The Burren. The Burren is an amazing place. It is a karst limestone region of approximately 300 sq km which lies in the North West corner of Co Clare, in Ireland. It is composed of limestone pavements, which are eroded in a distinctive pattern known as karren.
Home equity is the amount of money you have already paid against the value of your home. A simple formula for determining your home equity is to subtract the amount of the mortgage balance from the current fair market value of your home. In other words, your equity increases as your mortgage balance decreases.
The term home equity essentially refers to the portion of your home's value that is not owned by the mortgage company. Your home equity increases the more you pay down the mortgage on your house, and the equity you build may be accessed for your use via a loan or a line of credit. Understanding what home equity is and how it works can equip you to use this financial tool to your best advantage.