Best Home Improvement Loans & Financing Options

What are home improvement loans?

You can’t find the meaning of home improvement loans in a dictionary since there isn’t any official legal definition of it. Generally speaking, it describes borrowing money for home-related or improvement projects. It’s usually an unsecured personal loan which is used as payment for any home improvements and repairs. TGUC Financial can help you find a home improvement contractor as well as assist you with financing house improvements.

Unsecured loans do not require putting up your home as collateral. Loans typically have fixed interest rates and monthly payment. Furthermore, it can range from $1,000 to $100,000 and are available at credit unions, online lenders, traditional banks, and peer-to-peer lenders.

How do home improvement loans work?

You get to receive all funds after being approved for a home improvement loan. These received funds are what you can use to pay for your renovating projects. Once all funds are disbursed, the repayment term begins and it can last anywhere up to 15 years. Regular fixed payments on the loan should be made during this term in order to pay back the principal plus interest.

Types of Home Improvement Loans

There are several types of home improvement loans. Listed below are the most common ones used by most homeowners.

Personal loans

Personal Loans are unsecured loans which can be used for any reason. Your credit score will be the basis of interest rates and providing collateral is not required. It can be a wise choice for those that want to avoid using their houses as a means of securing a loan.

Home equity loans

Home equity loans are lump-sum loans which are often used for reasons associated with home projects and needs. It is a loan where your home is used to secure one. Therefore, interest rates can usually be lower than those with a personal loan. However, facing foreclosure may be a consequence in case you miss your payments. This interest paid on these loans is tax deductible.

Home equity line of credit (HELOC)

A HELOC loan is a revolving line of credit. You can draw on it for home-related expenses as much as needed instead of as a lump sum. As collateral for a HELOC, your house is still used so you can also get lower interest rates. These loans also have tax-deductible interest.

Which Home Improvement Loan is the Right One for You?

Below are some questions you can consider in deciding which home improvement loan is right for you and your project. However, always keep in mind that it is still advisable to consult with a financial advisor if you need a hand, especially if you have a very costly project in mind.

• “Do you have equity in your home?” Otherwise you won’t be eligible for a home equity loan or HELOC.
• “How important is it to get quick cash?” Personal loans provide faster funding compared to HELOCs and home equity loans.
• “How good is your credit?”  Having a not-so-great credit may make it difficult for you to get an unsecured personal loan than a secured home equity or HELOC.
• “How important is it to save money?” As mentioned above, home equity loans and HELOCs often have lower interest rates compared to personal loans – but considering closing costs is still a must.
• “Do you need your money in one lump-sum or over time?”  A home equity loan or personal loan may be more suitable if you’re planning on paying all of the total project cost at once, while HELOC lets you use credit as much as you need for a large project that’s done over time or for multiple projects that won’t be done all at once..

Common Uses and Costs

Home improvement projects can either be cheaper or more expensive than you expected and may include everything from replacing cabinet hardware to building an addition to the house. Estimating the total expense of the project you’re planning before applying for the loan will be a difficult but wise move. Especially if it’s for a large project, you’ll be less likely to run out of funds in the midst of the duration of the project if you have already done some budgeting.

According to the 2020 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine, this is roughly how much homeowners spend on common home improvement projects:

• Garage Door Replacement—$3,695
• Minor Kitchen Remodel/Renovation—$23,452
• Major Kitchen Remodel/Renovation —$68,490
• Wooden Deck Addition—$14,360
• Vinyl Siding Replacement—$14,359
• Entryway Door Replacement—$1,881
• Asphalt Shingle Roof Replacement—$24,700
• Building a new master suite addition—$135,547
• Manufactured Stone Veneer Addition Around the House—$9,357

Borrowing money isn’t always a good idea as it increases your debt. But borrowing money to improve your home is a great idea if it will increase your net worth. It is usually not possible to immediately raise the value of your home by more than you are borrowing to make the home improvement. But if you plan to be in your home for a while, or, if you are making an improvement that will increase the sale price of a home you are about to list, then a home improvement loan is a great idea.

