Fastest HELOCs and Home Equity Loans: Same-Day Approval and Funding in Days

Home equity loans and lines of credit usually take two to six weeks to process. But what if you’re facing urgent home repairs or time-sensitive bills and need your money faster than that? 

Aven and LendingTree provide fast HELOCs and home equity loans that can be funded in as little as five days. However, it could slow things down if you don’t easily meet the lender’s eligibility requirements or if you need an in-person appraisal. We’ve observed that the biggest obstacle to fast approval is credit scores—despite minimum scores of around 640, HELOC lenders mostly approve applications with a credit score of 720 or higher.

Here’s everything to know about the fastest HELOC and home equity loan lenders, plus tips for speeding up the process.

Table of Contents

1. Reviews of the best fast home equity loan & HELOC lenders
2. How fast can you get a HELOC or home equity loan?
3. Can I get a same-day HELOC?
   1. How fast can you get a HELOC?
4. Tips for quick HELOC approval and funding
   1. 1. Choose a lender that uses automated valuations
   2. 2. Keep your financial documents ready
   3. 3. Check your credit before applying
   4. 4. Borrow a straightforward amount
   5. 5. Ensure the fastest HELOC closing
5. Are there fast home equity loans for bad credit?
6. Alternatives to HELOCs and home equity loans for fast funds

Reviews of the best fast home equity loan & HELOC lenders

Here are our reviews of the best home equity loans and lines of credit with fast funding.

How fast can you get a HELOC or home equity loan?

Home equity loans usually take two to six weeks from application to funding. That’s because they often require:

• A full in-person appraisal
• Extra documentation
• Manual underwriting

HELOCs tend to move faster. Many lenders, such as Aven, now offer digital applications and use automated valuation models (AVMs) to estimate your home’s value. These tools can cut weeks off the timeline.

Some lenders, including the ones above, can:

• Approve your application within minutes
• Release funds in as little as three to five days once your documents are complete

If speed is your top priority, a HELOC is generally the better option. It’s faster, more flexible, and easier to access online than a traditional home equity loan.

The primary risk involved with a HELOC or home equity loan is placing your home as collateral. If you default for an extended period, your home will be foreclosed. An additional risk is the housing market—if you live in a geographical zone where home values fluctuate, your home value could drop, and you could owe more than your home is worth. Consider these risks when choosing a lender. Consider the terms offered (interest rate and length of repayment) along with unemployment insurance coverage (and what qualifies as unemployed, specifically if you are a 1099 employee). 

Can I get a same-day HELOC?

Not quite. Even the fastest lenders need time to:

• Verify your income
• Check your credit
• Confirm your home’s value

Plus, federal law requires a three-day right of rescission for most home equity loans and lines of credit. That waiting period gives you time to cancel after signing, so the lender can’t release funds until it ends.

How fast can you get a HELOC?

It’s possible to get:

• Approval within minutes through a digital application
• Funding within a few days after the rescission period closes

If you truly need same-day money, you’ll need to look beyond home equity products. A personal loan or short-term financing app may get funds to you faster, though usually at a higher cost.

Tips for quick HELOC approval and funding

1. Choose a lender that uses automated valuations

A full appraisal can take up to two weeks. AVMs rely on public records and recent home sales to create a computer-generated value.

Not every lender allows them, though. Some still require an in-person appraisal—especially if your home was recently renovated or public data is incomplete.

2. Keep your financial documents ready

Having the necessary documents ready when you apply, such as pay stubs, tax returns, and homeowner’s insurance information, helps the lender verify your information faster.

3. Check your credit before applying

A strong credit profile (typically 720 or higher) speeds up approval and may help you qualify for better rates. If your credit report has errors or outdated accounts, fixing them in advance can prevent delays.

4. Borrow a straightforward amount

Large or unusual loan requests can trigger extra underwriting steps. Borrowing a reasonable amount based on your available equity usually helps things move faster.

Try to stay within your lender’s loan-to-value (LTV) range, which typically tops out around 80% to 90% of your home’s value. If you request more than the lender’s limit, you may face extra documentation or a full in-person appraisal, which can delay funding.

5. Ensure the fastest HELOC closing

Once you’re approved, closing can still slow down if you’re not prepared. To keep things moving, respond quickly to lender requests, review your closing disclosures as soon as they arrive, and make sure your homeowner’s insurance and title details are up to date. Staying proactive during this final stage helps avoid last-minute issues and supports the fastest HELOC closing possible.

Are there fast home equity loans for bad credit?

Getting a fast home equity loan or HELOC with bad credit can be tough. Most lenders that fund quickly prefer a credit score of 720 or above, so you may need to look at more flexible options.

One alternative is a no-doc HELOC. These are designed for borrowers who can’t easily verify income, like self-employed homeowners. Since lenders focus more on your home’s equity than your credit, approvals can move faster—sometimes funding in as little as five to seven days.

If you don’t qualify for a traditional HELOC, you might also consider a home equity agreement. Funding usually takes two to three weeks, and you won’t need to take on new debt or make monthly payments.

Alternatives to HELOCs and home equity loans for fast funds

The biggest downside of using a HELOC for emergencies or other urgent expenses is that you risk losing your home if you can’t repay. This risk might not be worth taking if your income is unstable or you don’t have solid job security. In these cases, you could also explore these alternatives.

Alternative	How fast you can get funds
Emergency fund	Instantly (if already saved)
Personal loan	Within 1 business day (sometimes same day)
Credit card	Instant access once approved
Cash advance	Same day
401(k) loan	1–7 days

Emergency fund

An emergency fund is the safest option for unexpected expenses. Unlike a HELOC, it doesn’t involve interest charges or put your home at risk. But building up enough cash savings to cover three to six months’ worth of expenses takes time and discipline. 

If you need a fast HELOC now, this might not help. But it could be a good solution to turn to in the future. You can start by setting aside $500 or $1,000 in a high-yield savings account and add to it every time you get paid. 

Personal loans

You can get approved for a personal loan much faster than you can get approved for a HELOC. (Many lenders can approve you instantly and deposit funds into your bank account within one business day.) 

However, personal loans are unsecured, so you’ll likely get stuck with a much higher interest rate on a smaller loan amount. 

Credit cards

You could also use a credit card instead of a fast HELOC—but beware of high interest rates. As of September 2024, the average credit card APR is around 25%. That’s a much higher rate than most HELOCs. 

If you go this route, only charge to your card what is absolutely necessary. These cards work in a pinch when you need to cover an expense quickly. But relying on them too much can trap you in a cycle of debt that’s hard to break out of.

Cash advances

Cash advances have no credit check and can put money in your hand the same day you need it. But this convenience comes at a steep price. These loans often have predatory interest rates that exceed 400%. Also, the maximum amount you can borrow is usually $500.

401(k) loans

Taking out a 401(k) loan instead of a HELOC is another option, if one is available to you. But weigh the risks first. Borrowing from your 401(k) reduces your retirement savings and must be repaid right away if you change jobs. 

If you can’t pay the loan back, the IRS will treat it as a full distribution, which means it could be subject to income tax (depending on the Roth or traditional composition of the account) and a 10% penalty if you are below age 59½.

I recommend making a list of each option, eliminating the items that are not an option (i.e., if there is no emergency fund established or if your employer does not offer a 401k plan). Keeping in mind the amount and purpose of the funds, make a pros, cons, and needs list.

Weigh these factors against each other and go with the option that mostly meets your emergency needs. Keep in mind that mathematically, it may not be the best option, but the option that meets your needs at the time may outweigh the costs. And know that it is OK.