Skip to main content

Best Home Equity Investments of September 2026

Compare top home equity investment (HEI) companies that pay you a lump sum for a share of your home’s future value, with no monthly payments and no interest.

Splitero

MoneyAtlas

Rating

Tap your home equity with no monthly payments

No monthly payments
Credit scores as low as 500 accepted
Get Estimate
on Splitero's site

Point

MoneyAtlas

Rating

Get up to 600k with your home equity

No monthly payments
No income requirements
Get Estimate
on Point's site

Hometap

MoneyAtlas

Rating

Access your equity quickly and flexibly

No monthly payments
Get an online cash estimate in under 2 minutes
Get Estimate
on Hometap's site

Unlock

MoneyAtlas

Rating

Keep Your Home, Access Your Equity

Access up to $500,000 with a Home Equity Agreement (HEA)
No monthly payments
Get Estimate
on Unlock's site

Review Our Top HEI Providers

Learn more about why we chose these home equity investment companies

Splitero

Splitero

Tap your home equity with no monthly payments

Read Review

In a Nutshell

Splitero offers a home equity investment that converts part of your home's value into cash with no monthly payments. In exchange, it collects a share of your home's future value when you sell, refinance, or buy out the agreement. It stands out for flexible qualification, accepting credit scores as low as 500 with no income or employment requirements, plus a term that runs up to 30 years. Funding reaches $500,000, though a 4.99% origination fee and shared appreciation make it pricier than traditional borrowing.

Read Review →

Why we rate it 4.9/5

Cost3.9

A 4.99% origination fee with a $1,500 floor sits on top of standard closing costs, and the payoff scales with your home's value rather than a stated rate.

Funding amount5.0

Up to $500,000 against a single home, one of the higher ceilings among home equity investments.

Eligibility5.0

A 500 credit-score floor and no income or employment test clear homeowners nearly every HELOC lender turns down.

Terms & flexibility5.0

A term running up to 30 years, longer than most HEI contracts, and you can settle any time by selling, refinancing, or paying cash.

Transparency & process3.9

The share and the fee are disclosed upfront, but the dollar cost is unknowable until you exit, and downside protection varies by contract.

Pros

  • Low credit bar: Splitero accepts scores as low as 500 and sets no income or employment requirements, so it reaches homeowners banks turn away.

  • No monthly payments: You get a lump sum without adding a monthly bill, which eases cash flow when income is tight or irregular.

  • Long runway to settle: The agreement can run up to 30 years, giving you room to sell, refinance, or buy it out rather than face a near-term deadline.

Cons

  • Steep origination fee: Splitero charges 4.99% of the investment, at least $1,500, higher than the one-time fee most competing investors charge.

  • You share the upside: Repayment is tied to your home's future value, so strong appreciation can cost far more than a loan's interest would have.

  • Limited footprint: Splitero operates in just 14 states, so many homeowners are excluded based on location alone.

Point

Point

Get up to 600k with your home equity

Read Review

In a Nutshell

Point’s Home Equity Investment (HEI) empowers homeowners to unlock their home equity with no monthly payments, no income requirements, and no need for perfect credit. Renovate your home, eliminate high-interest debt, and make your financial goals a reality. Enjoy your funds for up to 30 years - with no prepayment penalty, you get maximum flexibility.

Read Review →

Why we rate it 4.8/5

Cost3.8

A processing fee of up to 3.9% with a $2,000 floor is the smaller problem. The risk-adjusted starting value, reported around 27% below an online estimate, is what makes the effective cost rival high-interest credit when your home appreciates.

Funding amount5.0

$30,000 to $500,000, up to 20% to 25% of home value, with Point marketing as much as $600,000 on higher-value homes. Among the largest draws available in the category.

Eligibility5.0

A 500 minimum FICO and no income requirement put this within reach of homeowners no HELOC lender would approve, and second homes and investment properties are eligible. You still need roughly 30% equity.

Terms & flexibility5.0

Up to 30 years to settle against the 10 that Hometap and Unlock allow, and the Homeowner Protection Cap puts a ceiling on the payoff. Point does not highlight partial buybacks, which competitors do offer.

