The terms are pretty
standard, ranging from 15 to 30 years, although some
lenders are flexible and will approve a
home equity loan for five years.
Unless we are dealing with true mortgage scams, the kindest answer lies somewhere between the «highest and best» value that an appraiser will give the
equity lender who naturally wants to value the
home as high as possible (since the
home equity loan value is most often based on 75 % of the homeowners
equity); and the «most likely,» and typically lower, appraisal that a REALTOR or
standard fair - market appraisal will bring when actually selling the
home.