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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
![Image featuring an older couple in front of a computer with an illustrated graphic](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/08/15153231/Homes-Using-a-HELOC-for-medical-expenses.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
It can be a good solution — if you understand the risks of putting your house on the line.
![Illustrated collage featuring a house with money pouring from the front door](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/12/22122345/Homes-Considerations-for-not-tapping-into-your-home-equity.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
For one thing, you could lose your home if things go south.
![Couple use a laptop computer to pay bills online](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/12/04123841/are-home-equity-loans-still-a-good-idea.png?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
They can be, but be sure to crunch the numbers and be aware of the caveats.
![Two women using digital tablet in their flower workshop](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/04/05121613/using-a-heloc-for-business.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
It can be easier for an entrepreneur to get, but it means hocking the home for your enterprise.
![Illustrated collage featuring a house on a hill made of money](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/08/08115052/Homes_How-to-build-equity-in-your-home.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
It’s a smart financial move. Here’s how to do it.
![Red car parked in front of a suburban home](https://www.bankrate.com/2009/05/30180245/Should-I-use-a-home-equity-loan-to-buy-a-car.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
It’s not so much whether you can, but if you should.
![Black woman hanging a photograph on a wall](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/02/17100847/BR_Home_Equity2_Gender_Discrimination_in_HE.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
More single women than men own homes. But they pay more and get less out of them.
![](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/04/10143431/5-ways-to-refinance-your-HELOC.png?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
Your payments could go up drastically once the draw period ends. Here’s how to cope.
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