Transparency & process4.2

Fees and the protection cap are disclosed clearly. The appreciation starting value is the opaque part: the haircut is applied case by case and no APR can be quoted, so two homeowners cannot easily compare quotes.

Pros

  • No monthly payments: Access cash now with no payments due for up to 30 years

  • Flexible qualification: 500+ credit scores and no income requirement advertised

  • Early payoff options: You can repay anytime within the 30-year term with no prepayment penalties

Cons

  • Fees and closing costs: Up to a 3.9% processing fee plus appraisal, escrow, and government fees

  • Equity share at exit: Point claims a share of your home's future appreciation, which can be expensive in fast-rising markets.

  • Limited state availability: Point operates in roughly 24 states, so the product is not available everywhere.

Hometap

Hometap

Access your equity quickly and flexibly

Read Review

In a Nutshell

Hometap provides a home equity investment, an alternative financing solution allowing homeowners to access their equity in cash. In exchange, Hometap receives a percentage of the home's future value. This product features no monthly payments for a term of up to 10 years. The funds can be used for any purpose, such as paying off debt or home renovations. Clients are guided by a dedicated Investment Manager and receive lifetime access to the Home Equity Dashboard.

Read Review →

Why we rate it 4.6/5

Cost4.2

Effective cost can run high if your home appreciates quickly, since you share that upside instead of paying interest.

Funding amount4.6

Accesses up to roughly $600,000 of equity, enough for most renovation, debt-payoff, or cash-flow needs.

Eligibility5.0

Flexible qualification with a lower credit bar than a HELOC, since approval leans on home equity rather than income alone.

Terms & flexibility4.8

A ten-year settlement window with early-buyout options gives unusually long runway to repay on your own timeline.

Transparency & process4.4

Terms are clearer than some rivals, but the appreciation-share math and evolving HEI regulation still demand careful reading.

Pros

  • No monthly payments: Hometap gives you a lump sum without adding a monthly bill, which eases cash flow when income is tight or irregular.

  • Flexible qualification: There's no strict FICO cutoff, so homeowners who can't qualify for a HELOC or home equity loan may still get approved.

  • Ten years to settle: You have up to a decade and several exit routes, selling, refinancing, or paying cash, before the investment comes due.

Cons

  • Expensive if your home appreciates: The payoff is tied to your home's future value, so strong appreciation can cost far more than a loan's interest would have.

  • Regulatory uncertainty: A 2025 Massachusetts lawsuit alleges these investments work like reverse mortgages, and the legal picture is still evolving.

  • You give up upside: Handing over a share of future appreciation leaves less equity for you when you eventually sell or refinance.

What Is a Home Equity Investment?

A home equity investment (HEI) — sometimes called a home equity agreement or shared-equity agreement — lets you turn part of your home’s value into cash today without taking on debt. Instead of borrowing, you receive a lump sum in exchange for a share of your home’s future value. There are no monthly payments and no interest. You repay the company in a single settlement, typically when you sell, refinance, or buy out the agreement within a set term. The guide below explains how HEIs work, who they fit, and how to compare offers. Always confirm the share percentage, starting valuation, fees, and term — plus the provider’s latest terms — before you sign.

How Home Equity Investments Work

A company estimates your home’s current value (often applying a discount called a risk adjustment) and gives you cash for a share of its future value. Most agreements move through three stages:

  • Funding: You receive a lump sum — often up to about $500,000 and typically up to 30% of your home’s value — after an appraisal and approval.
  • The Term: You keep living in your home with no monthly payments. Terms commonly run 10 to 30 years.
  • Settlement: At or before the end of the term, you buy out the investment by selling, refinancing, or paying with savings — repaying the original amount plus or minus the company’s agreed share of how your home’s value changed.

Because the cost is tied to your home’s value rather than an interest rate, an HEI can be cheaper than a loan if your home’s value stays flat or falls — and more expensive if it rises sharply.

Home Equity Investment Pros & Cons

Pros

  • No monthly payments or interest: You get cash now without adding a monthly bill, which protects your cash flow.

  • Flexible qualification: Credit and income hurdles are lower than most loans, since there’s no monthly payment to underwrite.

