Third Federal Savings & Loan HELOC no fees $200 Home Depot gift card or $225 cash

**Update 5 - Looks like the $225 offer has been reduced to $100 http://www.thirdfederal.com/weboffer/index.cfm?refer=google&ad=119808067-18159597-y&CFID=113888&CFTOKEN=39442206 but the Home Depot offer is still available, new link http://www.thirdfederal.com/equity/ They have also increased their low rate guarantee to $1000 from $500.
I was unsuccessful in getting both offers, I only got the $225 YMMV

**UPdate 4 - It has been reported that possibly this is available in only the following states: CA, CT, FL, IL, KY, MA, NJ, NC, OH and PA. I have not verified this you should call to ask about your state. (thanks to Onlineant)

Some people are reporting trouble with finishing the online application with Firefox, but have had success when using IE (thanks to VanceWade)

I just got a HELOC with Third Federal Savings & Loan. They sent me a snail mail offer. Here are the details.

Prime -1.01% on Balances of $50,000 and over
Prime -.51% on Balances under $50,000
NO Application Fee
NO Closing Cost
NO Doc/Stamp Tax
NO Origination Fee
NO Annual Fee
NO Pre-Payment Penalty
$200 gift card to Home Depot for opening (I would suggest you register first for the $225 than apply for the actual loan through the Home Depot link if you want to try and see if you can get both rebates YMMV)

Guaranteed to be lowest available anywhere or they pay you $500 (now $1,000)

Third Federal Website Says said: This is not an introductory rate or teaser rate, but is available to you for the entire life of the line. And, if you ever find a lower rate, a year from now or even ten years from now, we'll beat it or give you $500.

Third Federal Website Says said: NO Minimum Advance or Draw Required
Most banks require you to take an advance ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 in order to get their best rate.

85% Loan To Value
This means we'll loan you up to 85% of your home's value minus any balance you have on your first mortgage. Click here to see how much you can borrow on your home equity.

10-Year Interest-Only Draw Period & 10-Year Repayment Period
You can borrow and make repayments against your line for up to 10 years. Then instead of the balloon payment required by most banks, Third Federal gives you 10 years to repay your loan.

Need assistance? Home Equity Consultants at: 1-888-794-3562
Lawyer comes to your home to close.

contact Third Federal Savings directly at 877-552-5659

If you go to their website it lists only a few states that are eligible but they offer this in multiple states. I'm in Massachusetts and my state isn't listed on the website. Call the number above to check your state.

UPDATE:

Home Depot offer link (Thanks to dcwilbur)
Home Depot $200 offer OLD LINK BUT SEEMS TO STILL WORK

New Link = http://www.thirdfederal.com/equity/

UPDATE 2:
****$225 is DEAD**** New offer is $100 http://www.thirdfederal.com/weboffer/index.cfm?refer=google&ad=119808067-18159597-y&CFID=113888&CFTOKEN=39442206

Link for $225 after you close your loan. Don't think you can combine with the Home Depot offer but worth the try or just get this instead.
The terms are:
to be added to our list of new home equity customers that will receive this offer. Apply for a Third Federal Home Equity Line or loan. If you have entered your name onto our Offer List, we will automatically mail you a $225 check, one you close on your new line of loan.
$225 on close from Google AD? ******UPDATE 3****** looks like the $225 link won't direct link.
copy and paste
http://www.thirdfederal.com/weboffer/index.cfm?refer=google&ad=107527330-17393493-g&CFID=70436&CFTOKEN=27154946
or
http://www.thirdfederal.com/weboffer/index.cfm?refer=google&ad=119809703-18159601-i&CFID=70436&CFTOKEN=27154946 (thanks to stingee)
or
http://www.thirdfederal.com/weboffer/index.cfm?refer=bankrate&ad=115340101-17844646-v&CFID=70436&CFTOKEN=27154946 (thanks to Royer 714) from bankrate

withdrawn

Prime -1.01% on Balances of $50,000 and over
Prime -.51% on Balances under $50,000

I have a third fed HELOC and I can't find a better rate. Granted, I have never taken a draw but I have also never paid them a dime. Prime -.51 with absolutely no fees is tough to beat.

Someone asked why I posted these both here and in the Hot Deals section....

