Although most home equity lenders let you tap up to 85% of your home’s value, some lenders may offer high-LTV home equity loans that allow you to borrow more. Use our home equity loan calculator to estimate your home equity borrowing power.
LOAN AMOUNT | APR AS LOW AS Rates are calculated based on conditional offers for both home equity loans and home equity lines of credit with 30-year repayment periods presented to consumers nationwide by LendingTree’s network partners in the past 30 days for each loan amount. Rates and other loan terms are subject to lender approval and not guaranteed. Not all consumers may qualify. See LendingTree’s Terms of Use for more details. |
|---|---|
$25,000 | 7.13% |
$50,000 | 6.88% |
$100,000 | 6.88% |
$150,000 | 6.88% |
Written by Rene Bermudez | Edited by Crissinda Ponder | Updated October 1, 2024Home equity loan rates are relatively high right now, especially compared to the low rates we saw before the pandemic, but have been slowly falling for the second half of 2024. We can expect home equity loan interest rates to move in the same direction as mortgage rates, says Jacob Channel, LendingTree’s senior economist. However, the relationship isn’t one-to-one and home equity loan rates may not move by the exact same amount as mortgage rates, even if they are trending in the same direction.
There are many lenders to choose from, and each of them set their own home equity loan requirements. The approval guidelines are usually a bit more strict than traditional mortgages, so you should strive to:
It’s possible to get a home equity loan with bad credit, but you may not qualify for as much equity as you need or want. Lenders may reduce your maximum LTV ratio and charge you a significantly higher interest rate. If your scores are below 620, consider a government-backed program like an FHA cash-out refinance or VA cash-out refinance.
Don’t know your credit score? Get your free score on LendingTree Spring today.The easiest way to figure out how much you can borrow with a home equity loan is to let our home equity loan calculator do the math for you. You’ll just need three pieces of information:
Learn more about how to calculate your home equity loan amount yourself.| Loan amount | Monthly payment |
|---|---|
| $25,000 | $168.43 |
| $50,000 | $328.46 |
| $100,000 | $656.93 |
| $150,000 | $985.39 |
Average rates disclaimer Rates are calculated based on conditional offers for both home equity loans and home equity lines of credit with 30-year repayment periods presented to consumers nationwide by LendingTree’s network partners in the past 30 days for each loan amount. Rates and other loan terms are subject to lender approval and not guaranteed. Not all consumers may qualify. See LendingTree’s Terms of Use for more details.
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.
90%
$45K
680
$7,494
Rocket Mortgage offers a home equity loan for borrowers with credit scores as low as 680, though you’ll need at least a 760 score to borrow up to a 90% LTV. Rocket also offers the option to combine your first and second mortgage with a cash-out refinance.
Read our full Rocket Mortgage review.
You’ll have the best chance of qualifying for a mortgage with Rocket Mortgage if you have a 70% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio or better, according to nationwide data from 2022. That year, about 55% of approved borrowers had a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio under 40%.
5 to 30 years
100%
$500K
$4,962
Navy Federal Credit Union is the only lender we reviewed that allows qualified homeowners to borrow up to 100% of their home’s value. Military borrowers may be eligible for extra discounts and a streamlined approval process. Customer support can be contacted online, by phone or even on X (formerly Twitter). The website also provides a step-by-step guide to help you understand the timeline of your home equity loan.
Read our full Navy Federal mortgage review.
You’ll have the best chance of qualifying for a mortgage with Navy Federal if you have a 77% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio or better, according to nationwide data from 2022. That year, about 51% of approved borrowers had a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio below 40%.
5 to 30 years
$10K/$500K
0.25% rate discount for eligible borrowers
$3,212
TD bank’s website is streamlined and easy to use, with a rate tool that customizes options based on your location. Terms range from five to 30 years and rate information is simple to find. TD Bank offers borrowers a 0.25% interest rate discount for its home equity loan products if you open a TD bank checking or savings account with automatic payment deductions. An added bonus: A TD Bank home equity loan can be secured by an investment property — most home equity lenders only allow you to borrow against your primary residence.
Read our full TD Bank mortgage review.
You’ll have the best chance of qualifying for a mortgage with TD Bank if you have a 64% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio or better, according to nationwide data from 2022. That year, about 56% of approved borrowers had a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio under 40%.
5 to 20 years
0.50% rate discount for eligible borrowers
$3,747
BMO Harris offers the highest discounts on home equity loan rates of any lender we reviewed. They offer loans with terms that range from five to 20 years. You can check rates online, browse detailed information about loan programs and even watch mortgage-related videos on their website. There’s also an online application and a guide to help you through the process.
Read our full BMO Harris mortgage review.
You’ll have the best chance of qualifying for a mortgage with BMO Harris if you have a 64% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio or better, according to nationwide data from 2022. That year, about 55% of approved borrowers had a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio below 40%.
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.
5 to 30 years
$500K
14 days
$963
Spring EQ is the only lender we reviewed that specializes exclusively in home equity loan products. You can also borrow up to 95% of your home’s value — much more than the max 85% LTV most lenders allow. Homeowners can convert equity to cash in as little as 14 days, although 21 days is the average, according to Spring EQ’s website.
Read our full Spring EQ mortgage review.
You’ll have the best chance of qualifying for a mortgage with Spring EQ if you have a 74% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio or better, according to nationwide data from 2022. That year, about 52% of approved borrowers had a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio below 40%.
