Back to FAQ
Is an equity loan the same as a second mortgage?
An equity loan is
usually defined as a loan against the owner's equity in the property. As
there is usually a first mortgage against the property, the equity loan is
usually a second mortgage on the property. An equity loan can be a
"straight second" mortgage in which the borrower takes the loan in a lump
sum and pays it back as agreed. A popular version of equity lending is the
"equity line of credit" which is a more flexible way of using homeowner
equity.