7 Best Home Equity Loans of 2021

Home equity loans are a popular way to get money for home improvements, education expenses or consolidate debt. This type of loan typically offers homeowners lower interest rates than most credit cards and can be repaid in fixed monthly payments.

Read on to see which banks are offering the best home equity loan options and some great ways to tap into your home equity.

Our Top Picks for Home Equity Loans of 2021

Best Home Equity Loan Company Reviews

Online bank Discover makes our list for its low fees — unlike most banks, it doesn’t charge any application, origination or appraisal fees. It also doesn’t require an upfront cash payment at closing.

Discover’s home equity loans have fixed interest rates that range from 3.99% to 8.99% for first liens, and from 4.15% to 11.99% for second liens. You can borrow between $35,000 and $200,000 and choose a repayment term between 10 and 30 years.

Eligibility requirements
With Discover, you can see if you qualify for a home equity loan by providing some basic information before you formally apply. To qualify, you should have a credit score of at least 620 and sufficient equity — usually between 10% to 20% — in your home.

As with most loans, the amount you can borrow will depend on your creditworthiness. Only borrowers with a credit score over 700 may qualify for loans over $150,000.

Once you’re ready to submit your application, you’ll be assigned a banker who will help you throughout the process. Like many banks, Discover has an eClosing feature that allows borrowers to sign many of the closing documents before the physical closing.

Regions Bank offers fixed-rate home equity loans with no closing costs and APR rates of 3.25% or 3.0% for borrowers who enroll in auto-pay. Loan amounts range from $10,000 to $250,000 with 7, 10, 15, or 20-year repayment terms.

In addition to home equity loans, Regions Bank offers home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). These start at $10,000 and go up to $500,000, with a 10-year draw and 20-year repayment period. HELOCs have a fixed introductory rate of 0.99% for the first six months, after which it shifts to an adjustable rate between 3.75% and 10.63% APR.

Regions Bank will cover full closing costs for credit lines of $250,000 or less. If your line of credit exceeds $250,000, Regions Bank will contribute up to $500. However, if a line of credit is terminated within the first 24 months of the opening date, the bank will transfer these costs to the borrower. Closing costs may range from $150 to $2,000.

Region’s website suggests the lender will not accept loan-to-value (LTV) ratios higher than 89% for first and second mortgages for primary residences, and 75% for secondary residences.

Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for its home equity products, your property must be located in a state where Regions has a branch. The bank currently has physical branches in 16 states: Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas and Alabama.

Truist offers home equity lines of credit with three repayment options: interest-only, fixed and variable-rate repayments with zero-cost closing options.

Truist variable rates range from 4.50% to 16% APR, although it may vary by state. The minimum amount you can request for HELOCs is $5,000; the maximum you can borrow, however, will depend on your creditworthiness and how much equity you have in your home.

Fixed-rate HELOCs have repayment terms of 5, 10, 15, and 20 years and may be subject to a $15 set up fee. Variable-rate lines of credit, on the other hand, have a 10-year draw period and a 20-year repayment period.

Bear in mind that prepayment penalties on lines of credit may apply if the account is closed within 36 months of opening. This also means you’ll have to pay back any origination or closing costs covered by Truist, which can go all the way up to $10,000.

Eligibility requirements
Like other banks, Truist will look at your income, credit score, employment and both debt-to-income and loan-to-value ratios when determining your eligibility. The bank will also conduct an employment verification and ask you for information on financial debts and assets.

We liked SunTrust for its easy application process and quick approval times. Borrowers can apply online, by phone or at a local branch, and receive a pre-approval letter within 24 hours.

The bank offers home equity lines of credit which start at $10,000 and go up to $500,000 with a 10-year draw period and a repayment term of 20 years.

Variable rates start at 4.64% and can go all the way up to 18%. Suntrust allows clients to choose between fixed or variable-rate repayment options for each draw period. Funds up to the approved credit limit can be accessed via check, mobile banking, online banking or in a physical branch.

SunTrust does not charge closing costs as long as your account is open for three years. However, if you pay your balance off early, you’ll have to reimburse SunTrust for any closing costs, which can average $2,000. In addition, it charges a $15 processing fee for each advance taken under the fixed-rate fixed-term option.

Eligibility requirements
Although you can apply for a SunTrust HELOC online or by phone, you have to visit a local branch for closing.

SunTrust’s home equity line of credit is available for owner-occupied, single-family primary residences, second homes and condominiums, and only in states where there are physical SunTrust branches.

Note that investment homes, mobile homes and manufactured homes are ineligible.

While SunTrust Bank doesn’t disclose its eligibility requirements, a credit score of at least 620 and a low debt-to-income ratio are recommended.

U.S. Bank offers home equity loans and HELOCs without closing costs. Home equity loan rates start at 3.80% APR for both 10 and 15-year term repayment periods, while HELOC rates begin at 3.65% APR and go up to 8.80% APR.

Home equity loans feature fixed rates and a repayment term of up to 30 years. Loan amounts start at $15,000 and go up to $750,000 (or $1 million for properties located in California).

