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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
![Man works on home renovation while dog watches.](https://www.bankrate.com/2020/06/05125625/Smart-ways-to-use-your-equity-for-home-improvement.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
Should you use your home to enhance your home? It’s tricky, so learn before you leap.
![family in their kitchen](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/09/16130419/HELOC-prepayment-penalty.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
Yes, you get charged for getting out of debt early. Here’s why.
![Collage featuring two people and a dog looking at a tablet](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/09/07174752/Homes_What-is-a-HELOC-home-equity-line-of-credit_.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
A HELOC works like a big credit card — one that uses your home as collateral for cash you borrow.
![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=1:1&width=356)
It’s the portion of your home you own outright. Its uses are almost endless.
![HELOC is not interest only forever](https://www.bankrate.com/2019/05/28143915/HELOC-is-not-interest-only-forever.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
It lets you borrow money and make minimal monthly repayments for a while. But it could shock you at the end.
![Modern Real Estate Front Exterior Blue and White Color Scheme with landscaping](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/01/03132751/How-to-get-a-home-equity-loan-with-bad-credit.jpeg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
Yes, you can get financing, even if you’re not the most creditworthy candidate.
![Modern bedroom](https://www.bankrate.com/2018/04/10152735/should-you-get-a-home-equity-loan-heloc-or-a-line-of-credit.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
Knowing the differences among equity loans will help you make the right choice.
![Illustrated collage featuring blocks that say: "For rent"](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2023/08/16135501/Homes-Can-you-get-a-home-equity-loan-on-investment-or-rental-property.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
If you have a sufficient ownership stake in it — yes. But it might not be your best move.
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