A home equity loan is a second mortgage that converts your home equity into cash. Home equity is the difference between how much your home is worth and the amount you owe on your outstanding mortgage balance.
When you get a home equity loan, you receive the money all at once and make fixed monthly payments to pay it off. You can use the cash from a home equity loan to make home improvements, pay down high-interest debt or cover any other expense you choose.
See how much you could borrow with a home equity loan calculator.Yes, if the funds from the home equity loan are used for home improvements, you can deduct the interest from your taxable income. Learn more about how to get your home equity loan tax deductible.
Most home equity loans come with fixed interest rates, which means that you can enjoy consistent payments that won’t change over time. Because a home equity loan is paid out to you all at once, the amount of money you’re paying interest on never changes.
1. Your credit score
The lower your credit score, the better your rate will usually be. Most lenders will allow a 620 minimum score, but some set the bar even higher at 660 or 680. Get your free credit score on LendingTree Spring today.2. Your DTI ratio
Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio measures how much your monthly debt load is compared to your gross monthly income. Home equity lenders typically allow a 43% maximum DTI ratio, but the lower the ratio is, the better your rate offers will be.3. Your LTV ratio
Your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio compares how much you’re borrowing to your home’s value. The typical maximum LTV ratio is 85%, though lenders offer better rates if you borrow less. But some lenders offer high-LTV home equity loans with LTVs of up to 100% if you’re willing to accept a higher rate.Let’s say you need to borrow $100,000 and you’re wondering what your best option is: a fixed-rate loan (like a home equity loan) or a variable-rate option.
You can save money by choosing a cash-out refinance, which typically offers a lower rate than a home equity loan. However, in order to access this option you have to alter your first mortgage, since you’re refinancing it.
A home equity loan may be the better choice for someone who wants to borrow at a fixed interest rate, but not touch their primary mortgage balance.
In a market with falling rates, you may be able to save by choosing a variable-rate loan, like a HELOC or adjustable-rate cash-out refinance. But if rates are rising, a these can get more expensive over time and quickly overtake the rate on a home equity loan.
A home equity loan may be a better choice for someone who wants stable payments that never change, or who is borrowing in a market with inflation and high interest rates.
At current rates, you would pay about $958 each month for a $100,000 home equity loan. Assuming a 20-year repayment term, you’ll end up paying $130,000 in interest over the life of that loan.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Lower interest rates: You’ll pay lower interest rates than you would with credit cards or personal loans. Fixed rates: Your payment will be the same each month because your rate doesn't change. Tax implications: You may be able to deduct home equity loan interest from your tax bill. One-time closing costs: Your closing costs will typically be on par with HELOC closing costs, but you won’t have any ongoing membership or inactivity fees. Very flexible: You can use the money for any purpose. | Second mortgage rates: You’ll pay a higher rate than with a HELOC or cash-out refinance. Tougher guidelines: You may need higher scores and lower debt to qualify than you would with a cash-out refinance. Reduced equity: You’ll lower the available equity in your home. Another monthly payment: You’ll have two monthly house payments. Collateral requirement: You could lose your home if you default on your payments. |
There are two main disadvantages to home equity loans:
Consumers sometimes confuse home equity loans with home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), but they work very differently. A HELOC is a line of credit that can be used like a credit card, and they almost always come with variable rates.
| A home equity loan is best if: | A HELOC is best if: |
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See current HELOC rates and top lenders today.A cash-out refinance gives you access to cash by replacing your existing mortgage with a larger one. Because it’s a first mortgage, you can access that cash at lower interest rates than you could with second mortgages, like HELOCs and home equity loans. A cash-out refi also has more lenient requirements overall than a home equity loan, making it easier to qualify for. For example, you could get an FHA cash-out refinance with a credit score as low as 500.
| A home equity loan is best if: | A cash-out refinance is best if: |
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Learn about cash-out refinance options.If you prefer to leave your home equity alone, you may qualify for an unsecured personal loan. The rates are often higher than home equity products, but you won’t have to worry about the lender foreclosing on your home if you default on your payments.
| A home equity loan is best if: | A personal loan is best if: |
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See top lender personal loan rates today.Although most home equity lenders let you tap up to 85% of your home’s value, some lenders may offer high-LTV home equity loans that allow you to borrow more. Use our home equity loan calculator to estimate your home equity borrowing power.
It may take two to four weeks to close on a home equity loan. You’ll usually receive your funds following a three-business-day waiting period after your closing.
Home equity loan rates are often higher than interest rates on traditional mortgages. Usually, the more you borrow, the higher your rate will be. Your credit score and loan term also have an impact on the rate you’re offered.
Yes, a home equity loan is often called a second mortgage, since it’s usually attached to a home already secured by a first mortgage. If you default on the loans secured by the home and go into foreclosure, the home equity loan will be second in line to be repaid.
To determine the best home equity loan lenders, we reviewed data collected from 35 lender reviews completed by the LendingTree editorial staff.
Each lender review gives a rating between zero and five stars, based on several factors including loan features and loan variety, digital application processes and the availability of product and lending information online. To be eligible for the “best of” home equity loan title, lenders must have a lender review rating of at least four stars. To be considered for our “best overall” pick, lenders must issue mortgages in at least 35 states.
We awarded extra points to lenders that:
Our editorial team brought together the data from our lender reviews, as well as the scores awarded for home equity-specific characteristics, to find the lenders with a product mix, information base and guidelines that best serve the needs of home equity loan borrowers.
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