Home Equity Home Equity Agreements Point Home Equity Investments (HEI) and Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC): 2026 Review 2 people contribute to this content Written by Cassidy Horton, MBA Written by Cassidy Horton, MBA Expertise: Banking, home equity, mortgages, financial planning, budgeting, tax planning Cassidy Horton is a finance writer passionate about helping people find financial freedom. With an MBA and a bachelor's in public relations, her work has been published more than 1,000 times online. Learn more about Cassidy Horton, MBA Edited by Amanda Hankel Edited by Amanda Hankel Expertise: Writing, editing, digital publishing Amanda Hankel is a managing editor at LendEDU. She has more than seven years of experience covering various finance-related topics and has worked for more than 15 years overall in writing, editing, and publishing. Learn more about Amanda Hankel Written by Cassidy Horton, MBA Written by Cassidy Horton, MBA Expertise: Banking, home equity, mortgages, financial planning, budgeting, tax planning Cassidy Horton is a finance writer passionate about helping people find financial freedom. With an MBA and a bachelor's in public relations, her work has been published more than 1,000 times online. Learn more about Cassidy Horton, MBA Edited by Amanda Hankel Edited by Amanda Hankel Expertise: Writing, editing, digital publishing Amanda Hankel is a managing editor at LendEDU. She has more than seven years of experience covering various finance-related topics and has worked for more than 15 years overall in writing, editing, and publishing. Learn more about Amanda Hankel show more Jan 15, 2026 Best for Longer Terms 4.6 /5 Visit Site Home Equity Investment (HEI) Borrow up to $600,000 No monthly payments for up to 30 years Accepts credit scores as low as 500 No stated income requirement Buy back anytime with no penalty Trade future appreciation instead of paying interest Processing fee up to 3.9% ($2,000 minimum) Not available in all states Borrowing amounts$30,000 – $600,000Min. credit score500+State availability27 states (Check availability here)BBB ratingA+ rating for Point Digital Finance, Inc.; accredited; 4.09/5 stars (91 reviews)Trustpilot rating4.7 / 5 (3,756+ reviews) Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)Visit Site Borrow up to $750,000 against your equity Fixed rate on the initial draw, with the option to redraw later Funding can be as fast as 5 business days 30-year term with no prepayment penalty Credit score requirement can feel high Currently available in CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, MD, NC, and WA Origination fee up to 4.99% Initial rates (APR)6.50% – 15.25%Borrowing amounts$15,000 – $750,000Repayment terms30 yearsMin. credit score640+ Table of Contents Our take: Is Point a good home equity option? Point’s products and services Point HEI Point HELOC Is Point safe and legit? Point customer reviews How to apply for a Point HEA or HELOC Point HEA application process Point HELOC application process Who Point is best for Alternatives to Point HEI alternatives Point vs. Hometap Point vs. Unlock HELOC alternatives Point vs. Figure Point vs. LendingTree Our take: Is Point a good home equity option? Based on our analysis, Point is one of the best home equity companies out there. It receives high praise from customers, and it’s an A+ accredited institution with the Better Business Bureau. Point offers two very different paths to tapping into your home: A Home Equity Investment (HEI) with no monthly payments A HELOC with traditional interest and repayment The Point HEI is generally best if you need cash but can’t (or don’t want to) add another bill to your budget. Point’s HELOC may be better if you’re well-qualified for a loan and prefer paying interest over giving up equity. Point’s products and services Both of Point’s products (the HEI and HELOC) unlock cash from your home. But they work very differently. Point HEI Best for Longer Terms 4.6 /5 Visit Site About Point’s Home Equity Agreement No monthly payments for up to 30 years Credit scores as low as 500 may qualify No stated income requirement You can buy back the investment anytime without penalty Shares in depreciation (you may owe less if your home value drops) You can buy back the investment any time with no penalty Processing fee up to 3.9% plus standard closing costs Not available in all states Repayment may be much higher if your home appreciates Minimum funding amount of $30,000 (higher than some competitors) Point’s HEI is its flagship product, and it’s the main reason many homeowners end up on its site. It works like a home equity sharing agreement (HEA or HESA) where you get a lump sum today in exchange for a share of your home’s future value—with no monthly payments for up to 30 years. Hometap and Unlock both require repayment within 10 years, so Point gives you far more breathing room. And with no income requirement and credit starting at 500, it’s one of the more accessible ways to