What Is Home Equity And How Can I Access It? (2024)

You can get access to your home equity through a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a reverse mortgage.

Cash-Out Refinance

A cash-out refinance allows you to take out your equity by getting a new mortgage at a higher loan amount. You replace your current mortgage with a bigger one and get the difference in cash. Like any refinance, your new mortgage pays off your old one, so you just have one monthly mortgage payment. It generally takes between 30 and 45 days to refinance.

When you do a cash-out refinance, you usually need to leave some equity in the home. The amount you’ll have to leave depends on the type of loan you’re seeking, but you should expect to leave about 20% equity in the home.

Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan is a second mortgage on your home. It doesn’t replace your current mortgage; it’s a second mortgage that requires a separate payment. For this reason, home equity loans tend to have higher interest rates than first mortgages.

Like a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan is a secured loan that uses your home equity as collateral. This gives you access to lower interest rates than unsecured loans, like personal loans.

Once you close on your home equity loan, you’ll receive a lump-sum payment from your lender, and in return, you’ll make payments on the loan over a predefined term.

Lenders rarely allow you to borrow 100% of your home’s equity for a home equity loan. The maximum amount you can borrow will vary by lender but it’s typically between 80% and 90% of the value of the home. Rocket Mortgage® is now offering home equity loans, which are available for primary and secondary homes.

Home Equity Line Of Credit (HELOC)

A home equity line of credit is also a second mortgage on your home. The main difference is that a HELOC gives you a line of credit you can draw from when you need it. The credit limit corresponds to the amount of equity you have in your home.

You can withdraw money from your HELOC at any time during the draw period defined by your lender. Most draw periods are between 5 and 15 years. HELOCs may have a minimum monthly payment due (similar to a credit card), or you may need to pay off the accrued interest each month. At the end of the draw period, you’ll need to repay the full amount you borrowed.

Rocket Mortgage does not offer home equity lines of credit at this time.

Reverse Mortgage

If you’re over the age of 62 and would like to boost your retirement savings, you may want to consider a reverse mortgage. There’s no monthly mortgage payment with a reverse mortgage, though you must still pay taxes and insurance.

With a reverse mortgage, your loan amount is based on the amount of equity you have in your home. If you have an existing mortgage, the proceeds of the loan are used to pay it off. The remaining balance is available for you to use as you see fit.

A reverse mortgage can be a good choice for homeowners who plan to stay in their home indefinitely and aren’t worried about leaving an inheritance. It can give you cash in retirement if you don’t have anywhere else to get it.

Rocket Mortgage does not offer reverse mortgages at this time.

What Is Home Equity And How Can I Access It? (2024)

FAQs

What Is Home Equity And How Can I Access It? ›

Your home equity can increase through making mortgage payments and home improvements. You'll also build equity over time as your home's value increases. You can tap your equity and use it for various expenses, primarily via home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).

What is home equity and how do you get it? ›

Home equity is the current market value of your home, minus any liens such as a mortgage. You can leverage your home equity by using it to back a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit.

What is the best way to access equity in my home? ›

Home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and cash-out refinancing are the main ways to unlock home equity. Tapping your equity allows you to access needed funds without having to sell your home or take out a higher-interest personal loan.

How can I find out how much home equity I have? ›

Determining equity is simple. Take your home's value, and then subtract all amounts that are owed on that property. The difference is the amount of equity you have.

What is equity in a home for dummies? ›

Equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and what your home is currently worth. If you owe $150,000 on your mortgage loan and your home is worth $200,000, you have $50,000 of equity in your home.

What disqualifies you from getting a home equity loan? ›

High Debt-to-Income Ratio

Your debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of your income that goes toward paying your debts each month. If your debt-to-income ratio is too high, lenders may be concerned about your ability to make your payments. Many lenders look for a debt-to-income ratio of 43 percent or lower.

How many years does it take to get equity in your home? ›

Loans with shorter terms and larger down payments build equity significantly faster than loans with longer terms. Generally speaking, if you have a good credit score and make your monthly payments on time, you should be able to build sizable equity in your home over the course of five to 10 years.

What is the cheapest way to access home equity? ›

The cheapest way to tap home equity may be through a HELOC. Due to its flexibility, you borrow only the funds you need (up to a specified limit) during a set time. Interest is only accrued on the amount you borrow, and the rates are often lower than those of traditional loans or credit cards.

What is the cheapest way to get equity out of your house? ›

Home equity line of credit (HELOC)

It operates similarly to a credit card but uses your home's value as security, which enables lower interest rates. With a HELOC, you can draw funds as needed, repay them, and then draw again during the draw period, which can last up to 10 years.

Can I pull equity out of my house without refinancing? ›

Yes, you can take equity out of your home without refinancing your current mortgage by using a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Both options allow you to borrow against the equity in your home, but they work a bit differently.

What is a risk of taking a home equity loan? ›

Despite their advantages, home equity loans come with many risks — like losing your home if you miss payments. You could also wind up underwater on the loan, lower your credit, or see rates on the loan rise.

What is the monthly payment on a $50,000 home equity loan? ›

Loan payment example: on a $50,000 loan for 120 months at 7.65% interest rate, monthly payments would be $597.43.

What is an example of a home equity? ›

Home equity is the value of your house minus the amount you owe on your mortgage or home loan. When you first buy a house, your home equity is the same as your down payment. If you buy a house for $250,000 with a down payment of $25,000, you begin with $25,000 in home equity.

Do you have to pay back equity? ›

Home equity is the portion of your home's value that you don't have to pay back to a lender. If you take the amount your home is worth and subtract what you still owe on your mortgage or mortgages, the result is your home equity.

Do you have to pay back a home equity loan? ›

How long do you have to repay a home equity loan? You'll make fixed monthly payments until the loan is paid off. Most terms range from five to 20 years, but you can take as long as 30 years to pay back a home equity loan.

Can I use the equity in my house as a deposit? ›

Yes, if you have enough equity in your current home, you can use the money from a home equity loan to make a down payment on another home—or even buy another home outright without a mortgage.

How is home equity paid out? ›

A home equity loan, also known as a second mortgage, enables you as a homeowner to borrow money by leveraging the equity in your home. The loan amount is dispersed in one lump sum and paid back in monthly installments.

Do you pay back home equity? ›

Traditional home equity loans have a set repayment term, just like conventional mortgages. The borrower makes regular, fixed payments covering both principal and interest. As with any mortgage, if the loan is not paid off, the home could be sold to satisfy the remaining debt.

Is it a good idea to take equity out of your house? ›

A home equity loan could be a good idea if you use the funds to make home improvements or consolidate debt with a lower interest rate. However, it is a bad idea if it will overburden your finances or only serve to shift debt around.

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