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To start your loan search, compare interest rates, fees, terms, and more with Bankrates’ home equity loan offers. The resources listed below are also a good place to start if you want to understand how home equity works and when taking out a home equity loan is a good idea.
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Terms explained Home equity loanA loan that lets you borrow against the value of your home, with funds delivered as a lump sum.Home equity line of credit (HELOC)A variable-rate line of credit based on your home value that you can continually borrow from and pay back over a set time frame.Cash-out refinance With a cash-out refinance, you can use equity for whatever you need like a renovation, paying off credit cards and loans, or even tuition.
Give us some information about your home equity requirements so we can find the best lenders for you.
View lending options that offer competitive home equity rates and contrast your offers side by side.
Connect with lenders online or by phone once you’ve decided on your top choices. Next, select a lender, complete your application, and lock in your rate.
Bankrate guide to choosing the best home equity loan
Why trust Bankrate?
Our goal at Bankrate is to give you the tools you need to make wiser financial decisions. For more than 40 years, we’ve compared and surveyed financial institutions to help you find the products that are best for your needs. Our editorial team, which has won numerous awards, adheres to strict rules to prevent advertisers from influencing our content. In addition, our content is rigorously edited and thoroughly reported to guarantee accuracy.
To give readers confidence in their financial decisions, Bankrate compares interest rates, fees, accessibility, online tools, repayment terms, and funding speed when analyzing loans. Both benefits and drawbacks of the top lenders are revealed by our thorough research, which was conducted by loan experts.
Look for a home equity loan that has a competitive interest rate, reasonable fees, and repayment terms that suit your needs. The information on loans provided here is current as of the date of publication. See if there is more recent information on the lenders’ websites by visiting them. Based on criteria including APR, loan amounts, fees, credit requirements, and wide availability, the top lenders listed below were chosen.
What are today’s average interest rates for home equity loans?
LOAN TYPE | AVERAGE RATE | AVERAGE RATE RANGE |
---|---|---|
Home equity loan | 7.74% | 6.93% – 9.37% |
10-year fixed home equity loan | 7.91% | 6.29% – 9.39% |
15-year fixed home equity loan | 7.86% | 6.47% – 10.11% |
Best home equity loan rates in December 2022
The best lenders for home equity loans provide flexible repayment schedules, low interest rates, and minimal fees. Shopping around can help you find the best deal because each lender will assess your eligibility differently. Your rate will be determined by your credit rating, income, home equity, and other factors. The most creditworthy borrowers will receive the lowest rates.
Discover: Best home equity loan for low rates
Bankrate Rating = 4.3/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
BMO Harris Bank: Best home equity loan for different loan options
Bankrate Rating = 3.9/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
KeyBank: Best home equity loan for homeowners with limited equity
Bankrate Rating = 4.2/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
Spring EQ: Best home equity loan for fast funding
Bankrate Rating = 4.3/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
Flagstar Bank: Best home equity loan for flexible loan terms
Bankrate Rating = 4.0/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
U.S. Bank: Best home equity loan for low fees at a national bank
Bankrate Rating = 4.0/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
Third Federal Savings and Loan: Best home equity loan for customer service
Bankrate Rating = 4.4/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
Frost Bank: Best home equity loan for low fees at a regional bank
Bankrate Rating = 4.5/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
Connexus Credit Union: Best home equity loan for branch network
Bankrate Rating = 4.1/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
Regions Bank: Best home equity loan for customer experience
Bankrate Rating = 4.1/5
The Bankrate Score is determined by availability, which takes into account minimum loan amounts and loan types, affordability, which takes into account introductory/minimum APRs and discounts, and customer experience, which takes into account auto-payment and online accessibility.
Bankrate looked at 15 factors, such as the minimum APR and maximum combined loan-to-value ratio, that assist customers in determining which lenders are a good fit for them in order to determine the top lenders that provide home equity loans. For borrowers with various budgets and credit profiles, we looked for lenders with low fees and a range of loan amounts. Additionally, we looked for conveniences like quick funding and online applications.
