Point vs. Unlock: Home Equity Sharing Comparison

Most homeowners have gained a significant amount of equity in the last few years, and with home equity sharing agreements, there’s a way to leverage that equity without taking on more debt.

Several companies offer home equity sharing agreements, so it’s important to compare your options. This comparison will break down the differences between two major home equity players: Point and Unlock. Use it to determine which company may be best for your goals.

In this comparison:

• Does Point or Unlock have better reviews and ratings?
• Is a home equity investment from Point or Unlock more accessible?
• Scenarios in which Point or Unlock is better than the other
• Which company is our choice between Point and Unlock?

	4.7 View Rates	4.7 View Rates
Investment amount	$25,000 – $350,000	$30,000 – $500,000
Investment amount	Investment amount
$25,000 – $350,000	$30,000 – $500,000
Term length	30 years	10 years
Term length	Term length
30 years	10 years
Credit score	500+	550+
Credit score	Credit score
500+	550+
	See the best home equity investments.

About Point

Point is a home equity sharing company based in Palo Alto, California, and was founded in 2015. In addition to home equity sharing agreements, it also offers home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and down payment investments for new homebuyers. Read our full review of Point for more info on the company.

About Unlock

Unlock is another home equity sharing option. Unlike Point, it focuses solely on home equity investments. The company is based in San Francisco and has been around since 2021. Check out our full Unlock review for more details.

Does Point or Unlock have better reviews and ratings?

Not all home equity sharing companies are created equal. If you want the best service and experience, it’s important to consider past customer reviews and ratings when determining who to do business with. Here’s how Point vs. Unlock compare across popular review sites:

Rating Source	Point	Unlock
Trustpilot	4.4/5 stars	4.6/5 stars
Better Business Bureau	4.48/5 stars	4.92/5 stars
LendEDU	4.7/5 stars	4.7/5 stars

Unlock has higher reviews across all three sites we considered. On Trustpilot, 93% of customers say their experience was either “excellent” or “great,” and many note the company’s attentive service, speed, and accessibility.

Point also has its share of good reviews. Nearly eight in 10 past customers say their experience was “excellent” or “great,” though some customers note long processing times. Others say they had difficulty getting in touch with their account reps. “The application process was excellent, and the closing process was excellent as well,” one customer wrote. “The part in between is why it wasn’t five stars.”

Is a home equity investment from Point or Unlock more accessible?

While reviews and ratings should be a part of your evaluation process, you’ll also want to consider geographic availability and eligibility standards. Here’s a look at how these vary between Unlock vs. Point:

	Point	Unlock
State availability	AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA, DC	AZ, CA, CO, FL, MI, NV, NJ, NC, OR, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA
Minimum credit score	500	550
Maximum LTV	80%	80%
Type of home	Single-family homes, condos, properties with 1-4 units, townhomes No mobile homes, manufactured homes, properties with five or more acres or units, or properties owned by tenancy-in-commons, LLCs, or co-ops	Most residential property types, including single-family homes, condos, 2-4 unit properties, and townhomes Both owner- and non-owner-occupied allowed No tenancy-in-commons, co-ops, raw land, or any prefabricated homes such as mobile homes or manufactured housing
Investment amount	$25,000 to $500,000	$30,000 to $500,000
Term	30 years	10 years, with partial buyouts allowed over time
Fees	3% to 5% transaction fees, appraisal costs, and third-party settlement costs	3% transaction fees, appraisal costs, and third-party settlement costs

The best home equity sharing company for your needs depends on where you’re located, the investment amount you need, your credit score, and your preferred buyout timeline. Point, for example, gives you up to 30 years to buy back your equity, while Unlock only allows 10 years. Unlock may be better if you want to minimize transaction costs (Point’s fees can go up to 5% vs. Unlock’s 3%).

Scenarios in which Point or Unlock is better than the other

If you’re still unsure whether Point or Unlock is the best choice for your needs, we’ve broken out a few scenarios where one clearly outperforms the other. See if any of the below mirror your needs and, if so, which company is best suited to help.

If you want a longer term: Point

Point gives you up to 30 years to buy back your equity, so if you know you’ll be in the home for the long haul, this might be your best choice. Unlock, on the other hand, has a term of just 10 years, so you’ll need to buy back your equity much sooner.

If you want to spread your buyout over time: Unlock

Though Unlock’s buyout timeline is shorter, it’s also more flexible than Point’s. With Unlock, you can make partial buybacks of your home equity over time, which helps you spread out your costs and, in many cases, allows you to enjoy more of your home’s appreciation.

Point does not allow for partial buyouts. Instead, you’ll need to buy back your equity and the appreciated value simultaneously at the end of your term. This can translate to a significant expense down the line.

If you want a company with more experience: Point

If you want a company with years of experience, Point is an excellent choice. The company has been involved in home equity sharing options since 2015 and has served thousands of customers.

Unlock has only been around since 2021, making it one of the newer home equity sharing companies to hit the market.

If you want to minimize your costs: Unlock

Both Point and Unlock charge service fees, which are deducted from your investment amount at closing. With Unlock, you’ll pay 3%, which is the standard for other home equity sharing companies in the industry. Point’s service fees can reach 5%—a significantly higher percentage that should be considered, especially if you’re getting a large investment. (For example, 5% of $500,000 is $25,000.)

If you want a smaller investment: Point

Point and Unlock each have minimum investment requirements, but Point’s amounts are slightly lower. With Point, you can get an investment as low as $25,000, which might be preferable if you need funds for a small renovation or another minor fixed cost. Unlock requires an investment of at least $30,000.

Which company is our choice between Point and Unlock?

Point and Unlock are similarly matched. The big difference between the two is the buyout options. Unlock offers a shorter timeline but more flexibility. Point gives you a longer time frame but no partial buyouts. The two also vary slightly in geographic availability, which may play a significant role in your final decision.