Paying for Home Improvement Projects

You may be asking yourself how you're going to pay for all your remodeling ideas. As a homeowner, you're in an ideal position to use the growing equity in your home to finance home improvement projects. This is one of the smartest means of financing because it allows you to:

• Lower the cost of your remodel over the long run, since mortgage and home equity interest rates are generally lower than most other kinds of consumer credit.
  
  
• Potentially deduct the interest payments from your taxes, lowering your cost even more. ¹

You can use your equity in two different ways:

• Mortgage refinancing. If current interest rates are favorable, you can replace your first mortgage with a new, larger mortgage that includes the cost of your remodeling project. In addition to this standard "cash-out" refinancing, lenders offer other products that give you even more money up front by adding in the value of the planned improvement. If you refinance your mortgage, you'll keep the convenience of one home loan and one monthly payment.
  
  
• Home equity financing. Instead of refinancing, you can keep your existing mortgage intact, and supplement it with a home equity loan or line of credit. Home equity accounts allow you to use your current equity to pay for your home improvement projects.

Mortgage refinance or home equity financing—how do you decide?
It all boils down to simple math. Find out how much each financing option will cost by checking current interest rates and monthly payments for each, considering the loan terms you desire. You'll want to consider:

• Which option is more affordable? Calculate how much each of these options will cost, including the effect on your monthly payments as well as up-front costs and fees, some of which may be assessed at closing. Make sure you can pay for the loan terms that you select.
  
  
• What is the ultimate cost of the loan? A 30-year mortgage can spread out your mortgage payments and lower your monthly costs, but you could wind up paying a lot more interest over the life of the loan. In addition, don't forget to factor in the effects of the up-front costs and fees, some of which may be assessed at closing. Some homeowners would rather pay more principal each month and build their equity at a faster rate; some would not.  

NEA members can learn more about using their equity to pay for home improvement projects by calling the NEA Home Financing Program® at 1-800-NEA-4-YOU (1-800-632-4968) and speaking to one of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage’s experienced home mortgage consultants. They are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight, and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). Be sure to ask about the current member bonus offer. If you prefer, you can stop by your local Wells Fargo branch, or visit us online at www.neamb.com/loans/hmfpge.jsp.

Deaf/hard of hearing individuals may call 1-800-842-3548 TTY. Spanish speakers may call 1-800-544-3482.

¹ Consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of interest.
Wells Fargo Home Equity is a division of Wells Fargo Banks. Equal Housing Lenders. Wells Fargo Home Improvement Loans are not available in all states. Ask your Wells Fargo Home Equity agent for more details.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.  ©2007 Wells Fargo Bank.  All rights reserved. Equal Housing Lender.<>

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