Refinancing your debt via a home equity loan shifts your debts loan to your home. The flip side to such a move is that your home is on the line. However, tax deductions on interest repayments make it an attractive proposition. Moreover, in such a case of loan consolidation, it makes financial sense to go for a fixed term equity loan.

Newer products such as adjustable rate mortgages, wherein borrowers do not have to restrict themselves to a fixed home equity loan or a home equity line of credit, are hitting the market. One can take a home equity loan wherein the loan remains fixed for the initial period (at the discretion of the borrower), and after the period elapses, converts itself into a line of credit. Borrowers of these kinds of loans are normally individuals who are concerned about rising interest rates and yet want to keep their financing costs at a reasonable minimum. The only downside to this hybrid structure is that interest is charged on the entire lump sum as opposed to a plain vanilla home equity line of credit.

One of the many reasons that home equity loan products have become such a rage in recent times is because of the low interest rates. However, all that glitters is not necessarily gold. Borrowers need to read the fine print carefully before burdening themselves with a home loan to pay off credit card bills. One, not only are they converting short-term debt into long-term debt, but two, most home equity loans are not for financing that expensive vacation, but meant for something more long-lasting.