What to Know About Home Improvement Loans for Additions

by Lisa Duguay, ABR, SRES 07/17/2022

Building an addition onto your home provides you with more space, whether you need it for a living area or for storage. You can build additions onto the side or back of your home, or build up rather than out. No matter what kind of addition you’re thinking of building, it’s important to think about how to finance it. Home additions are costly projects, so you’ll want to make sure you find the right financing to fit your budget. Keep the following options in mind for home improvement loans for your home addition.

Home Equity Line of Credit

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) gives you a chance to put your home’s equity to use. Equity builds up as you pay off your mortgage, so the amount available will vary. You can estimate how much you’ll get from a HELOC by subtracting what you still owe on your mortgage from your home’s property value. HELOCs have limits on the amount you can take out, so keep this in mind when determining your budget. The longer you’ve owned your home, the higher your HELOC should be.

RenoFi Loans

These loans act as a second mortgage on your house. They factor in the value of your home after you’ve completed your home addition project. This allows you to borrow a higher amount compared to other financing options. With a RenoFi loan, you’ll typically get a low fixed interest rate and repayment terms of up to 20 years.

Cash-Out Refinance

When you do a cash-out refinance to cover the cost of a home addition, this involves borrowing a higher amount than you owe on your current mortgage. You would then apply this amount to your home addition project. A cash-out refinance requires you to have equity, so the amount you’ll be eligible for can vary.

Construction Loans

Home construction loans are another option for financing a home addition. These loans typically have higher interest rates and shorter terms for paying it off, which you should keep in mind when weighing your options. You could end up with a longer-term mortgage once your home addition is done if you use a construction loan.

About the Author

Lisa Duguay, ABR, SRES

Lisa is a sales and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience representing buyers and sellers throughout Fairfield County. Her deep understanding of local residential markets and current trends along with the exceptional local and global networking resources of Berkshire Hathaway allow her to provide the highest level of personalized, professional and confidential services to her clients. An experienced listener and negotiator, she works with her clients to thoroughly understand and achieve the results they desire. Dedicated, discreet, ethical, honest and principled, Lisa has been consistently recognized as a top producing agent and is a trusted resource within her communities. * Certified Relocation Specialist *Accredited Real Estate Buyer’s Representative (ABR) *Accredited, Senior Real Estate Specialist Council (SRES) *Member, National Association of Realtors *Member, Connecticut Association of Realtors *Member, Greater Fairfield Board of Realtors * Member, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Lisa is a lifelong area resident who grew up in Westport and currently resides in Southport. She is actively involved as a volunteer for several local organizations including the CT Alzheimer’s Association.