There are several types of home improvement loans. Right off the bat, everyone thinks about second mortgages and home equity lines of credit. While they may have the best interest rates, you can only borrow against the equity in your home. They also have minimum amounts to borrow. You might not need $25,000 for your home improvement project. Credit card companies often have introductory or special low- or zero-interest promotions. There are also government FHA Title 1 and FHA 203(k) loans but they have various limitations.

Loans Requiring Your Home as Collateral

• If you have the equity, a refinance of your mortgage with a cash out option has high closing costs since it is based on the entire amount of the loan. A cash out refinance of your mortgage will start your loan over again. The new mortgage balance will be the existing balance plus the amount you cash out. There are other types of home improvement loans that may be the best option for you. 
• A second mortgage is another mortgage in addition to your first one. So, the payment will be an additional amount to what you are paying now. This loan is disbursed as one lump sum so you need to budget accordingly. The origination fees can be high. A home improvement loan would be a better option.
• A home equity line of credit is like a credit card but with your home as collateral. The rates can be higher than second mortgages and are variable. There can also be early repayment penalties for these.
• FHA loans limit what you can do. For example, adding something to your home that will increase its value is not allowed with one of these loans. You must need renovations that cost at least $5000. They also have maximum amounts you can borrow regardless of how high your income is or how much your home is worth. The FHA 203(k) loan can only be used for older homes or fixer-uppers. And all FHA loans have mortgage insurance added to them.

Why Get a Home Improvement Loan?

• They are quicker to get as there is no need to schedule an appraisal. This is really helpful if the repair on the home is a result of an emergency. 
• These loans only require verification of income. 
• They have lower closing fees.
• Since you are not using your home as collateral, you can keep paying it off monthly even if you sell your house and buy another one. You may choose to use proceeds from the sale of your home to pay off the home improvement loan but it will not be required.
• They are also better than using credit cards with special low-interest financing. These credit card options are only good for a limited time. If you don’t pay them off in that amount of time, then your new interest rate may be quite high. This could start you on a debt cycle that will take a long time to pay off. Your repairs may also cost more than you can charge to a credit card.
• TGUC financing would have a fixed interest rate and a fixed monthly payment.
• TGUC home improvement financing can be used for a luxury item that increases your home value such as an outdoor fireplace or a home theater. FHA Title 1 loans can only be used for specific things that are necessary parts of a house such as roofing, plumbing, etc.
• They are better if saving up is going to take too long. You can put a certain amount away each month until you get the amount you need or you can borrow the amount you need and pay a certain amount back each month. You have to pay interest on a loan but you get the money upfront to get the home improvement work done. You won’t have to live with whatever it is that needs to be repaired or upgraded until you save up enough.

TGUC Financial Can Help You Get a Home Improvement Loan

We have offers for homeowners across the credit spectrum. We can help you:

• If your credit score is low
• If you don’t have equity in your home
• If you need the funds quickly
• If you need more time to pay it off than with an introductory rate on a credit card 
• If you want to add a luxury item such as a hot tub or home theater

Our loan process is simple: 

1. Apply: Get you EXACT loan rates, and term we also make it easy for you to complete your application and receive an automatic decision.
2. View Your Application and Get Your Loan Terms: Once you’ve completed these steps above, we can automatically decide on your loan and let you know immediately how much you are qualified for and the terms of your loan. We’ve worked on trying to get the minimum information necessary for you to receive an offer.
3. Select a contractor: Many homeowners we have approved for their loan didn’t have a contractor selected because they stated the process was too time consuming and painful. On our platform, we have vetted and approved select contractors that are reputable, dependable, and fair. Once approved you can just select that you want to be contacted and we’ll have a few contractors from our network, in your area call you to quote you a price. Simple as that!

 Our home improvement loans are the best option for you. Contact TGUC Financial today to get started.

Do you know how to get a home improvement loan with bad credit?

