Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Home Equity HELOCs What Is the Best Way to Pay Off a HELOC? Updated May 28, 2024 4-min read Expert Approved Expert Approved This article has been reviewed by a Certified Financial Planner™ for accuracy. Written by Jerry Brown Written by Jerry Brown Expertise: Credit, debt management, personal loans, student loans Jerry Brown is a freelance personal finance writer who lives in New Orleans. He covers a range of personal finance topics, including credit, personal loans, and student loans. Learn more about Jerry Brown Reviewed by Erin Kinkade, CFP® Reviewed by Erin Kinkade, CFP® Expertise: Insurance planning, education planning, retirement planning, investment planning, military benefits, behavioral finance Erin Kinkade, CFP®, ChFC®, works as a financial planner at AAFMAA Wealth Management & Trust. Erin prepares comprehensive financial plans for military veterans and their families. Learn more about Erin Kinkade, CFP® A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is a flexible tool that allows you to borrow against your home’s equity. But if you have a balance, paying it off early can substantially lower your total interest costs. We’ll cover strategies you can use to pay off your HELOC faster. Learning how each method works can help you decide on the best way to pay off a HELOC. Table of Contents Skip to Section How does HELOC repayment work?4 ways to pay off a HELOCWhat is the best way to pay off a HELOC? How does HELOC repayment work? A HELOC comes with a draw period and a repayment period. During the draw period—which often lasts 10 years—you can borrow money up to your credit limit as needed. Many lenders allow you to make monthly interest-only payments during this phase. However, you can also pay down the original balance in addition to the interest payments. After that phase ends, the repayment period begins, and you can no longer borrow against the HELOC. This period can last up to 20 years, and the lender requires you to pay your principal balance plus interest. But you can pay back your HELOC early to lower your total borrowing costs. Check with your lender first to see whether it charges a fee for paying off your HELOC early. The cost of a prepayment penalty fee varies, but some lenders charge 2% of the amount you owe. 4 ways to pay off a HELOC You can use several strategies to pay your HELOC off. Here are four options to consider. MethodBest forMake a lump-sum paymentIndividuals who can afford to pay their HELOC off at one timeMake extra principal paymentsBorrowers who want to reduce their overall interest costsRefinanceChanging the rate and terms of your current HELOCCash-out refinanceSwitching to a fixed-rate loan Make a lump-sum payment If you want to save the most interest and can afford to, pay your HELOC balance in full. Even if your lender charges a prepayment fee, the savings might outweigh the future borrowing costs. Make extra principal payments Making additional payments toward your principal balance can help you pay off your HELOC faster. Before you pay, contact your lender to tell it you want the extra money applied toward your original balance. Refinance Another way to repay your balance faster is to refinance your HELOC—take out a new HELOC to pay off your old one. If you qualify for a lower rate, you can save money and kick your HELOC debt to the curb sooner. Cash-out refinance A cash-out refinance might be ideal if you want to switch from a variable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate one. It means taking out a new, larger primary mortgage with a fixed rate to pay off your current one. When you close on the loan, you receive the difference in cash—the “cash-out” part of this method. You could use the cash for almost any purpose, including paying off your HELOC. Before you do this, make sure the benefits outweigh the costs. You’ll have to pay closing costs like when you took out your original mortgage. Also, if you can’t qualify for a lower rate, consider an alternative method to avoid increased interest payments on your current home loan. Read More Best Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Rates & Lenders Our expert’s advice for HELOC payoff Erin Kinkade CFP® I suggest following these four steps: First, determine what type of payment options you prefer and what options remain open to you if you begin with interest-only and then want to move to principal or lump-sum payments before the required payment period begins. Next, determine whether the lender allows principal payments during the draw period. Third, determine whether you can afford the interest payments during the draw period, and ideally, factor in principal payments too. Last, make sure the payments are realistic—don’t draw more than you can pay back in interest and put yourself in a position that requires you to draw on more debt (i.e., credit cards and personal loans). The bottom line is to borrow what you can afford to borrow. What is the best way to pay off a HELOC? The best method for paying off a HELOC depends on your financial circumstances and goals. The following table highlights options that are ideal for different scenarios. If…Pay off your HELOC by… You can afford to pay it off all at onceMaking a one-time paymentYou can’t afford a lump-sum paymentMaking extra principal paymentsYou want to switch to a fixed-rate loanUsing a cash-out refinance If you can afford to pay it off all at once If you can afford to pay off what you owe, a lump-sum payment might be the best option for you. Just remember to check with the lender to see whether it charges a prepayment fee. If you can’t afford a lump-sum payment Making extra principal payments could be your best strategy if you can’t afford to pay your balance in full but want to pay down your loan faster. Doing so helps lower your total interest costs. If you want to switch to a fixed-rate loan Applying for a cash-out refinance might be your best option if you want to swap out your HELOC’s variable rate with a fixed one.