Because it is related to Finance and in my opinion, it is a HOT DEAL. My objective was to help other posters and I know as a user of FATWALLET since the very early days (lost my original password and wasn't able to recover my original user name) that often I don't look in other forums. With respect to turtlebugs comment of moving the discussion to the other thread.... I think its fine to reference the deal there however in my opinion the use of these consolidated threads to discuss multiple companies/deals I personally finding aggravating from an ease of use standpoint. I don't want to have to look through a bazillion posts that are mixed deal/topic/company. Hey that’s just me, you may feel they actually make it easier, I don't. Part of the reason I seldom post deals is that I simply don't want the hassle of having to worry that maybe I didn't post it where "you" would like or that I didn't give the details the way "you" would want. I recognize that to keep some semblance of order there needs to be rules but often it seems to me that forums go over board. I just want to exchange deals and find what I’m looking for. The process for me is to scan the new threads. I know I could scan all new posts but I don't have that kind of time. If deals like this are added only to old threads, I don't see them or possibly, I've read the old thread and don't think that there might be something of interest. There are often deals that I wouldn't normally consider but then I'll find that the offer is simply too good to pass up. I believe this one is that type of offering. Even if you never thought about getting a HELOC this deal just makes sense if you have equity in your home. It's easy, it doesn't cost anything, it allows you to have an emergency fund, there are no penalties, fees, our hidden costs and I got a $200 Home Depot gift card. No brainer for me.

Anyway hope some of you found it helpful. I think this is a great community and I just was hoping to help some people out.

Thanks Mark OP is updated

1/16/08 post in consolidated HELOC thread mentions $225 bonus at Third Federal through 1/31. Don't know if that's still in effect..

If it is "ANY" HELOC.. then I would point you to Spencer Savings (Yes, I know there is region restrictions i.e. NJ and that is why I said "ANY")

http://spencersavings.com/home_equity_rates.html

Prime MINUS 1.50%*
Program is for new Spencer Home Equity Credit Line customers and must be secured by a 1-4 family NJ owner occupied home. Other terms available for current customers and secured by investment properties - call for details. Minimum conversion balance = $25,000. There is a conversion fee of $75 ($125 in the first year). The rate is the highest Prime Rate as published on the last business day of each month in the Wall Street Journal MINUS 1.50%. As of January 23, 2008 the Prime Rate was 6.50% resulting in a rate of 5.50% (Floor Rate). There is a Floor Rate of 5.50% and a Maximum Rate of 13.99%. Application Fee for loans in excess of $150,000; 1 family $175; 2-4 family $325. There is a closing fee of $125 which will be waived if a minimum draw of $25,000 is taken at closing payable to a creditor other than Spencer Savings Bank. Early Termination Fee - if the account is closed less than 24 months from the date of the note, a fee of $300 will be charged for lines of $100,000 or less and $500 for lines in excess of $100,000. Property insurance may be required. Flood Insurance may be required. APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Terms of Spencer Flex Line of Credit are subject to change at any time.

Butterface said: You know what... I don't even know why I bother. I won't be posting anymore deals on Fatwallet, back to lurking. The idea that you can't post in two forums, one a specific forum and the other a more general forum about a hot deal is silly. The purpose here is to help each other get great deals, sometimes it makes sense to post in more that one area. The fact that people gave me bad ratings in the HOT DEALS section for posting an outstanding deal is just ridiculous. I remember now why I stopped posting in the past.

Some of us, do really appreciate your post. Thanks!

No I believe it's available in most states. I'm in Mass, but to be sure about your own state just give them a call.

**see update 4 in OP***

I got this when I check the rate:

"We're sorry, Third Federal currently offers this product only in the state of Ohio, and in certain markets of Kentucky and Florida."

OP, don't take such offense. The reason why it may be better to post in a consolidated thread is so that one doesn't have to skim through hundreds of pages on various forums trying to find that great deal. If you're looking for a HELOC deal, you go to the HELOC thread. Regarding posting in more than one forum, FW mods lock/move posts so that it's only in one forum. It may seem silly, but that's the way it is.

Turtle,

The point is that often we "aren't looking for a specific product or service" but if we find out about a deal that is very hot we might make the purchase anyway. Frankly, I wasn't in the market for a HELOC, typically I've avoided them because I don't care for the fees, early withdrawal penalties etc. but when I saw this deal to me it was a no brainer. $200 bucks for Home Depot, no cost or fees, and a great emergency fund (not to mention there are a lot of other benefits as detailed in a related post).

What are the chances that a typical Fatwallet user is going to find this if it's buried in the consolidated thread. Do you read every consolidated thread on Fatwallet, I sure don't. And how many people that could potentially benefit from this deal would ever see it if it were only posted in the Finance section. The reason for posting it in both areas is so that more users have the opportunity to get a great deal. I would imagine that Hot Deals is the most often read forum, so in my mind makes sense to post there. Also as it specifically relates to Finance on the chance that out of all users a few today might be looking specifically for a HELOC it made sense (at least to me) to post it here as well.

Again while I recognize the need for rules to maintain order far to often many individuals in these forums seem to spend their time being forum police and critics as opposed to deal finders and sharers. I've often wondered if that’s why some of the past best posters i.e. Jokersmoker have disappeared.

