Words can be fun. English words are particularly interesting as they are born from a variety of sources. Although it is a Germanic language, about 50 percent of English is based on Greek and Latin. Have you ever thought about the origins of certain words? Take the word "phony," for example. British crooks once used different secret code words. On of those was "fawney," which alluded to a gift ring. The thieves would sell these rings, claiming that they were made of actual gold. So, the word "phony" began to refer to anything that was unreal. Another interesting word origin is connected to the word "hazard." This is derived from the Arabic term, "al zahr." What does it mean? The dice. The term became related to several games that used dice, in Western Europe. They learned these games during the Crusades, which took place in the Holy Land. Later, the word became associated with danger, because some people cheated with adjusted dice, and gambling was always a risk. Similar to the examples given previously given, a second mortgage home equity loan may also seem complicated. But it is actually fairly easy to learn when it is broken down.



Mortgage Meaning

How about the word "mortgage"? "Mort," meaning "dead," is from the Latin "mortuus." The word "mortgage" itself is from the Anglo-French word with the same spelling. But why would death be related to a mortgage? Sir Edward Coke, who was born in the 16th century, believed that it was based on whether or not the mortgager would pay his debt. If the person could not pay his debt, then the land was taken from him, and became dead to him. But if the person paid off the mortgage, then the mortgage owed became dead to him. That helps to explain how a second mortgage home equity loan works.

One Debt, Two Loans

So what's the meaning of a second mortgage home equity loan? This type of loan is useful in restructuring your debt. Applying for this loan is much simpler than applying for the original loan. To secure a second mortgage home equity loan, you must have good credit and be capable of documenting your income. And while zero or no-equity loans let you borrow a maximum of 125 percent of your home's value, be cautious. Those loans have interest rates that are higher, and have stricter standards for qualifying. Two types of home equity loans exist. A home equity loan is a lump-sum loan that, like the majority of first mortgage loans, requires regular payments. However, the closing costs of a second are lower than those for a first mortgage loan. The fixed rates for home equity loans are a little higher than the rates on first mortgages.

Hello, HELOC

The home equity lines of credit, or HELOC, are another type of potential second mortgage home equity loan. The differences include:

* The account can be used as long as funds are available. Think of it like a credit card, with a balance and an available credit line.

* The interest rate can change each month. So this type of second mortgage home equity loan is ideal when low interest rates are available, but are hazardous after interest rates increase.

* After a future time, such as 5 to 20 years, you cannot draw against the account any longer. You will then have to make monthly payments on the loan's principal and interest.

Words can be fun when we know what they mean and where they come from. Likewise, the second mortgage home equity loan can provide several options after you have mastered what it is.