Home Improvement Loans Are Mortgage Loans?

The concept of home improvement loans though widespread is rather vague. People get surprised when shopping for home improvement loans as they find out that most loans offered are actually mortgage loans. So, the question rises, are home improvement loans actually mortgage loans? The answer is quite simple: certain home improvement loans are mortgage loans. Others are second mortgage loans and others are simply unsecured.

As you can see, the concept of home improvement loans is based on the use that the money receives. Since the funds are used for home improvements, they are called home improvement loans but only with mortgage loans and home mortgage loans that particular use is part of the loan contract. Unsecured home improvement loans are actually simple unsecured personal loans and the use you give to the money is really up to you.

Mortgage Loans For Home Improvements

The mortgage guarantees the repayment of the loan. Whether the money is used to purchase a property or to improve it will determine the nature of the loan. Mortgage loans for home purchases are called home loans or home mortgage loans. Mortgage loans used for improving a property are called home improvement loans or home improvement mortgage loans.

These loans can only be obtained if the property is free from debts. If there is already a mortgage balance due, then home improvement mortgage loans will not be available and the applicant will have to resort to other forms of financing. Provided that there is sufficient equity on the property left, the borrower can apply for a home equity loan. Otherwise, the other solution available is an unsecured personal loan.

Second Mortgages For Home Improvements

As opposed to mortgage loans, second mortgages do not require the property to be free from debts. Actually, these loans that are based on equity use the remaining value of the property to secure the loan. As you have probably guessed, second mortgages for home improvement are actually home equity loans. The fact that the money is used for making improvements on the property provides certain advantages:

The lender knows that a consequence of the use that the money will have is an increase on the property's value and thus his investment will be protected even more. Thus, the amounts you can obtain on home equity loans for home improvements are actually higher than that of regular home equity loans. However, you may be required to show documentation backing up the home improvement project in order to get approved.

These are the two most common forms of home improvement loans. And thus, the answer to the question that is the title to this article is closer to a YES than to a NO. Home improvement loans are most of the time mortgage loans whether simple mortgage loans or second mortgage loans.

As regards to unsecured loans, there is little to say. These loans are common unsecured personal loans which you can use for any purpose. If you choose to use them to make home improvements is really up to you. But these loans present all the limitations of unsecured loans: lower amounts, higher interest rates, shorter repayment programs.