tap your equity when you’re not bank-ready for a HELOC. Term lengthUp to 30 yearsFeesUp to 3.9% processing fee (minimum $2,000)Plus appraisal, escrow, title, and government recording feesFunding amounts$30,000 – $600,000 Eligibility Min. credit score500Min. incomeNoneEligible statesArizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin Unique features 30-year repayment window (longest in the industry) No monthly payments No income requirement Buy back anytime with no penalty Shares in depreciation (you may repay less if your home value drops) Higher funding maximum than Unlock and similar to Hometap Point HELOC Visit Site About Point’s HELOC Borrow up to $750,000 Funding can be as fast as 5 business days Fixed rate on the initial draw Fully online application (originated through Figure) 30-year term with no prepayment penalty Generally 640+ FICO required Availability limited to select states Origination fee up to 4.99% Must draw 100% of the loan amount at closing Point’s HELOC is the more traditional option: you borrow against your home, repay monthly, and keep 100% of your future appreciation. It’s originated through Figure, which means a fully digital process, verification via uploaded documents, and in many cases, funding in as little as five business days. Your initial draw is fixed-rate and fully funded at closing. After that, you can redraw during the draw period, with rates tied to the prime rate. Because it requires stronger credit, the HELOC tends to be best for borrowers with solid financials who want a straightforward interest-based option. Initial rate (APR)6.50% – 15.25%Rate type (fixed or variable)Initial draw: FixedAdditional draws: Fixed or variableDraw requirement at closingFull loan amount (minus origination fee)Funding speedAs fast as 5 business days (for loans under $400k)Loan amounts$15,000 – $750,000Term lengths30-year term Eligibility Min. credit score640+Min. incomeNot listedEligible statesCalifornia, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Washington Unique features Additional draws available during the draw period Fully online application Premium phone support Potentially rapid funding timeline Is Point safe and legit? Point has been operating for more than a decade and is widely considered a reliable alternative home equity company. It launched in the mid-2010s to help homeowners access equity without monthly payments. Point’s NMLS # is 1610752. You can view its list of state licenses here. The company holds an A+ BBB rating and a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot score from over 3,750 users. Point uses standard financial security measures. It has also been featured across major media outlets covering HEIs and alternative lending. Point customer reviews SourceCustomer ratingNumber of reviewsTrustpilot4.7 / 53,756Better Business Bureau (BBB)4.09 / 591Collected in December 2025 Most of Point’s customer reviews are on Trustpilot. And at first glance, it’s evident that the company is well liked by lots of customers. Many reviews mention loving Point for having an easy and fast process, as well as clear communication from the customer service team. The complaints feel fewer and far between, but the biggest one is from people who experienced a few hiccups in the process. For some, that looked like needing to hand over more paperwork than intended. For others, it was a change in funding amount after appraisal. How to apply for a Point HEA or HELOC Point uses one online flow to check eligibility for both products. Here’s how each works. Point HEA application process Prequalification. You enter your address and a few basic details to see an initial offer. There’s no credit impact at this stage, and you’ll get a ballpark estimate of how much equity you could unlock. Full application and underwriting. If you like the estimate, you move into a full application. Point will pull your credit, verify your info, and order the required third-party reports: an appraisal, a title search, and other standard checks. Appraisal. Some applicants need a full appraisal from an independent professional. This helps Point set the “starting value” for calculating future appreciation. Closing and funding. Once underwriting is complete, closing happens with a mobile notary. Funds are typically wired within about three weeks, depending on appraisal and document turnaround. Repaying your HEI. There are no monthly payments. You repay anytime within 30 years (usually when you sell, refinance, or buy back the investment directly). Point HELOC application process Rate check and prequalification. You enter your address and basic info to see whether you qualify for Point’s HELOC (or the HEI). If you’re eligible, you’ll see both options side-by-side. Full application (via Figure). Because Point originates HELOCs through Figure, you’ll verify your email and complete the application on Figure’s platform. Expect to upload ID, income documents, and bank statements. Closing timeline. Funding can be as fast as five