Is an equity loan the same as a second mortgage?

An equity loan is usually defined as a loan against the owner’s equity in the property. As there is usually a first mortgage against the property, the equity loan is usually a second mortgage on the property. An equity loan can be a "straight second" mortgage in which the borrower takes the loan in a lump sum and pays it back as agreed. A popular version of equity lending is the "equity line of credit" which is a more flexible way of using homeowner equity.

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