Human beings evolve, and so should our homes. People who put effort into designing their dream homes do not want to settle down with the initial structure of their residence and keep renovating their homes for a better lifestyle.

Financial institutions have various options for home improvement loans. This article focuses on home improvement loans, their qualifications, and who can secure them.

What Credit Score Is Needed for a Home Improvement Loan?

Unsecured loans take the credit history of the customers into account. Banks maintain a credit score for each loan borrower. The Credit Information Bureau Limited (CIBIL) performs credit score calculations with several factors like payment history, credit exposure, and credit type.

Previous Payment History – This factor secures a high weightage of 30% among all and is calculated based on the regular and disciplined repayment of the previous loans.

Credit Exposure -. This factor is the ratio of the credit value used by the customer to the total credit value available.

Credit Utilization Ratio – Amount of credit used/ Available credit limit. The lower the credit utilization ratio is the possibility of securing a loan increase.

Credit Type – Longer duration of credit history and proper balance between the secured and unsecured loans will show the experience of the applicants when balancing their credit score.

The CIBIL score ranges from 300 to 900. The applicants with a high score will easily secure home improvement loans. It is necessary to maintain a score greater than 400 to avail of a home improvement loan but scores above 600 are ideal because they reveal the high creditworthiness of the customer. (Provide a source for this information).

What Are the Pros and Cons of Home Improvement Loans?

Loans for improving our residences come with benefits and drawbacks. It is best to analyze the options for home improvement loans and choose the right one among the multiple loan programs that will benefit your needs.

Pros

• People can secure a good sum of money at low rates. This can help the applicant bring high value to their homes with reasonable interests and low rate loans bring high value to the home.
• To make use of the increasing demand for home improvement plans, many financial institutions furnish loans on various criteria and that provides their customers with a wide range of opportunities and choices.
• People with lower credit scores can also secure home improvement loans and financial institutions offer loans under no credit check home improvement loans.

Cons

• If lenders find that the renovation work is not worth the loan amount, then they may devalue the property or charge their applicants accordingly.
• As home improvement loans are also available as no credit check home improvement loans, they don’t concentrate on security or credit scores. This may result in a loss for the home loan providers.
• Some loan providers can increase the interest rates to match the loss they face in some cases.

Can I Get a Home Improvement Loan With Bad Credit?

• Applicants with lower credit scores may also apply for home loans. There are no credit check home improvement loans where the banks provide loans with high interest for bad credit scores.
• Low scorers may borrow loans with the help of other applicants who maintain a good credit score. The people with good scores can co-sign the documents and act as co-borrowers to make use of the loans.
• One other way is to increase the credit score, but this is a slow process. The customer must analyze their capacity and borrow money under limits. Proper loan repayments over a certain period can productively increase the score of the applicant which can help them in the future.

See also: Home Improvement Loans For Bad Credit

How do I qualify for a Home Improvement Loan?

Home improvement loans have certain eligibility criteria by which the banks evaluate the applicants to provide home improvement loans.

Eligibility

Loan applicants should possess these basic eligibility criteria to secure a home improvement loan:

• The applicant should be more than 18 years of age.
• The applicants should be either salaried, non-salaried, or self-employed.
• The loan applicants must be a resident Indian or a non-resident Indian.
• The borrower should have a permanent resident or a rented resident.
• Some financial institutions look for the salary of the applicants to check whether their salary falls under the minimum salary level they expect.

Documents Required

Name and Address proof

Applicants must submit one of the following documents, and some lenders may request a specific one:

• PAN Card.
• Voter ID.
• Passport.
• Driver’s License
• Copy of Electricity Bill, Water Bill, and rental agreement.

Other Documents

• Salary slip.
• Bank Passbook copy.
• Income Tax.
• Property document.
• House documents.
• Improvement plan document.
• Estimation.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Borrow Money for Home Improvements?