10 lenders from the 34 examined made Bankrate’s list of the best home equity loans. A three-category Bankrate rating is given to each lender. These categories include:
What is a home equity loan and how does it work?
A home equity loan is a one-time payment taken out against the value of your house. Most lenders will allow you to borrow up to 80% to 85% of the equity in your home, which is the value of your home less the remaining mortgage balance.
These loans have fixed interest rates and typically take five to thirty years to pay off. If you don’t make the payments on a home equity loan, the lender has the right to foreclose on your house.
There are numerous banks, credit unions, and online lenders that offer home equity loans. You can use these funds for a variety of things, such as debt relief, home renovations, or paying for higher education. How much equity you have, your financial situation, and other factors will all affect how much money you can borrow.
The lender will let you know how much you can borrow, your interest rate, your monthly payment, the length of your loan, and any fees after reviewing your application and credit report. When you accept the loan terms, the lending company will release the money all at once. The loan is then repaid over time with a set monthly payment.
Calculating your home’s equity
By dividing your debt by the value of your home, you can determine how much equity you may be able to borrow.
Say, for instance, that you owe $200,000 on a $400,000 house. That’s $200,000 / $400,000 = 0. 50, or 50 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. This indicates that you own your home with 50% equity. To determine whether you might be eligible for a home equity loan, compare that amount to the maximum LTV ratio set by your lender.
Then, multiply the value of your home by the maximum LTV ratio allowed by your lender to determine how much you can borrow.
Let’s say your lender permits you to borrow up to 85% of the value of your home. In this example, that would be $400,000 x 0. 85 = $340,000. The maximum sum you may be able to borrow is $340,000 minus your mortgage balance ($200,000), which equals $140,000.
How rising mortgage rates affect home equity loans
In order to combat inflation, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates in 2022, and it’s likely that these increases will continue for the time being. Rising home equity rates have been influenced by the Fed’s action. It might be a good idea to lock in a rate sooner rather than later because home equity loans typically have fixed rates in order to avoid paying more if rates continue to rise.
Best uses for a home equity loan
Although almost anything can be financed with a home equity loan, borrowing money for something you don’t need or can afford to pay for in other ways can end up costing you more in the long run. Because of this, financial professionals typically advise being cautious about your loan usage.
The following are a few ideas for making the most of your loan:
Pros and cons of home equity loans
Because the funds are dispersed in one lump sum, home equity loans are most suitable for people who are certain of the amount they need for a particular project. Additionally, because the interest borrowers pay is tax deductible if the money is used for specific renovations, they are a good choice for those who want to use the money for home improvements. In contrast, the mortgage interest is no longer tax deductible if you use funds from a home equity loan for any purpose other than significant home improvements, such as paying off student loans or consolidating credit card debt.
Home equity loans also have competitive interest rates, which are frequently significantly lower than those of personal loans and cash-out refinances. Compare lenders’ rates for the best deal available.
However, a home equity loan might not be the best option if you need money right away. A home equity loan may take longer than a personal loan to be funded. Additionally, you may be subject to expensive closing costs.
FAQ
How do home equity loans work in Arizona?
A fixed-term loan with a fixed interest rate is known as a home equity installment loan. The amount that is approved for borrowing will be paid out in one lump sum to the borrower, who will then repay it over a specified period of time at a specified interest rate. If you’re unsure of when or how much money you’ll need, a HELOC might be your best bet.
What is the payment on a 50000 home equity loan?
Example of a Loan Payment: For a $50,000 Loan with 120 Months at 8% 00% interest rate, monthly payments would be $606. 64.
What is the downside of a home equity loan?
Cons of Home Equity Loans Home equity loans have some disadvantages, just like any other type of debt. Receiving a large sum of money all at once can be risky for those who lack discipline, and even though the interest rates are low in comparison to other types of debt, they are higher than those on first mortgages.
What is the average rate for a home equity loan?
Because the interest rates on home equity loans are fixed, they will remain constant throughout the entire loan term. As of Dec. The average interest rate on home equity loans is currently 7 in 2022. 74 percent. The current average HELOC interest rate is 7. 30 percent.