  • Downside is often shared: With many providers, if your home loses value the company shares the loss — unlike a loan you’d still owe in full.

Cons

  • You give up future appreciation: If your home’s value climbs, the investor’s share can cost more than loan interest would have.

  • A settlement deadline looms: You must exit within the term by selling, refinancing, or buying out — it isn’t open-ended.

  • Upfront fees and an appraisal: Origination (often 3–5%), appraisal, and closing costs come out of your funds, and your starting value may be discounted.

HEI vs. Other Ways to Tap Home Equity

OptionMonthly PaymentsInterestBest For
Home equity investmentNoneNone — shares home valueNo monthly payment; flexible credit
HELOCYes, variableYes, variableFlexible, revolving borrowing
Home equity loanYes, fixedYes, fixedPredictable lump-sum borrowing
Cash-out refinanceYes, new mortgageYesReplacing your mortgage at a lower rate

If you’d rather borrow and keep all of your home’s future appreciation, compare options on our HELOC page — a revolving line of credit can be the better fit when you want flexible access to cash and can handle monthly payments.

Key Features to Compare

  • Share Percentage & Valuation: The share of your home’s future value the company takes, and the starting value it uses (many apply a 15–25% risk-adjustment discount).
  • Term & Settlement Options: The length of the agreement and how you can exit — sale, refinance, cash buyout, or partial buybacks along the way.
  • Cost Cap: Whether the provider caps its effective annual return, which limits your cost if your home appreciates quickly.
  • Downside Protection: Whether the company shares losses if your home declines in value, or only participates in gains.
  • Fees: Origination (often 3–5%), appraisal, and any closing or servicing costs deducted from your lump sum.
  • Eligibility: Minimum credit score and equity, eligible states, and whether the property must be owner-occupied.

Five-Step Selection Framework

  1. Confirm Eligibility: Check that the company operates in your state and that your credit, equity, and property type qualify.
  2. Model the Settlement: Estimate what you’ll owe if your home rises, stays flat, or falls — the cost can swing widely.
  3. Compare the Share & Cap: Weigh each company’s share percentage, starting valuation, and any effective-cost cap side by side.
  4. Add Up the Fees: Include origination, appraisal, and closing costs to see your true net proceeds.
  5. Plan Your Exit: Decide in advance how you’ll buy out the agreement — savings, refinance, or sale — before the term ends.

Smart Usage Tips

  • Run the appreciation math: In a fast-rising market an HEI can cost more than a HELOC or home equity loan, so model several scenarios first.
  • Mind the term: Have a concrete exit plan; settlement is a lump sum, not a gradual payoff.
  • Check the starting valuation: A larger risk-adjustment discount raises your effective cost, so compare it across providers.
  • Look for a cost cap: A cap on the investor’s return protects you if your home’s value surges.
  • Keep your home in good shape: Settlement is based on appraised value, so deferred maintenance can raise what you owe.

Best Home Equity Investment Companies and How to Choose

The best home equity investment company depends on your home’s value, your equity, and how long you want the agreement to run. Hometap, Point, and Unlock are among the most established providers, each with different term lengths, share structures, and buyout rules. Because pricing is driven by your home’s future value rather than a posted rate, the company that takes the smallest share isn’t always the cheapest once you factor in the starting valuation, the cost cap, and fees. Compare the full agreement — share percentage, term, downside protection, and total fees — and get estimates from more than one provider, since offers vary widely by home and location.

4

Scoring Factors

100+

Providers Compared

10–30 yr

Typical Term

Our Methodology

How we pick the best home equity investments

Companies are scored on the true cost of unlocking your equity, how flexible the term and settlement options are, and how easily you can qualify and get funded.

Cost & Share Structure

The share of your home’s value the company takes, the discount applied to your starting valuation, and any cap on its effective return that limits your cost.

Fees & Upfront Costs

Origination (often 3–5%), appraisal, and closing or servicing costs that are deducted from your lump sum.

Terms & Flexibility

Term length, settlement options (sale, refinance, or cash buyout), partial buybacks, and whether the company shares your home’s downside.

Eligibility & Funding

Credit and equity minimums, state availability, owner-occupancy rules, and how quickly you get funded after approval.

FAQs