Haven Home Equity Mortgage Review 2026
Haven Home Equity, rated 3/5 stars by LendingTree experts, is a good choice for borrowers looking to tap their home equity and close in as little as three weeks.
Haven Home Equity is a mortgage lender that focuses on cash-out refinance loans and home equity loans for individuals with imperfect credit. Its low credit score requirements make it ideal for homeowners who want to tap into home equity fast and access funds in as little as three weeks.
See how we reached our verdict below.
- Offers cash-out refinance loans for consumers with poor credit
- Reverse mortgage loans available for eligible borrowers ages 62 and older
- Loan closings in as little as three weeks
- Not available in all states
- Doesn’t specialize in purchase loans (mostly offers home equity and refinance loans)
- Doesn’t publish mortgage rates online
Haven Home Equity mortgage overview
While once operating under the name Top Flite Financial, Haven Home Equity is a mortgage lender that advertises debt relief through home equity loans and cash-out refinancing. A few additional products are offered as well, including reserve mortgages and purchase loans for self-employed borrowers and manufactured homes. The company was founded in 2002 and offers a digital mortgage experience through a highly-rated mobile app.
- Areas of service: More than 30 states
- Digital service: Digital mortgage experience with a helpful mobile app
- Headquarters: 21 The Boulevard, Richmond Heights, MO 63117
- Website: HavenHomeEquity.com
Haven Home Equity rates and fees
Rates
While Haven Home Equity does not publish its rates and fees, we know from HDMA data that its loan costs are on the high end when compared to other major lenders in the United States.
Haven Home Equity loans also had a rate spread of 1.17, according to 2024 HMDA data, which is significantly higher than major lenders, such as Citizens Bank, Veterans United, Chase and Flagstar Bank. For reference, the term “rate spread” refers to the difference between the highest and lowest Annual Percentage Rate (APR) offered to borrowers by a specific lender.
Fees
Haven Home Equity does not share average closing costs and fees on its website, either. However, our internal data shows that its average total loan costs came out to $13,763 in 2024, including an $8,318 origination fee.
These loan costs are on the high end compared to other lenders we have profiled. For example, Chase home loans had total loan costs of $5,080 with a $2,600 origination fee in 2024, and Citizens Bank total loan costs averaged out to $6,966 with a $2,646 origination fee.
The difference in fees is likely because Haven Home Equity lends to borrowers with credit scores as low as 500.
What types of mortgage loans does Haven Home Equity offer?
Haven Home Equity offers a variety of home loans, including:
Haven Home Equity offers cash-out refinance solutions for a variety of situations. Most borrowers can access up to 80% of their home’s value after a refinance. However, eligible veterans may be able to borrow up to 100% of their home’s value. Cash-out refinance loans are available for FHA loans as well.
Cash-out refinance qualification requirements
- Minimum credit score as low as 500
- Borrow up to 80% of home’s value (up to 100% for eligible veterans)
- Debt-to-income ratio can be as high as 55%
Haven Home Equity also offers purchase loans and refinance options for self-employed borrowers who have struggled to get approved elsewhere. These loans allow alternative ways to document income, potentially with the help of bank statements, 1099 forms or profit and loss statements. DSCR loans are even available for self-employed borrowers purchasing an investment property.
Self-employed loan qualification requirements
- No specific credit score minimum
- Can be approved with alternative documentation and irregular income
Haven Home Equity also specializes in financing for mobile and modular homes, whether you’re purchasing a property or you need to refinance. You can also use these loans to purchase a mobile home and land at the same time. You can even purchase a manufactured home with Haven Home Equity using FHA, USDA or VA loan programs.
Manufactured home loan qualification requirements
- Credit scores as low as 500
- Down payments as low as 0% for eligible borrowers with VA loans, and 3.5% with FHA loans
Haven offers reverse mortgages (HECMs) for homeowners ages 62 and older. These loans let older homeowners convert some of their home equity into cash they can use for living expenses, savings or other aspects of their lives.
These loans don’t require monthly loan payments. Instead, borrowers repay the loan when the home is sold, when they move, or when they pass away.
Reverse mortgage loan qualification requirements
- Must be 62 or older
- No income or credit qualification
Haven Home Equity also offers home equity loans that work as a second mortgage. This means you can keep your original mortgage as-is while accessing some of your home equity as cash.
Home equity loan qualification requirements
- No minimum credit score
- Borrow up to 90% of the home’s value with a home equity loan
Haven Home Equity mortgage qualifications
| Credit score minimum | Cash-out refinance: 500 Self-employed home loans: Not specified Manufactured home loans: 500 Reverse mortgages: Not specified Home equity loans: Not specified |
| DTI ratio
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio compares your monthly gross income to your monthly debt payments.
| Cash-out refinance: Up to 55% Self-employed home loans: Not specified Manufactured home loans: Not specified Reverse mortgages: Not specified Home equity loans: Not specified |
| Down payment minimum | Cash-out refinance: N/A Self-employed home loans: Not specified Manufactured home loans: 0% to 3.5% Reverse mortgages: N/A Home equity loans: N/A |
Don’t know your credit score? Get your free score on LendingTree Spring today.
While Haven Home Equity doesn’t publish exact minimum requirements to get approved for all its loan types, internal data on the lender provides some insights. For example, Haven Home Equity approved 75.7% of applications for all loan types combined in 2024, with an average loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 69.6%. The lender also rejected 24.3% of applications that year, including 57.7% of applicants with a debt-to-to-income (DTI) ratio over 43%.
This tells us that reducing the amount of debt you owe, and thus your DTI ratio, could boost your approval odds with this lender. And while Haven Home Equity approves borrowers with imperfect credit scores, improving your credit can increase your approval odds with any lender.
How does Haven Home Equity compare to other lenders?
|  |  |
|
| LendingTree’s rating |
Expert review from LendingTree.
Back to our Haven Home Equity summary |
Expert review from LendingTree.
Read our Haven Home Equity vs. SpringEQ comparison |
Expert review from LendingTree.
Read our Haven Home Equity vs. AmeriSave comparison |
| Minimum credit score | 500 | 580 | 500 |
| Minimum down payment | 0% to 3.5% | 3% to 5% | 0% to 3.5% |
| Rate spread
Rate spread is the difference between the average prime offer rate (APOR) — the lowest APR a bank is likely to offer any private customer — and the average annual percentage rate (APR) the lender offered to mortgage customers in 2024. The higher the number, the more expensive the loan.
| 1.17% | 3.84% | 2.63% |
| Loan products and programs |
|
|
|
| Better for: | Haven Home Equity is ideal for borrowers without great credit who want to tap into their home equity to get cash out. | SpringEQ is suitable for borrowers who want a second mortgage and those who are purchasing a home and want as many loan options as possible. | AmeriSave is a good option for consumers seeking out a conventional mortgage, a VA loan, an FHA loan or even a USDA loan for rural properties. |
Haven Home Equity vs. SpringEQ
SpringEQ offers a range of loan options for borrowers purchasing a home or seeking a second mortgage or cash-out refinance. The lender offers conventional mortgages, FHA loans and VA loans in addition to refinancing, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). Since Haven Home Equity offers very few purchase loan options, this makes SpringEQ a better choice for borrowers who are buying a new home versus refinancing.
Then again, SpringEQ offers flexible home equity products that make getting cash out of your home an option. Home equity borrowers can even pick between a fixed rate or a variable rate, and they can borrow up to 90% of their home’s value. SpringEQ also offers much lower average loan costs than Haven Home Equity, so it can be worth checking out if you want to save money on your new loan.
Read more in our full SpringEQ mortgage review.
Haven Home Equity vs. AmeriSave
AmeriSave is an online lender that offers a wide range of home loans and home equity products, although it also advertises cash-out refinance options that let borrowers access their home equity. Its fully online mortgage process is ideal for applicants who want to manage their loan process digitally, and it typically has lower closing costs and origination fees than Haven Home Equity.
While both of these lenders can help you get the financing you need, AmeriSave is a better option for purchasing a home since it offers conventional mortgages, FHA loans, VA loans and USDA loans for new home purchases.
Read more in our full AmeriSave mortgage review.
How to apply for a Haven Home Equity loan
1. Choose your loan type
Head to HavenHomeEquity.com to browse available loan options. Decide if you want to tap into your home equity with a cash-out refinance, take out a home equity loan or apply for a loan for a home purchase. You can also apply for a reverse mortgage with the lender.
2. Get prequalified
Haven Home Equity lets borrowers “check their rate” and gauge their approval odds before applying for most of its loan options. This move lets you see if you may be eligible, plus how much cash you might be able to receive with a cash-out refinance.
3. Submit a loan application
Once you have an idea about the chances of getting a preapproval, you can move forward with a full loan application. Haven Home Equity lets you manage the loan process online or via its mobile app. The app even lets you securely scan and upload required loan documents from your phone.
Learn more about how to apply for a home loan.
- Identification
- Tax documents
- Bank statement
- Pay stubs
- Debt and asset statements
- Home appraisal (if required)
- Gift letters (if you’re using gifted funds)
Is it safe to get prequalified with Haven Home Equity?
It’s safe to prequalify to see how much cash you could access with Haven Home Equity. The lender says you don’t even have to submit your Social Security number (SSN) to do so, and that there’s no credit check required. It also assures borrowers that personal information is never sold.
This means you can get an idea of your approval odds without the hard inquiry on your credit reports that some other lenders require.
Haven Home Equity’s customer service experience
You can contact Haven Home Equity via email at [email protected] or by phone at (314) 748-1313. You can also chat with a live representative on the company website. However, Haven Home Equity does not publish specific business hours when customer service is available.
The company also offers a contact form on its website, and it claims to respond to most inquiries in as little as 10 minutes.
How LendingTree experts rated Haven Home Equity
LendingTree’s mortgage lender rating is based on a five-point scoring system that factors in several features, including digital application processes, available loan products and the accessibility of product and lending information.
LendingTree’s editorial team calculates each rating based on a review of information available on the lender’s website. Lenders receive a half-point on the “offers standard mortgage products” criterion if they offer only two of the three standard loan programs (conventional, FHA and VA). In some cases, additional information was provided by a lender representative.
Haven Home Equity’s scorecard:
❌ Publishes rates online
❌ Offers standard mortgage products
✅ Includes detailed product info online
✅ Shares resources about mortgage lending
✅ Provides an online application
Frequently asked questions
Haven Home Equity lets you see how much cash you can access digitally without a credit check, and it lets you apply for financing entirely online. You can also upload mortgage documents on your phone using the company’s mobile app.
Haven Home Equity is definitely a legitimate company. It has been in business since 2002, and it is accredited with the Better Business Bureau. You can view more info about Haven Home Equity’s state licenses and registrations through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) website.
Taking out a mortgage loan can impact your credit and lead to an initial drop in your credit score, although it is likely to rebound within a year. Haven Home Equity also says your credit score can improve after you get cash out to refinance debt through a “strategic restructure.”
Not only is Haven Home Equity accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but the company has only received four complaints on the platform in the last three years. Haven has also closed just one complaint made through the BBB in the last 12 months. This complaint in particular was based on deed problems with the property, which the lender may not have had control over.
Furthermore, the customer eventually withdrew the complaint and stated Haven Home Equity “made everything right” in the end. All said, Haven Home Equity has a proven history of responding to consumer complaints and trying to resolve issues that arise.