Home Equity
Find out what home equity is and how to use it, plus news, advice and tools on home equity loans and HELOCs.
Home equity basics
It’s the portion of your home you own outright. Its uses are almost endless.
How to estimate your ownership stake, and how much of it you can borrow.
Everything you need to know about HELOC and home equity loan requirements in 2024.
Editor's picks
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Home equity tools & resources
Bankrate's suite of tools and articles are designed to help you effortlessly learn about your home equity, connect with reputable lenders, compare offers for HELOCs and home equity loans, and more.
Finding a lender
Here’s where you can get a home equity loan today
HELOC vs. home equity loan
How does each work, and which would be best for you?
Mortgage rates
Compare current mortgage rates for today
News highlights
The latest
If you have a sufficient ownership stake in it — yes. But it may not be the best move.
It lets you make minimal monthly repayments for a while. But it could shock you at the end.
For one thing, you could lose your home if things go south.
Your home isn’t a piggy bank, but there are wise ways to tap your ownership stake for cash.
It’s a mortgage-credit line combo. Just don’t spend it all in one place.
Certain expenses are tailor-made for tapping your home equity. Others, not so much.
How to calculate if the costs outweigh the benefits.
Yes, you can. But the more relevant question is: Should you hock one house to buy another?
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