second mortgage, also commonly called junior liens, are financial loans secured against a property only the owner of the property may join. Depending on when the second mortgage is secured, usually the loan is structured into either a second mortgage or a piggyback second mortgage. With a second mortgage, one buys an asset and pledges that asset as collateral for the entire loan. In return for the payment, one has the right to collect monthly payments from the borrower until the full balance of the loan is repaid.
Most second mortgages have to be repaid between two to five years and may be fixed or adjustable rate mortgages depending on the lender and the market at the time. If the borrower is unable to make monthly payments due to a change in circumstances, then the lender has the option of selling the property to recover the debt. If the value of the property does not cover the debt, then the lender has to agree to a foreclosure or take the property to auction. The borrower has the option to pay off the mortgage early, called a “deficiency,” but this is not generally recommended as it gives the lender additional control over the borrower’s finances.
In some cases, borrowers who have access to credit may be able to borrow larger amounts than the amount allowed on their first mortgage and therefore benefit from second mortgages. Borrowers who are looking to borrow large sums can opt for second mortgages with longer loan terms. The longer the terms, the more money the borrower will have to borrow. Lenders also allow borrowers with poor credit to borrow more money on a second mortgage than they could on their first. However, borrowers must remember that their credit rating will suffer if they choose to extend their loan term too far.
Mortgage calculators allow you to work out how much you will be able to borrow on a second mortgage depending on a number of factors such as your current property price, your personal earnings, how much you intend to borrow and the rate of interest you choose to pay. The figures will depend on how much your first mortgage and any existing loans amount to. The majority of second mortgages are usually repaid through capital gains tax. You can use a mortgage calculator for all your second mortgage deals to give you an idea of how much you can afford to borrow and potentially how long it will take you to repay the loan.
Second mortgage rates are determined by supply and demand, so when the housing market is booming, interest rates are usually lower. However, if the housing market declines, then lenders have to pass on higher interest rates. Another benefit of second mortgages is that the repayments do not start until the borrower has made their initial payments. When taking out a second mortgage, make sure you understand exactly what your obligations will be and make sure you can afford them. Taking out a second mortgage is a big commitment and you should only take on a second mortgage if you can comfortably meet the repayments.
With second mortgages, you will be able to spread the cost of home improvements, taxes, insurance, home repairs and maintenance and other costs across a large number of loans. It is possible to get variable repayment periods where you can lock in at an interest rate for a number of years. Some mortgages allow you to borrow against only part of your home, so if you have expensive items in the house you can choose to borrow against just a portion of the property. However, you need to remember that although you may have lower repayments, you will still owe the money.