Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Home Equity Home Equity Investments Noah Competitors and Alternatives Updated Aug 18, 2023 | 7-min read Written by Aly Yale Written by Aly Yale Expertise: Home equity, mortgages, real estate Aly Yale is a freelance writer with more than a decade of experience covering real estate and personal finance topics. Learn more about Aly Yale Noah is a home equity sharing company that allows homeowners to turn their equity into cash. The company also offers down payment assistance for new homebuyers. Several companies offer services similar to Noah’s—and there are also alternative products for accessing your home equity. If you’re considering leveraging the equity you’ve built up in your home, use this guide to understand your options. In this guide: How does Noah work?Noah competitorsNoah alternatives How does Noah work? Important note: Noah has paused accepting new applications. Consider some of its competitors if you are interested in a home equity investment. At its heart, Noah is an investment company. You sell Noah a share of your home’s equity, and in exchange, you get a lump sum payment upfront. You have 10 years to use the funds as you wish, at which point, you’ll need to buy Noah’s share out—either by selling the house, using savings, or possibly through refinancing your mortgage. Keep in mind: You’d pay Noah back at your home’s current value at that time, not the value when you started the agreement. This means Noah would share in any appreciation your home has experienced. Home equity sharing agreements like Noah’s offer can be a smart way to pay for home renovations without taking on extra debt, interest costs, or monthly payments. You can also use them to cover sudden repairs, medical bills, college tuition, or other debts. Noah competitors Several companies offer home equity sharing agreements similar to Noah’s. See how these Noah competitors compare on eligibility requirements, investment amount, fees, and more below. NoahUnisonHometapUnlockMin. credit score580620500550Min. incomeNoneNoneNoneNoneMax. LTV85%70%75%80%State availabilityCA, CO, MA, NJ, NY, OR, UT, VA, WA, DCAZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA, WI, DCAZ, CA, FL, MI, MN, NJ, NY, NV, NC, SC, OH, OR, PA, VA, UT, WAAZ, CA, CO, FL, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NV, OR, SC, TN, UT, VA, WAInvestment amount$30,000 – $500,000$30,000 – $500,000$15,000 – $600,000$30,000 – $500,000Term length10 years30 years10 years10 yearsTransaction fee3% or $2,000 (whichever is higher)3.9%3%3%Our rating (out of 5) N/A4.44.64.7Free cash estimateTemporarily pausedClick hereClick hereClick here Unison Cash Estimate Investments from $30,000 to $500,000Available in more states than any other home equity investment companyReceive a cash estimate in just 60 seconds with no impact on your credit About Unison Unison is a home equity sharing company based in California. Like Noah, the company lets homeowners sell a portion of their home’s future value for cash. Unison is available in dozens of states and offers a maximum of $500,000 in funding—up to 15% of a home’s value. As far as minimum credit scores go, Unison has the strictest requirement: 620. Its terms are set at 30 years. What makes it a good alternative to Noah? Unison may be a good option if Noah’s not available in your state or if you want a longer timeline before buying your equity back. With Unison, you get 30 years before you need to sell your house or buy out the company’s investment. Noah’s buyout timeline is much shorter (just 10 years). Pros & cons Pros No monthly payments No restrictions on how you use your funds Available in more states than any of its competitors Get a cash estimate in just 60 seconds Cons Higher minimum credit score than Noah Unison won’t share in the loss from a home sale or buyout during the first five years Three-year restriction on remodeling adjustments Hometap Cash Estimate Investments from $15,000 to $600,000Highest customer reviews of all home equity investment companiesNo out-of-pocket costs About Hometap Hometap is a co-investment company based in Boston. Homeowners can get a lump sum payment from $15,000 to $600,000 (depending on the value of their home) and need at least a 25% equity stake to qualify. Though the company encourages homeowners to have credit scores of 600 or higher, Hometap technically allows for scores as low as 500, making it a good option for low-credit homeowners. The company will buy up to 30% of the home’s value. What makes it a good alternative to Noah? Hometap is a good alternative to Noah if you have low credit. While Noah does allow for scores down to 580, Hometap’s bare minimum is much lower. Hometap is also available in more states than Noah and offers