Expanding your home to add value and square footage can be costly, so it’s important to know how to finance a home addition. Just like with buying a home, there are many loan options available to homeowners to fund their projects.
Here is a quick guide to the most common options for financing an addition to your home:
Home equity line of credit
A home equity line of credit allows you to utilize the equity you’ve already built in your home. Equity is equal to the value of your home minus the amount you still owe on your mortgage.
A home equity line of credit typically has a draw period in which you can tap into funds while only paying interest payments. After the draw period ends, you enter a repayment period and start paying back the principal amount.
Government sponsored loans
Title I loans offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development are available to help fund renovation projects. Requirements for qualifying vary from one state to another, but are meant to fund improvements to basic utility and livability of your home.
Therefore, if your remodeling project is purely aesthetic, you may want to consider a different type of financing.
Personal home improvement loan
A personal loan isn’t tied to the value of your home, but dependent on your individual financial situation. Credit history and debt to income ratio are the main factors lenders will consider when approving you for a personal loan.
This type of home improvement loan offers flexibility for those who don’t want to use their house as collateral. They can also be a good option for homeowners who haven’t had time to build equity in their property yet.
These are only a few options for financing your home remodeling project. Some other possibilities include home equity loans, cash out refinance programs and low-interest rate credit cards for smaller projects. As long as you compare your options carefully, you’ll find the best way to fund your remodeling goals.
About the Author
Diana Hellman
Diana Hellman's passion for Larchmont inspires her more than 20 year real estate practice. As a certified buyer's representative, "The development of a solid and trusting relationship with my buyers and sellers is what I strive for." This success, primarily built on client referrals and repeat business, comes from her knowledge of what makes Larchmont unique: it's school system, recreational facilities, services and the special qualities that pervade this village's atmosphere. A former educator with a background in psychology, Diana knows that people don't want a sales pitch, but rather reliable, timely information. She and her husband have been residents of Larchmont for over 40 years. Her 3 children have attended the Mamaroneck Public Schools. She can give you expert advice with the sale or purchase of your home. Awards/Distinctions Multi-million dollar club- Westchester Board of Realtors International Diamond Society (8 million plus in sales), 5-Star agent in 2024. Gold Award- WBR (5-8 million dollars in sales) Silver Award – WBR (3-5 million dollars in sales) Memberships National Association of Realtors New York State Association of Realtors Westchester Board of Realtors Westchester Multiple Listing Service Community Former executive board member of the Central School Former selection school delegate for election of school board candidates Former executive board member of the Friends of the Emelin Theatre Former executive board member of the League of Women Voters