (like most student loans) students can choose to attend classes on a full- or part-time basis.

• Funds can be used for any educational expenses, including a new laptop, lab fees, housing, etc.

• Your home equity loan or home equity line of credit funds will be sent directly to you – not the school.

• No school certification is required, which means you can determine how much you’ll need to cover your educational expenses.

Best of all, if you choose a company like Chase Home Equity, who has a simple online application for home equity loans and HELOCs, you won’t have to spend a lot of time filling out financial aid paperwork. Just a couple of quick minutes spent at your computer and you’ll be done in no time.

The Considerations

Obviously, with a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit, you’re putting your house up as collateral – and if you default on your loan, your home owner status could be in jeopardy. So it’s always a good idea to only borrow what you need and can comfortably pay back.

Additionally, there may be ways to pay for college that won’t cost you a dime. With scholarships and grants based on everything from GPA and financial need, to financial awards for serving the community, it pays to research your options well – and apply for any tuition money you or your child may qualify for.

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