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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.
![](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2024/08/03141908/Homes_HELOC_and_home_equity_loan_requirements_in_2024.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
![aerial view of landscape](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/09/09113049/Financing-a-land-purchase.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
![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.
![aerial view of landscape](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/09/09113049/Financing-a-land-purchase.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
If paying cash or obtaining a land loan isn’t an option, you might be able to use a second mortgage to buy land.
![no-doc HELOC](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2025/02/05150014/Homes_What_is_a_no_doc_HELOC_.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
They could be an uncoventional borrower’s best shot for tapping their home’s value.
![](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2025/02/05152251/housing-affordability-and-houselessnessv3.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
This is the week that was in home equity lending.
![Illustrated collage of: A hand holding a pencil with a house made of money](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2023/11/04125433/Homes-What-is-the-draw-period-on-a-HELOC-and-how-does-it-work.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
It’s the fun part, when you get your money. But you have to be ready when it ends.
![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.
![Mother and child in nursery](https://www.bankrate.com/2018/11/05142400/Tax-changes-make-HELOCs-less-appealing-to-homeowners-but-they-still-have-benefits.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
The loan interest is — but only if you meet certain criteria.
![Couple looks at a tablet in a new home](https://www.bankrate.com/2020/10/30190632/Does-a-HELOC-affect-your-credit-score_.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=1:1&width=356)
You bet — in ways both good and bad. Here’s how to judge its impact.
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