To determine the loan amount, lenders use the loan-to-value ratio (LTV), which is a percentage of the appraisal value of your home. The usual limit is 80 percent—or $100,000 for a $125,000 home (.805125,000). Lenders subtract the mortgage balance from that amount to arrive at the maximum you can borrow. Assuming your balance is $60,000, the largest loan that you can obtain is $40,000 ($100,000-$60,000=$40,000). If you have a good credit rating, a lender might base your loan on more than 80 percent of the LTV; if you don't, you might get only 65 to 70 percent. While many lenders go to 100 percent of the LTV, interest rates and fees soar at these higher ratios. When refinancing a paid-off home, you’ll decide how much you want to borrow, up to the loan limit your lender allows. Cash-out refinance loans can be a less expensive option than home equity loans because they have lower interest rates than home equity payday loans without bank account near me products. However, closing costs can be higher because the process of refinancing a paid off-home is similar to buying a house.