Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) allow homeowners to tap into the value of their homes.
A home equity loan is a fixed-rate, lump-sum loan that allows homeowners to borrow up to 85% of their home’s value and pay that amount back in monthly installments. A home equity line of credit is a variable-rate second mortgage that draws on your home’s value as a revolving line of credit.
Both options use your property as collateral for your payments, which means your lender can seize your property if you can’t repay what you borrow.
Home equity represents how much you own of your home compared to what the bank or mortgage lender owns. If you’ve paid off your home in full, you have 100% equity.