more potential cash (a $600,000 max versus $500,000). Pros & cons Pros Lowest minimum credit score requirement Higher investment amount than Noah Available in more states than Noah Cons Requires more equity than Noah Funding times may be longer than Noah Unlock Cash Estimate Investments from $30,000 to $500,000Only company that allows partial buy-out paymentsDoesn’t share in the value added from home improvements About Unlock Unlock is another Noah competitor you might consider when cashing in on your home equity. The company offers up to $500,000 in funding, and homeowners need just 20% equity to qualify (that’s more than Noah but less than the other options in this guide). Unlock agreements come with a 10-year term. And unlike other home equity sharing companies, this one lets you buy back your equity in partial payments. Doing so could make it easier—and potentially more affordable—to buy out Unlock in the long run. What makes it a good alternative to Noah? Unlock has wider availability than Noah, so if you’re in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee, it may be a good option. You also might consider Unlock if you want the flexibility of partial payments—rather than paying a large, lump sum at the end of your agreement. Unlock also has a lower credit score minimum than Noah. With Unlock, you can qualify with scores as low as 550. Noah’s minimum is higher at 580. Pros & cons Pros Available in more states than Noah Only company that allows partial payments Lowest minimum credit score requirement Cons Requires more equity than Noah Noah alternatives Home equity sharing agreements aren’t your only option for leveraging the equity you’ve built in your property. There are also other financial products you might consider to turn your equity into cash. Here’s a look at two—HELOCs and leasebacks—and how they compare to Noah’s offering. NoahFigureEasyKnockProductInvestmentHELOCHome sale leasebackMin. credit score580640None disclosedMin. incomeNoneNoneNoneMax. LTV85%85%90%State availabilityCA, CO, MA, NJ, NY, OR, UT, VA, WA, DCAll states except for DE, HI, KY, MD, NY, TX, UT, WVNot disclosedInvestment/loan amount$30,000 to $500,000$15,000 to $400,000$60,000 to $450,000Term length10 years5, 10, 15, or 30 years12 to 24 month lease (can renew after that)Origination fee3% or $2,000 (whichever is higher)Up to 4.99% origination fee2.99%Get startedTemporarily pausedView ratesView rates Figure View Rates Editorial Selection: Best Online HELOC Receive your funds in as little as five daysThe entire application process is completed onlinePrequalification doesn’t impact your credit About Figure Figure is an online lender that offers a variety of financial products, including home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), mortgages, and crypto-backed loans. The company also offers various business solutions and investment options. What makes it a good alternative to Noah? If you’re looking for super-fast funding, Figure can be a good option. The company offers funding in as few as five days if you’re able to sign the contract online. It’s also more widely available than Noah (only a handful of states are excluded), and there are several more term options to choose from. Pros & cons Pros Available in more states than Noah Offers four different repayment terms Doesn’t share in the appreciation of your home The entire application process is online Funding can be completed in as little as five days Cons Comes with interest and monthly payments Higher minimum credit score than Noah Can’t access as much cash EasyKnock View Rates Cash out without having to move outNo set credit or income limitsChoose from three different plans About EasyKnock EasyKnock offers a different approach to leveraging your home equity. Rather than selling just a portion of your equity, you instead sell the entire house to EasyKnock and then rent it back. You can turn up to 90% of your home’s equity into cash using this strategy and are free to remain a renter for as long as you want. The company also offers a program for homeowners looking to move. Dubbed Moveability, it lets you sell your home to EasyKnock, lease it for up to 12 months, and take your time searching for a new property. What makes it a good alternative to Noah? EasyKnock might be a good alternative if you want more cash or you don’t have much equity. The company allows homeowners to turn up to 90% of their home’s equity into cash (though a portion of this will be used to pay off any existing mortgage balances on the property). Pros & cons Pros Get up to 100% of your home’s value without having to move out of your home No minimum credit score No minimum income Cons Closings costs are included You must give up ownership of your home You must pay rent to stay in the home