Exotic and lovely -- and much more distinctive now than Samantha or Tamara. In the U.S., Samara has been declining in popularity for some years; ranking well below its 2006 peak of Number 350. Samara is a city in western Russia as well as a bona fide first name.
How does a home equity loan work? A home equity loan lets you borrow money, using that equity you have built in your home as collateral. You receive a lump sum of money that is repayable over a fixed term, giving you the security of a locked-in rate and a consistent monthly payment. Plus, unlike most types of consumer loans, the interest on a home equity loan may be tax deductible 2.
Home equity line of credit. A home equity line of credit (often called HELOC, pronounced Hee-lock) is a loan in which the lender agrees to lend a maximum amount within an agreed period (called a term), where the collateral is the borrower's equity in his/her house (akin to a second mortgage).