The best and cheapest way to borrow money for home improvement loans is unsecured loans, where applicants need not stake their property as security and they can borrow money with disciplined loan repayments promptly. This proper practice increases the customer’s credit scores and lets the lenders trust the borrowers. This method is the cheapest way as they do not require collateral security or high interests but maintaining a decent credit score requires a proper and balanced plan.

What Is the Difference Between a Home Improvement Loan and a Home Equity Loan?

A home equity loan is a way of borrowing a loan by pledging the equity as the collateral security, where a homeowner owns a share or a certain percentage of the whole property as a result of any loan or installment payments. Submitting this equity share as security to borrow loans is known as a home equity loan.

Home Improvement loans are unsecured loans where good credit holders can get loans easily. These unsecured personal loans are loans based on the credit value of the customer.

Low Interest Home Improvement Loans

Upgrading your home and renovating your property with home improvement loans with low-interest rates are good ideas to increase the value of your home. If you get a home improvement with low-interest rates and no minimum credit score, it is advantageous.

Home improvement loans come in different types and require various factors to approve. Personal loan lenders initially provide home improvement loans with low-interest rates, but the rate might fluctuate. It is always better to identify credible online lenders and upgrade your home with value.

Loan Terms in Low Interest Home Improvement loans

Loan terms in home improvement loans differ with interest rates, origination fees, and closing fees. Some online lenders also look into a borrower’s credit history while lending cash for renovations and repairs. Homeowners should check the various personal home improvement loan options to make the best selection.

Best home improvement loans with Low-interest Rates

 

1. TGUC Financial

TGUC financial offers homeowners fixed loans quickly for every home improvement project, homeowners can borrow amounts quickly. FHA loans and other equity loans have different limitations and fixed terms to borrow the amount. TGUC financial doesn’t ask for equity or require excellent credit scores to approve and lend loan amounts to borrowers.

Borrowing money for home improvement projects shouldn’t increase your debt, it should increase the net worth of your home. Home improvement loans by TGUC financial have  lower closing and interest rates compared to the other home improvement loans.

• The interest rate in TGUC financial is fixed and doesn’t fluctuate.
• You may borrow loan amounts if you don’t have equity in your home and a low credit score.
• There are no minimum credit score requirements in this loan option.

2. Avant Loan

Avant loan option is for all remodeling and upgrading works at your home. Homeowners can borrow the loan amounts with an APR ranging from 9.95 to 35.99%.

• Homeowners don’t need to pay a higher amount in the monthly payments.
• Avant home improvement loans with low-interest rates don’t expect homeowners to have equity in their homes.
• While borrowing loan amounts in this option, lenders will check the minimum credit score.

3. Sofi Personal Loans

Homeowners should check the credibility of a lender while borrowing money for their home renovations and upgrades. Homeowners may use the loan amount for various home improvement projects.

• Sofi personal loans have some requirements to verify your application and approve your loan.
• The loan term in this option is fixed and you don’t have to pay the origination fee.
• Homeowners should have the necessary t income to borrow this home improvement loan.
• The lenders will also look into your credit history while approving the loan.

4. Lending Club

The Lending Club’s home improvement loan is a loan that a homeowner may use for all renovations and remodeling works. The lenders don’t ask for home value or equity for lending loan amounts. The interest rate is fixed without any fluctuation with the home value.

There is no prepayment fee in this option but homeowners should have a good credit history to borrow the home improvement loans from The Lending Club. Lenders will also look into the maximum debt to income ratio while lending the amount to the homeowners. The APR in this option will fluctuate if you borrow an amount with bad credit.

5. PenFed Credit Union

PenFed Credit Union’s home improvement loans don’t charge an origination fee from the homeowners. There is no unreasonable financing cost in the PenFed credit union home improvement loan.

Homeowners may also borrow the amount with a low credit score in PenFed credit union. There is no origination fee or early repayment fee in the PenFed Credit Union loan option. This loan option also looks into the credit history of the homeowners but there is no minimum credit score.

 

Why Should You Use Low Interest Home Improvement Loans?

