| Hi Len VT, If you've been holding your stocks for an extended period, you'll likely have a substantial capital gain built up and if you liquidate investments you'll have capital gain tax to pay, which will mean that you'll have to liquidate a larger amount of pre-tax asset value in order to have the after-tax amount needed for your renovation. Not only that, you'll have to pay commission to sell them and, after the house loan is paid off, commission again to re-purchase, supposing that you'd choose to buy the same stocks later. Not only that, I think that the markets are down now, so I'd rather not liquidate some of my stock market-based assets, these days, lacking serious need. In fact, I've been buying more, recently, and expect to buy more, later, as I expect an advance in the markets, though I think that it may be later than jkom51 thinks. I hear some folks telling of set-up costs related to a home equity line of credit, which is understandable, as a lender wants to be sure that the property is as claimed, is properly evaluated, lacks large loans against it now, etc. I have used stock certificates and mutual fund certificates as collateral for a line of credit, and had no set-up fees to pay. If you were to use stocks or mutual funds, you might qualify for a lower interest rate, in that liquidation would be much easier, in case of default. Also, I've allowed my line to sit unused for substantial periods, and there have been no inactivity fees, either. In fact, in that you have much larger assets than you'd need to liquidate to fund your upgrade, you might choose to take out a larger loan and make some increased equity investments currently. I understand that the interest rate on your home improvement loan would be deductible, but not being a resident of your country I'm not sure. If it is not, you'd want to keep the two loans separate, as the line of credit for further equity investment would be deductible in your area, I'm almost positive. While interest rates currently are low, I expect to see them rise, for when one considers the bad odour internationally that has developed in recent months over the U.S. sub-prime mortgage debacle, and the huge U.S. gov't. debt, much of it held abroad, it could well be that, in the light of the deficits developed recently, largely due to the Iraq war, it may be necessary for the U.S. gov't. to offer higher rates to foreign holders in order to entice them to make further loans, before long. Good wishes as you consider your options further - I hope that you are happy with your choices, later. ole joyful |
