Skip to Main Content

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
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
How to estimate your ownership stake, and how much of it you can borrow.
House with solar panels
Everything you need to know about HELOC and home equity loan requirements in 2024.

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.

The latest

Borrowing from your home equity can pay off, but only if you’re smart about it.
Image featuring a house with dollar bills falling from the sky
When, if ever, is it ok to cash in your ownership stake?
House with solar panels
If you want to borrow from your homeownership stake, these are the factors lenders will judge you on.
mom working on a laptop at home
Use what you own to pay off what you owe. Is it a good idea?
Family standing near car on driveway outside house
Probably not. Here are all the pros and cons to consider.
Couple hugging
It’s a way to put your homeownership stake to work, though not without risk.
A foreclosure sign in front of a house
Follow these steps to shield your home from seizure.
Two people looking at a laptop featuring illustrated graphics
What to watch for to get a top offer on a home equity line of credit.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information
Wall Street Journal
Usa Today
New York Times
Cnn
Bloomberg
Abc