How to Use Your Home Equity to Buy a New Home in Australia

a man managing his home equity with his dog

What is home equity? Home equity is the difference between the market value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage. For example, if your home is worth $500,000 and you owe $300,000 on your mortgage, then you have $200,000 in home equity.

How can I use my home equity?

There are two main ways to use your home equity:

Home equity loan:

A home equity loan is a lump sum of money that you borrow against the equity in your home. You can use the money for any purpose, such as buying a new home, renovating your current home, or paying for college.

Home equity line of credit (HELOC):

A HELOC is a line of credit that you can use to borrow money up to a certain limit, based on the equity in your home. You can draw on the HELOC as needed and repay the money over time.

How much home equity can I use?

The amount of home equity you can use will depend on the value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage. Lenders will typically allow you to borrow up to 80% of the equity in your home. For example, if you have $200,000 in home equity, you may be able to borrow up to $160,000.

What are the pros and cons of using home equity?

Pros:

You can use the money for anything you want.
The interest rates on home equity loans and HELOCs are typically lower than the interest rates on credit cards and personal loans.

Cons:

You are putting your home at risk if you default on the loan.
You will have to make monthly payments on the loan, which can add to your monthly expenses.

How to get started:

If you're considering using your home equity to buy a new home, here are a few things you should do:

Talk to your lender. Your lender can help you understand your options and the requirements for getting a home equity loan or HELOC.
Get quotes from multiple lenders. Once you have a good understanding of your options, get quotes from multiple lenders to compare rates and terms.
Make sure you can afford the monthly payments. Before you borrow money, make sure you can afford the monthly payments. You should also factor in the cost of other expenses, such as property taxes and insurance.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind when using your home equity to buy a new home in Australia:

Lenders will typically require you to have a deposit of at least 20% of the purchase price of the new home. This means that you will need to use some of your home equity as a deposit for the new home.
You may also need to pay for lender's mortgage insurance (LMI) if you have a deposit of less than 20%. LMI is a type of insurance that protects the lender in the event that you default on your loan.
You will need to refinance your existing mortgage to include the new loan amount. This means that you will have one new mortgage for both your existing home and your new home.

Tips for using your home equity wisely:

Only borrow what you need. Don't borrow more money than you can afford to repay.
Use the money for a wise purpose. Home equity loans and HELOCs are not meant to be used to finance frivolous expenses.
Make your payments on time. If you default on your loan, you could lose your home.

Overall, using your home equity to buy a new home can be a good way to get the money you need. However, it's important to understand the risks and requirements involved before you make a decision.