Best Home Equity Solutions
There are several ways to tap into your home’s equity—through a HELOC, a Home Equity Agreement (HEA), or a Cash-out Refinance and we've reviewed the top options to help you choose the best one for your financial goals.
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Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
HELOCs are a product that gives you access to a credit line, which you can withdraw from as needed (much like a credit card). These typically come with variable interest rates, which means your rate can increase or decrease over time.
Great Home Equity Line Of Credit
- For 700+ credit scores
- Apply 100% online
- Borrow $5,000 to $250,000
- Refinance home equity loans with no fees
- Excellent (4,400+ Trustpilot customers)
- For 700+ credit scores
- Apply 100% online
- Borrow $5,000 to $250,000
- Refinance home equity loans with no fees
- Excellent (4,400+ Trustpilot customers)
No Appraisal Required for Most
- Close in as fast as 5 days1
- Borrow $26,000 to $250,0002
- Apply 100% online
- No annual fee, prepayment penalty, or fees to redraw3
- No paperwork needed to apply
- Close in as fast as 5 days1
- Borrow $26,000 to $250,0002
- Apply 100% online
- No annual fee, prepayment penalty, or fees to redraw3
- No paperwork needed to apply
Great for Fair/Good Credit
- Borrow $20,000 – $400,000
- Apply 100% online
- Check your options without impacting your credit score
- 25+ years in business
- Family-owned company
- A+ (BBB Rating) / Excellent (Trustpilot Customers)
- Borrow $20,000 – $400,000
- Apply 100% online
- Check your options without impacting your credit score
- 25+ years in business
- Family-owned company
- A+ (BBB Rating) / Excellent (Trustpilot Customers)
Great for Good/ Very Good Credit
- Great for 700+ credit scores
- $11+ billion in equity unlocked
- Apply 100% online
- Borrow $15,000 to $400,000
- Flexible fixed-rate terms
- Excellent (2,800+ Trustpilot customers)
- Great for 700+ credit scores
- $11+ billion in equity unlocked
- Apply 100% online
- Borrow $15,000 to $400,000
- Flexible fixed-rate terms
- Excellent (2,800+ Trustpilot customers)
Home Equity Agreements (HEA)
Home equity sharing agreements, also referred to as home equity investments, is when an investor purchases a share of your equity and gives you a lump-sum payment, essentially buying a portion of your home’s future value.
Great Overall (Editor's Choice)
- Access up to $600k in as little as 3 weeks
- No monthly payments or interest
- Assigned a dedicated Investment Manager
- Get an online cash estimate in just 60 seconds
- Accepts bankruptcy resolved over 1 year ago
- Excellent (4,300+ Trustpilot customers)
- Access up to $600k in as little as 3 weeks
- No monthly payments or interest
- Assigned a dedicated Investment Manager
- Get an online cash estimate in just 60 seconds
- Accepts bankruptcy resolved over 1 year ago
- Excellent (4,300+ Trustpilot customers)
Great for Longer Terms
- No payments for up to 30 years
- Funds can be used on anything you need
- No income requirements
- Get an online cash estimate in just 60 seconds
- Accepts bankruptcy resolved over 2 years ago
- Excellent (2,100+ Trustpilot Clients)
- No payments for up to 30 years
- Funds can be used on anything you need
- No income requirements
- Get an online cash estimate in just 60 seconds
- Accepts bankruptcy resolved over 2 years ago
- Excellent (2,100+ Trustpilot Clients)
Great for Partial Payments
- Accepts partial payments during the term
- No monthly payments or interest
- Get an online cash estimate in just 2 minutes
- Prequalify without affecting your credit score
- Accepts bankruptcy resolved over 5 years ago
- Excellent (1,100+ Trustpilot customers)
- Accepts partial payments during the term
- No monthly payments or interest
- Get an online cash estimate in just 2 minutes
- Prequalify without affecting your credit score
- Accepts bankruptcy resolved over 5 years ago
- Excellent (1,100+ Trustpilot customers)
Great for Flexible Repayments
- Access up to $500K
- No monthly payments
- Remain the owner and continue living in your home
- Maturity Match gives flexibility to repurchase at your convenience
- Get an online cash estimate in under 2 minutes
- A (BBB Rating)
- Access up to $500K
- No monthly payments
- Remain the owner and continue living in your home
- Maturity Match gives flexibility to repurchase at your convenience
- Get an online cash estimate in under 2 minutes
- A (BBB Rating)
Cash-out Refinance
Cash-out refinance is when you replace your mortgage loan with a new, larger one. You then use that loan to pay off your balance, and you get the remaining funds back in cash. In some cases, your loan may have a different term (longer or shorter payoff time) and a different, often lower, interest rate.
Great for Fair/Good Credit
- Great for 580-679 credit scores
- Family-owned company
- 25+ years in business
- Apply 100% Online
- Checking rates doesn’t affect your credit score
- A+ (BBB Rating) / Excellent (Trustpilot Customers)
- Great for 580-679 credit scores
- Family-owned company
- 25+ years in business
- Apply 100% Online
- Checking rates doesn’t affect your credit score
- A+ (BBB Rating) / Excellent (Trustpilot Customers)
Why is only one cash-out refinance company listed?
We’re dedicated to partnering with companies that best suit your needs. Currently, New American Funding is our chosen partner in your area for this service. While we believe New American Funding offers a strong option, there may be other providers in your area. Our provider network may be limited due to your location or our ongoing review process. We’re constantly growing and aim to provide you with even more choices in the future.
How does a HEA compare to a HELOC or Cash-out Refinance?
While home equity agreements (HEAs) offer a unique way to access your home’s equity, traditional home equity financing solutions like home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and Cash-out refinancing are still popular.
Let’s compare these options:
Home equity agreement (HEA)
A HESA is an agreement between you and an investment company in which you receive a lump-sum cash payment in exchange for a portion of your equity. It isn’t a form of debt, so there are no monthly payments, and the eligibility requirements are more lenient.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
A HELOC is a revolving credit line secured by your home’s equity. You can draw money as needed and only pay interest on what you borrow. HELOCs require monthly payments and have credit score and income requirements.
Cash-out refinance
A cash-out refinance loan lets you access the equity in your home without taking out a second loan, such as a home equity loan, second mortgage, or personal loan. It also lets you change the terms of your mortgage, ideally reducing your interest rate.
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1As of January 2025, 10% of funded HELOCs achieved a closing timeline of 5 days or less and a funding timeline of 11 days or less. This timeline assumes consumers close with our remote online notary, provide supporting documentation promptly, and ensure the information provided is accurate and consistent with our verification process. Delays, discrepancies, and other unforeseen factors may impact the closing timeline. MBA’s 2024 Home Lending Study reports an average industry closing time of 31 days.
2Upstart Mortgage offers HELOCs from $26K-$250K. The exact amount you may borrow depends on what you qualify for based on your application information
3Terms shown here are subject to change without notice. Origination fee to open an account is between 1.00% and 4.99% of the approved credit limit. The Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”) is variable and based on the Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal “Money Rates” table plus or minus a margin. Your APR will never be less than 3.99% or greater than 18.00%. Property insurance is required. Ask us for additional details.