Understanding An Access Bond
A new type of bond has emerged in recent years. It's called an access bond, and you can find it at almost any bank. An access bond actually treats y...
A new type of bond has emerged in recent years. It’s called an access bond, and you can find it at almost any bank. An access bond actually treats your home loan very much like a savings account. In addition, it establishes a savings account that is equal to the equity you have in your home.
An access loan works a lot like a traditional home loan, only there is a savings account attached. The balance of that savings account is computed on the equity of the home. So, basically what it means is the more equity you have in your home or the more your home is worth, the more money you would have in your access bond savings account. When you withdraw money, however, you are actually taking it out as a loan against your home’s equity.
Because of the way its set up, this type of loan offers some unique advantages, and provides a type of money management system. If you pay into your home loan, over and above the regular installment, you can pay off that loan more quickly, but also generate surplus in your savings that can be used for emergencies. Don’t forget however, that whatever you borrow must be paid back, and at the same interest rate as your home loan. So, the bottom line is you need to borrow only what you think you can comfortably pay back, and in a short span of time.
An access bond actually allows you to use the equity in your home loan. You can do this at any time, and you can use the money for whatever you need to. Generally, it is used for such things as short-term debt, a holiday, home renovations, or a new vehicle. In fact, if you purchase your next car through an access loan, it might be a very wise move. The interest rate you pay on a home loan is typically lower than the prime lending rate. However, car loans are usually higher than the prime lending rate. Consequently, borrowing on an access bond allows you to purchase your vehicle at the lower interest rate.
It’s also popular to set up student loans on an access bond. Student loans have higher interest rates, and are set up to ensure that you pay interest for the maximum amount of time. This is because you can only pay interest, until the student has graduated from school. Choosing to use an access bond for these expenses assures a lower interest rate. It also allows you to repay the money on a more suitable timeline.
Just like with any loan, access bonds have advantages and disadvantages. They do have a lower interest rate, but access bonds also have a shorter payback term. If you fail to meet that payback term, you could end up paying far more in interest than you would have paid with a conventional bond. Also, you need to keep in mind you are borrowing against your home. Because of that, if you don’t repay the loan the bank can repossess your property.
Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African bond origination portal. For more information visit: http://www.bondcredit.co.za/