Homeowners use this type of loan for installing additions, adding extensions, and emergency repairs. People use home equity loans, cash-out refinance, and personal loans to repair their homes. Even if it is a small repair, there is a chance of spending your finances beyond your budget. Your home improvement project creates a beautiful environment for you and increases the value of your home. But, a personal home improvement loan is one of the cheapest home loans for repairs.

We have read the types of home loans that a homeowner uses for repairing and remodeling their homes. In the same way, let us look into some of the benefits of using personal loans for home improvements,

No Foreclosure Risks

One of the benefits of borrowing a home improvement loan is not having to use your home as collateral. A home improvement loan doesn’t ask for an equity percentage to qualify you. 

The Interest Rates Don’t Fluctuate

In other financing options such as home equity lines of credit, the interest rates fluctuate and sometimes homeowners end up paying more than the loan amount. However, when you borrow home improvement loans, you get fixed interest rates and monthly payments.

Qualify Quickly

Some homeowners will borrow loan amounts for emergency repairs. To do emergency repairs at home, homeowners will often qualify quickly. Since home improvement loans have minimum requirements, you can get qualified for a home improvement loan with minimal delay.

Best Low Interest Home Improvement Loans

Homeowners should check the requirements of personal loans to get qualified quickly without any additional tasks. There are many personal loans for home improvements to renovate your home without any risks. Here are a few personal home improvement loans that help you renovate your home perfectly.

1.TGUC Financial

TGUC Financial’s home improvement loans pre-qualify the homeowners with no impact on the credit score. After filling out the application, the homeowners will get the loan terms immediately. Homeowners can borrow loan amounts up to $100K.

Homeowners will get the amount for all renovations, both minor and major renovations. TGUC Financial doesn’t ask for credit score and equity percentage. If you want to renovate your home immediately, TGUC Financial will provide you quickly.

Advantage

The homeowners will get more time to pay the amount off with an introductory rate on the credit card. After applying for the loan, homeowners will also be able to find contractors quickly. The homeowners will be able to use the loan amounts for both large and small renovations.

Disadvantage

There are no tax benefit options.

2. Discover Low Interest Loan

Discover Personal Loan is one of the home improvement loans that comes without any origination fees. Homeowners apply for this home improvement loan to get home loan rates fast for remodeling, fixing, and large renovations.

Homeowners can borrow loan amounts up to $35,000. Since Discover Personal Loan funds for every type of home repair, homeowners don’t have to worry about small or large renovations. Homeowners should select the loan amount, loan terms, and credit score to estimate payments.

Advantage

Homeowners will get qualified for the loan amount quickly with a few steps.

Disadvantage

Discover Personal Loan option is only flexible for the homeowners who have excellent credit reports. This financing option also charges a late fee from the borrowers if payments are not made timely. No tax benefits.

3. Upgrade Low Interest Loan

Upgrade personal loan option offers loans for homeowners who want to pay the cash with credit cards. The upgrade financing option sends the loan amount directly to the bank account for the borrowers.

This personal loan option will charge no extra fee for the loan amount. The homeowners can borrow money up to $50,000 in this financing option.

Advantage

Homeowners don’t have to worry about prepayment penalties and quickly approve your loan. The interest rates are fixed and don’t fluctuate.

Disadvantage

There is no prepayment penalty in this loan option, but a homeowner will be responsible for origination fees and late fees.

4. Sofi Low Interest Loan

Sofi personal loan comes with fixed monthly payments and low rates. If you are paying 15% of your interest rates with credit cards, Sofi personal loan option will help you save thousands of dollars. Sofi is a credible online lender that asks no extra fee from the borrowers.

Advantage

There is no repayment, origination, and late fee in this financing option. Homeowners can easily get qualified after filling out an online application.

Disadvantage

Borrowers have a high minimum loan amount in this financing option.

5.OneMain Financial

OneMain Financial gives personalized service to borrowers with fixed interest rates and monthly payments. This personal loan lender also offers secured and joint loans.