By the way MODS move forums because sometimes they need to and should and other times because of overzealous post trolls sending them unneeded alerts.

I have no problem with you updating your consolidated thread. By all means, it makes good sense so go ahead but it's my opinion that the as a new topic it deserves its own space to discuss so that one doesn't have to look past posts related to different offers in the consolidated thread to get the information they want on this particular deal.

Guess I'll go back to getting great deals like my $25 dollar Sharp HDTV projector after clearance and rebates and keep them to myself. Don't bother asking about it the deal is already dead, I bought 3 of them from Staples about a year ago, the OP was so blasted after his post that I PM'd him to thank him but rather than go thru the hassle of listening to all the post trolls moaning I didn't post how I actually was able to get the deal. By the way the original OPs post was a solid red. That in combination with people crapping all over the one & one hosting deal was the final straw. I simply stopped posting. I've been finding deals and using this and other sites since the early 90's when they first began. I personally was involved in developing all the old deals people would see for banks & brokerages that offered Cash Back when opening online accounts. My clients not only included Fatwallet, but Techbargains, Goapex, Slicxxxkdeals, Dealtime, Deal of the day, Pink Flamingo, Bens Bargains, just to name a few. I was one of the original poster over at Anandtech before that became a posting Gestapo forum, which ultimately led me here. Slowly Fatwallet has become similar with these oft ridiculous posting rules and over eager post cop/trolls. What I've saved over the years, what I've gotten free or virtually free is staggering. I use to really enjoy helping others find great deals, now I hide in the shadows because I don't want to put up with the crap. Do I sound bitter lol, you bet I am. What once was a lot of fun with a lot of great individuals working toward the same goal has become this rather sad mass of bad deals and bad behavior.

Back to the shadows.

Stingee,

The two links at the bottom of the firt post take you to the offers.

Third Federal Offer Says:

to be added to our list of new home equity customers that will receive this offer. Apply for a Third Federal Home Equity Line or loan. If you have entered your name onto our Offer List, we will automatically mail you a $225 check, one you close on your new line of loan

http://www.thirdfederal.com/weboffer/couponform.cfm?refer=google&ad=107527330-17393493-g&CFID=70436&CFTOKEN=27154946

Found the link

Not sure why the other one is no longer working

http://www.thirdfederal.com/weboffer/index.cfm?refer=google&ad=107527330-17393493-g&CFID=70436&CFTOKEN=27154946

copy and past it will work

stingee said: Rorer714 said:
Back to the deal. In December I applied for the HELOC and sent in both the 200 & 225 cash offers. I received both of them. From when I applied online to close was fast, about a week. They have very friendly CSR's. You can BT to their debit card with no problem. Make sure you do a draw first and don't have a credit balance.

Sounds like an awesome deal...how do I send for both the 200 gift card and the 225 cash offers? I followed this link, but there's no obvious indication that I'm getting 225 this way.
I applied at the beginning of December. When I applied their was an offer for 200 cash. After I applied their was an offer for 225 cash. I put in for both of them and received both. These offers expired 12/31/07. My point was if they have two offers put in for both of them, you might get them both.

Butterface said: Rorer the new $225 offer expires February 28 2008 according to the most recent link.
I should of made it more clear, the offers I used expired on 12/31/07. I received both my offers by checking Bankrate. They have the current 225 offer, but check back in a week or two the offers change.
Edit: FYI I live in IL, so they do cover a wide area.

I'm in. "Registered" for the $225, then applied using the Click Here to Open Your Account button on the Home Depot gift card offer page. Wonder which I'll get or whether I'll get both?

Either way, this is an excellent deal. Thanks, OP. Green for you.

-VW

According to its application, only apply to properties in following states:
CA, CT, FL, IL, KY, MA, NJ, NC, OH and PA.

It is really a hot deal, I wish I can apply. Thanks, OP! A great find!

tonysavealot said: Prime is the rate banks borrow money to each other...No, that would be the Federal Funds rate. The WSJ Prime rate is currently 6.5% while the Fed Funds rate is currently 3.5% (for the next few hours anyway).

Thanks for the insight here, OP! I've applied and been accepted (but yet to close). I applied via the HD $200 offer. I saw/printed the bankrate $100 offer, too. My understanding is that these offers (or at least 1 of them) are valid for simply opening the HELOC-- not necessarily drawing upon it. Nice to have options...

Any recommendations/advice (and especially reports on experiences) on proceeding before close? Should I actively inquire about the $100 offer before close? Some have mentioned "registering" for the previous $200+ offer somehow-- I'm not sure how, if this is necessary, and what implications it might have for the HD offer. Should I actively inquire about the HD offer before close? (bearing in mind that I followed the link online and have screen printout).

Thanks.