business days for loans under $400,000 that don’t require a full appraisal. Larger loans may need an appraisal and take longer. How draws and payments work. Your initial draw is fixed-rate and fully funded at closing. After that, you can redraw during the draw period; those later draws come with a different interest rate. You’ll make monthly payments based on whatever you’ve actually borrowed. Who Point is best for At this point, you may be wondering which Point home equity product is for you. Here’s a brief overview: Point’s HEI might fit you if… You need cash but can’t add another monthly payment Your credit or income doesn’t fit traditional HELOC requirements You want to avoid taking on more debt Point’s HELOC might fit you if… You have strong credit and want to compare competitive rates You prefer interest-based borrowing over sharing equity You want flexible draw-and-repay options for ongoing projects Alternatives to Point HEI alternatives Best Overall 4.8 Visit Site Visit Site Funding $15K – $600K Monthly Payments None Term Length 10 years Min. Credit Score 600 4.8 Visit Site Best for Partial Payments 4.7 Visit Site Visit Site Funding $15K – $500K Monthly Payments None Term Length 10 years Min. Credit Score 500 4.7 Visit Site Point vs. Hometap Hometap is our highest-rated HEI provider (4.8/5 vs. Point’s 4.6/5). Hometap is the closest apples-to-apples comparison to Point—but their terms work very differently once you look under the hood. Hometap offers a 10-year agreement (vs. Point’s 30-year window), requires a higher minimum credit score (600), and charges a higher fee (4.5%, up to $20,000). It also operates in fewer states (16 vs. Point’s 27). Hometap is known for having excpetional customer service and a simple interface. But if you have a credit score below 600, Point could be a better fit. Point vs. Unlock Unlock is the most flexible of the major HEI providers because it’s the only one that lets you make partial buybacks—meaning you can repay your agreement in smaller chunks instead of all at once. Its 10-year term works more like Hometap’s timeline, and its credit minimum (500) is similar to Point’s. Where Point stands out is in total funding (up to $600,000 compared to Unlock’s $500,000), a much longer repayment horizon (30 years instead of 10 years), and lower potential fees than Unlock’s 4.9% origination cap. Unlock is great if you want repayment control; Point is better if you want room to breathe or need higher upfront cash. HELOC alternatives Best Overall 4.9 View Rates View Rates Rates (APR) 6.70% – 14.65% Loan Amounts $20K – $400K Terms 5 yr. draw / 5, 10, 15, or 20 yr. repayment Min. Credit Score 640 4.9 View Rates Best Marketplace 4.5 View Rates View Rates Rates (APR) Vary Loan Amounts $10K – $2M Terms 2 – 20 yr. draw / Repayment: 5 – 30 yr Min. Credit Score None 4.5 View Rates Point vs. Figure If you’re strictly shopping for a HELOC, Figure is hard to beat. It’s our top-rated digital HELOC provider (4.9/5) with fast approvals, same-week funding, and fully online underwriting that’s ideal for borrowers with strong credit. (Note: Point’s HEI’s are actually offered through Figure, so it’s essentially the same product.) But Figure doesn’t offer HEIs at all. So if you’re deciding between borrowing with interest (HELOC) and sharing equity (HEI), Point is the only lender that lets you compare both options under one roof. Point vs. LendingTree LendingTree is a marketplace (not a lender). It’s a good spot if you’d like to access dozens of competing HELOC offers at once. If you already know you want a HELOC and want to see a wide spread of options, start with LendingTree; if you want a side-by-side HEI vs. HELOC comparison from a single provider, Point is more convenient. How we rated Point We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help consumers identify companies that offer the best financial products. Our experts spend hours researching these companies each year to ensure our ratings are fresh and accurate. Our most recent evaluation compared Point to several companies across a number of factors, including cash offers, repayment terms, customer reviews, and fees. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. We round all ratings to the nearest tenth decimal place. Best HEI for Longer Terms 4.6 Visit Site Visit Site Funding $30K – $500K Monthly Payments None Term Length 30 years Min. Credit Score 500 4.6 Visit Site HELOC Visit Site Visit Site Rates (APR) -- Loan Amounts -- Terms -- Min. Credit Score -- Visit Site About our contributors Written by Cassidy Horton, MBA Cassidy Horton is a finance writer passionate about helping people find financial freedom. With an MBA and a bachelor's in public relations, her work has been published more than 1,000 times online. Edited by Amanda Hankel Amanda Hankel is a managing editor at LendEDU. She has more than seven years of experience covering various finance-related topics and has worked for more than 15 years overall in writing, editing, and publishing.