The personal loan lender offers loan amounts from $1,500 to $20,000. Homeowners can use this home improvement loan without any restrictions and fees. OneMain Financial doesn’t ask for late and prepayment fee penalties.

Advantage

Borrowers can choose their payment dates, and OneMain Financial provides direct payment on Debt Consolidation Loans.

Disadvantage

OneMain Financial charges an origination fee and offers no discount. Borrowers have to pay higher interest rates compared to the other personal loan options.

How Do You Choose A Low Interest Home Improvement Loan?

Process of Qualifying for the Loan Amount

A homeowner should first check the process to get qualified for the loan. If the application process is too long and complex, you can switch to another financing option.

Flexible Options

Some home loans for repairs will offer an amount only for large renovations. But a personal loan for home improvement provides loans for every type of repair such as minor, major, and emergency repairs. Even if the homeowners want to install an HVAC system and add luxury items, the personal loan lender will approve them. In a similar way, a homeowner should check the criteria of a home improvement loan.

No Fee

Personal loans for home improvements shouldn’t charge extra fees such as origination fees, late fees, pre penalty fees, and closing charges.

Watch Out for Minimum Credit Score

Homeowners should also check the minimum credit scores for the financing options while applying for them. Some personal home improvement loans only offer loan amounts to homeowners who have an excellent credit score.

Homeowners can also check the home improvement loans for bad credit while applying for the loan. Home improvement loans for bad credit and no equity will benefit homeowners without rigid credit requirements.

Alternative Financing Options for Home Improvements

Low Interest Rehab Loan

A rehab loan is another financing option for home improvements. The homeowners provide the loan amount for a single mortgage. FHA (Federal Housing Administration) home improvement loans offer amounts with credit requirements and have longer repayment terms.

Homeowners can use these Rehab loans for all types of home renovations. The Federal Government provides Rehab loans and it is also a type of mortgage loan option. Homeowners will be able to get FHA loans even if they are bankrupt and have debt.

Credit Cards

Paying with credit cards is another option to finance your home repairs and renovations. A homeowner can pay the amount for renovations quickly with credit cards. Immediate payment and convenience are the two great advantages of using credit cards for home renovations.

While credit cards allow you to pay for home renovations quickly, this option will not benefit homeowners for large renovations. If you are using credit cards, you can only use them for small renovations and repairs.

Suggested Reads:

• 5 Ways to Get a Higher Home Loan & Improvement Loan
• Home Improvement License: All You Need to Know
• What is an Unsecured Home Improvement Loan?
• Home Improvement Loans for Citizens: Loans vs Grants
• How to Increase the Value of a Manufactured Home?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are low interest home improvement loans?

Homeowners can get 0% home improvement loans by loan and grant programs. Home improvement programs and agencies provide the requirements and qualify homeowners for 0% home improvement loans. Mostly, grant programs qualify you for 0% interest loans for energy efficiency improvements. 

Why should you use a low interest loan to renovate your old house?

Home renovation and repairs increase the value of your home. If you add a luxury item or install a solar or HVAC system, the Net Worth of your home will increase exponentially. It is always a good idea to renovate or repair your old house.

Are Low interest personal loans tax deductible?

Low Interest home loans can be tax-deductible since you would be using your home as collateral and fulfilling various requirements. A personal home improvement loan is usually not deductible.

Summary of the Article

Conclusion

Borrowers have multiple options for home improvement loans. Applicants who can pledge collateral properties as security can apply for secured loans, and as secured loans are not dependent on credit history, this will be a better option for low credit holders as well.

There are loan programs like no credit check home improvement loans for people who can neither pledge collateral security nor hold a good credit score.

If you are a customer with a proper loan repayment history, your creditworthiness will suffice for an unsecured personal loan. TGUC is a financial service company that simplifies the loan application process and provides its customers with professional contractors for all home renovation requirements.  Check out our latest posts to know more about home improvement loans.