http://www.fixedraterefinance.com/home-equity/loan/rates/ Home equity loan rates have to be low in order to make this method of refinancing possible. There is nothing more important to your refinance than securing low home equity loan rates. en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 The exception Most lenders will probably tell you that home equity loan rates are relatively low on the importance scale when you are thinking about accessing your home equity: Theres the amount you need The amount you can afford The method in which you receive your money The duration of your loan term. All these aspects are significantly more important that finding the lowest possible home equity loan rates - unless you are looking to refinance with that equity. Then your home equity loan rate becomes everything! Home equity loan rates are why you refinance The only reason you should be thinking about refinancing your current home loans is to save money - and thats hard to do if the home equity loan rates you find are higher than the rates you currently pay. Remember how using a home equity loan as a refinancing tool makes sense: when you have significantly more equity than the remaining balance on your loan principal, and that principal amount is relatively low to your income and financial abilities. In most instances this will be in the final years of your original home loan, meaning you'll only have a few years left of paying off that mortgage. Refinancing to decrease your monthly payments is fine - just not through equity. You don't want to drag out this mortgage you are almost finished with, and therefore the only reason to refinance with equity is when you qualify for incredibly low home equity loan rates. If you find that great deal... Remember, you want to refinance with equity when home equity loan rates are low and they'll stay low. Better make it a fixed rate home equity loan, otherwise you might be surprised by future rate increases. Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT