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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
![A green house on a sunny day](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2023/11/29114305/Homes_Home_equity_What_Is_It.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=16:9&width=320)
It’s the portion of your home you own outright. Its uses are almost endless.
![Couple sit in living room discuss receipts, control family budget, calculate household bills to pay](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/02/15101041/how-to-calculate-home-equity.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=16:9&width=320)
How to estimate your ownership stake, and how much of it you can borrow.
![House with solar panels](https://www.bankrate.com/2018/02/12141004/requirements-to-borrow-from-home-equity.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=16:9&width=320)
Everything you need to know about HELOC and home equity loan requirements in 2024.
Editor's picks
![mom working on a laptop at home](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/09/08101846/using-heloc-to-pay-mortgage.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high)
Related topics:
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
![Three people looking over paperwork](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2023/11/29154603/Homes_Best_uses_for_a_home_equity_line_of_credit.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
Certain expenses are tailor-made for tapping your home equity. Others, not so much.
![Illustrated image with a man and a dog](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/02/07094813/BR_Banking_Refinancing_a_home_equity_loan.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
How to calculate if the costs outweigh the benefits.
![Two houses with illustrated circle on the horizon](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2024/01/27154717/Homes-Can-you-use-home-equity-to-buy-a-second-home.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
Yes, you can. But the more relevant question is: Should you hock one house to buy another?
![Modern livingroom](https://www.bankrate.com/2018/04/13141207/home-equity-line-of-credit-know-the-pros-and-cons.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
A HELOC has low interest rates, but it requires you to use your home as collateral.
![Illustrated collage featuring a house with the words "Denied" above it](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2024/08/13101326/Homes-What-to-do-if-you-are-denied-a-HELOC-HELoan.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
They’re hard to qualify for. Here’s how to bounce back from rejection.
![A man and woman talking while reviewing content on a laptop](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2023/11/04173903/Homes-Pros-and-cons-of-home-equity-loans.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
They can be a smart way to borrow, provided you’re aware of the risks.
![A man standing in front of an illustration of ripped money](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2024/08/09104137/Homes_How_to_lose_money_renovating_a_home.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
Along with strategies to stay solvent during your redo.
![](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2023/11/25124954/Homes-10-Reasons-to-Use-Your-Home-Equity.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
Borrowing from your home equity can pay off, but only if you’re smart about it.
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