Flagstar Bank: 2023 Home Equity Review

Flagstar Bank overview

Flagstar Bank was founded in 1987, headquartered in Troy, Michigan and with 150 branches in Michigan, California, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. The bank offers both home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and provides competitive rates, rate discounts and high loan amounts, and doesn’t charge lender fees. HELOCs are available to borrowers in all states except Texas, while home equity loans are only available to those in the five states the bank has a branch footprint.

Flagstar Bank snapshot

Home equity loan types	Home equity line of credit (HELOC) Home equity loan
Loan amounts	$10,000-$1 million
Credit score minimum	680
Repayment terms	10-year draw period and 20-year repayment term for HELOC; 10 years, 15 years or 20 years for home equity loan
Average time to approval	48 hours for a HELOC; 3-5 days for a home equity loan

How Bankrate rates Flagstar Bank

Bankrate Score	4.3
Affordability	4/5
Availability	4.6/5
Borrower experience	4.3/5

Methodology

To create our Bankrate Scores, we evaluated lenders based on availability, affordability and borrower experience. Availability was assessed based on the minimum loan amount required, time to approval, days to close, minimum draw requirements, minimum credit score requirements and loan types offered. Affordability was assessed based on minimum APR, discounts and promotions offered and associated fees. Borrower experience was assessed based on online application and account availability, customer support, auto payment availability and mobile app availability and ratings.

Benefits

• Whether you need a HELOC or home equity loan, Flagstar Bank offers line or loans from as little as $10,000 up to $1 million.
• There are no closing costs for the bank’s home equity loan product and no prepayment penalties. The bank doesn’t charge closing costs on HELOCs, either, but you might be on the hook for a prorated portion if you pay off and close the line early (within three years).

Drawbacks

• You can start an application for a home equity product online, but to complete the process, you’ll need to speak with a loan specialist over the phone or visit a branch.
• The bank has branches in only five states, so if you want in-person service, your options might be limited.

Types of fees charged

There are no closing costs on HELOCs with Flagstar Bank (other than government taxes and fees), but you’ll need to pay a prorated portion if you close the account within three years. All HELOCs come with a $75 annual fee, which is waived for the first year.

Both the HELOC and home equity loan from Flagstar come with automatic payment discounts: 0.5 percent for HELOCs and 0.25 percent for home equity loans.

Home equity loan products offered

Flagstar Bank offers both HELOCs and home equity loans, either in amounts as little as $10,000 up to $1 million. If you’re interested in a fixed interest rate and a lump-sum payment, a home equity loan might be right for you. The repayment terms on a home equity loan are 10, 15 or 20 years.

If you’d rather have a revolving line of credit that you can access whenever you need, a HELOC might be a better choice. Flagstar’s HELOC comes with an introductory period with a lower rate (first six billing cycles), a 10-year draw period and a 20-year repayment term. There is no minimum draw amount for a standard HELOC. The bank offers interest-only payments during the draw period, but there’s a minimum monthly payment of $100.

How to qualify for a home equity loan with Flagstar Bank

To be eligible for a home equity product from Flagstar Bank, you’ll need a credit score of at least 680. The property you’d like to use to secure your HELOC must be your residential home, which can include one- to four-unit owner-occupied properties and modular homes. To maintain the loan or HELOC, you’re required to have homeowners insurance and, in some cases, flood insurance.

How to get started

To apply for a home equity product with Flagstar Bank, you can visit a local branch, call the bank or begin the process online.

If you have questions about a HELOC, you can call 855-372-5626, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. For questions about a home equity loan, you can call 888-248-6423 Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.