How to use equity to buy a second home

“Potential buyers may not have the cash they require to pay for an asset like a second home in part or in full,” says Maxine Crawford, a mortgage broker with Premiere Mortgage Centre in Toronto. “They may have their money tied up in investments that they cannot or do not want to cash in. By using home equity, however, a buyer can leverage an existing asset in order to purchase in part or in full another significant asset, such as a cottage.”  

What is home equity?

Home equity is the difference between the current value of your home and the balance on your mortgage. It refers to the portion of your home’s value that you actually own. 

You can calculate the equity you have in your home by subtracting what you still owe on your mortgage from the property’s current market value. For example, if your home has an appraised value of $800,000 and you have $300,000 remaining on your mortgage, you have $500,000 in home equity. If you’ve already paid off your mortgage in full, then your home equity is equal to the current market value of the home. 

What is a home equity loan?

A home equity loan (sometimes called a second mortgage) is when a home owner borrows money using the equity they’ve built up in their home as collateral for the new loan. Equity is the difference between the current market value of the property and the balance owing on the mortgage. Typically, home owners can borrow up to 80% of their property’s value, including any balance remaining on the first mortgage.

How to use equity to buy a second home

To buy a second property using home equity, you borrow money from a lender against the equity—meaning you use the equity as leverage or collateral. There are a variety of ways a home owner can do this.

Mortgage refinance: When you refinance your mortgage, you replace your existing mortgage with a new one on different terms, either with your current lender or with a different one (when switching lenders, you may have to pay a prepayment fee, unless your mortgage was up for renewal). When refinancing, you can get a mortgage for up to 80% of your home’s value. Refinancing your mortgage allows you to access the capital needed to buy a second home.

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC): A HELOC works like a traditional line of credit, except your home is used as collateral. You can access up to 65% of your home’s value. HELOC interest rates tend to be higher than mortgage interest rates. However, you only withdraw money when you need it, and you only pay interest on the amount you withdraw, unlike with a second mortgage or reverse mortgage. Below, find the best HELOC rates available today.

Second mortgage: This is when you take out an additional loan on your property. Typically, you can access up to 80% of your home’s appraised value, minus the balance remaining on your first mortgage. Second mortgages can be harder to get, because if you default on your payments and your home is sold, the second mortgage provider only receives funds after the first mortgage lender has been repaid. To compensate for this added risk to the second lender, interest rates on second mortgages tend to be higher than for first mortgages.

Reverse mortgage: Only available to home owners who are 55 or older, a reverse mortgage allows you to borrow up to 55% of your home’s equity, depending on your age and the property’s value. Interest rates may be higher than with a traditional mortgage, and the loan must be paid back if you move or die. You don’t need to make any regular payments on a reverse mortgage, but interest continues to accrue until the loan is repaid. 

Options for leveraging equity in your home

To summarize, these are your options for pulling equity out of your home. The option you choose impacts how much you equity you can access, the type of interest rate you can get (i.e., a fixed rate, variable rate, or both), and when and how the money is deposited into your account.

Pros and cons: Buying a second home with home equity

It’s important to weigh the benefits and potential risks of using home equity to buy a second home. Here are some factors to consider:

Pros

• Leverage an existing asset: Using home equity allows you to tap into the value of your home without liquidating investments or savings. It can make buying a second home more feasible, especially if you don’t have the cash on hand.
• Tax advantages: Depending on how the second home is used, you may be able to claim certain tax deductions, including mortgage interest costs or property taxes. Always consult a tax expert or financial planner about what applies in your situation.
• Flexible borrowing options: Options like a HELOC or refinancing can give you more flexibility in how you borrow, with some payment options allowing for interest-only payments.

Cons

• Increased debt load: Borrowing against your home equity increases your overall debt and monthly obligations. If interest rates rise, particularly with a variable-rate HELOC or second mortgage, your monthly payments may increase.
• Risk of foreclosure: If you use your home as collateral and can’t keep up with payments, your lender can foreclose on your property, putting your primary residence at risk.
• Costs and fees: Borrowing against home equity often comes with additional fees, such as appraisal fees and legal costs. These can add up and reduce the financial benefit of using home equity.
• Housing market risk: If property values decline, both your primary home and your second property could lose value. This can leave you owing more than your properties are worth.
• Tying up your home’s equity: Using your home equity reduces the financial buffer you have in case of an emergency. It also impacts your ability to use that equity for other purposes, such as retirement or home improvements.
• Impact on lifestyle and cash flow: Taking on a second mortgage or HELOC can strain your monthly budget, potentially affecting your lifestyle or ability to save for other goals. You should also consider ongoing costs like maintenance, insurance and taxes on the second home.

How soon can you pull equity out of your home?

Mortgage lenders have different policies regarding how long a home owner must wait to refinance after purchasing their home, Crawford says. Some have a set waiting period of one year or more, whereas others decide on a case-by-case basis.

While there may be no hard-and-fast rules about how long you have to wait to draw on your home’s equity, to pull equity out, you must first build it up. The longer you make payments on your mortgage, the more equity you’ll have. It’s also important to take into account the time it can take to apply for a home equity loan. There are usually numerous steps involved, such as applying, having your home appraised, getting a credit check and so forth, so your access to the money will not be instantaneous and you can generally expect to wait anywhere from a few hours (for alternative lenders) to a few weeks.

Should you use home equity to buy a second home? 

Before deciding whether or not to use your home’s equity to buy a second home, it’s important to take a careful look at the potential benefits, as well as the possible downsides.

“Using home equity could allow someone to build their net worth and improve their overall financial strength,” says Crawford. However, the mortgage broker also emphasizes that there are some potential drawbacks to using equity, including that the additional financing on the home increases monthly expenditures and could negatively impact a home owner’s overall lifestyle. 

What’s more, home owners will likely incur costs when setting up financing. And, “If the primary residence is sold, any financing must be paid out in full, including any financing used for the purchase of the second home,” says Crawford. “This could significantly reduce funds available for other purchases, such as investments, and also affect estate planning goals.” 

Read more about buying a second home: 

• It’s possible to be a first-time home buyer twice—here’s how
• How financially viable is your rental property?
• Should you buy a vacation property?
• How much of a down payment do you need on a second home?
• Mortgage rules when buying a second property in Canada

About Sandra MacGregor

Sandra MacGregor has been writing about personal finance, mortgages, investing and credit cards for over a decade.

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