While there are a variety of ways to borrow money, homeowners have an alternative that many others do not – they can access their home equity. Whether it be via a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or cash-out refinance,

Both home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and home equity loans are up in numbers, their originations rising in Q3 2024 by 6 and 8 percent, respectively. HELOC balances are bigger, too: They climbed in Q4 of last year, marking the 11th quarter in a row of growth.

Home equity sharing companies offer a way to tap into your home’s increased value without taking on extra debt payments. They can provide extra cash for homeowners who don’t qualify for or prefer not to take out a home equity loan or line of credit,

Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) allow homeowners to tap into the value of their homes. A home equity loan is a fixed-rate, lump-sum loan that allows homeowners to borrow up to 85% of their home’s value and pay that amount back in monthly installments.

In most cases, having a low amount of equity in your home won't automatically disqualify you from being approved by a HELOC lender. That said, most lenders typically require you to have at least 15% to 20% equity in your home after accounting for the HELOC, meaning you'd need more than that amount of equity before applying. Here's how that works.