While HELOCs feature variable rates, you have the option to convert a portion or the total amount of your balance to a fixed rate during the initial draw period, which is 10 years. During that time, minimum monthly payments are either 1% or 2% of the balance, but qualifying borrowers may have the option to make interest-only payments.

Lines of credit have an annual fee of $90, which you can waive for the first year by opening a checking account package with the bank. You may borrow from your line of credit by visiting a local branch, using checks, ATMs or with a Visa Access Card.

Eligibility requirements
You’ll need a credit score of 730 and a U.S. Bank checking or saving account to get the best APR rates and set up automatic payments.

Citizens Bank offers two home equity products: a standard home equity line of credit and their Citizens GoalBuilder HELOC.

Both products have a 10-year borrowing period and a 15-year repayment term and variable interest rates starting as low as 3.25% and going up to 21%. Clients who enroll in automatic monthly payments from a Citizens Bank checking account can get a 0.25% rate discount.

The main difference between both HELOC products is the minimum and maximum amount you can borrow. The standard HELOC has a $17,500 borrowing minimum, while the Citizens GoalBuilder HELOC offers credit limits from $5,000 to $25,000.

Another difference is that clients with a GoalBuilder HELOC don’t have to pay annual fees, whereas those with a standard HELOC pay $50 after the first year.

Clients can access funds using the Citizens Bank Mobile app, online banking or supplied checks.

Eligibility requirements

Citizens Bank does not disclose its credit requirements for home equity products. All products are subject to approval based on credit score, LTV and DTI ratios.

Eligible properties include owner-occupied 1- to 4-family properties or condominiums. Investment properties (non-owner occupied), co-ops, mobile homes, manufactured homes or properties on sale are ineligible. Additionally, property or flood insurance may be required.

Pentagon Federal Credit Union, or PenFed, once exclusively served members of the military and government employees, but now is open to everyone. It operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.

As a PenFed member, you’ll have access to competitive interest rates starting at 3.75% for home equity lines of credit. Loan amounts range from $25,000 to $1,000,000. The max you can borrow, however, will depend on your combined loan-to-value ratio, location and creditworthiness.

You can switch from a variable to a fixed rate — or vice versa — during draw periods.

PenFed covers most closing costs, which generally range from $500 to $8,500 depending on the credit line. Do note, however, that these have to be paid back if you close the line within 36 months of opening it. There’s also an early termination penalty if you pay off your account before that.

PenFed’s home equity lines of credit also have a $99 annual fee, however, this can be waived if you pay at least $99 in interest within the first year.

Eligibility requirements
To apply for a PenFed HELOC, you must be a member of the credit union, which you can do by paying a small fee — $5 to open a savings account. Once you become a member, your eligibility will depend on your credit, debt-to-income (DTI) and loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.

If your credit score is over 720, you can borrow up to 80% of your current equity for a condo and 90% for a single-family home (except in Texas, where the limit is 70%). If you have a credit score below 720, you can borrow up to 75% for a condo and 80% for a single-family home (except in Texas, where the limit is 75%).
Other companies we considered

The following lenders may have a higher complaint ratio with the CFPB, lacked price transparency or weren’t featured in J.D. Power’s 2021 Primary Customer Satisfaction Study, which means they didn’t make our top list. Nevertheless, they may have other features worth considering, especially if you’re interested in a home equity line of credit.

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Leverage your home equity with a Cash-Out Refinance

Home values are going up, so your property may be worth more than you think. That’s why it’s a great time to tap into your home’s value to fund your goals.

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Home Equity Loans Guide

Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) let homeowners borrow money by using their home equity as collateral.

Along with home improvement loans and refinancing, these types of loans are some of the most popular ways to finance home renovations. Both home equity loans and HELOCs are tax-deductible as long as funds are used for home renovations.

Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to get a home equity loan and the different options available.

What is home equity?

Home equity refers to the difference between your mortgage balance (what you owe) and the current market value of your home. It can increase over time as you pay down the principal and the value of your property goes up.

Types of home equity loans

There are several ways to tap into your home’s equity: home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOC) or cash-out refinance loans.

These loans all require that you have sufficient equity in your home (generally between 15 and 20%), and your approval will depend on your credit report, combined loan-to-value ratio, debt-to-income ratio and employment.

Home equity loans

A home equity loan is a fixed-term loan that uses the equity you’ve accumulated in your home as collateral. Often called a second mortgage, it allows borrowers to obtain a lump-sum amount that must be paid back in installments. The first mortgage remains as the primary loan on a property.

The loan amount depends on several factors, including your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), standard loan-to-value (LTV) ratio and combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV). Typically, home equity loans are for 80% to 90% of the property’s appraised value. Loan terms include a fixed interest rate and fixed monthly loan payments.

Home equity loans can have lower interest rates than even the best credit cards or personal loans provided you have a good credit score, but it puts you at risk of losing your home if you were unable to make payments.

Home equity lines of credit (HELOC)

A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is a credit line that gives borrowers access to a certain amount of funds based on the accumulated equity in their home.

Funds can be withdrawn during a so-called draw period — during this time, you can choose to pay only interest or make payments to the principal as well. Draw periods often last about 10 years and are followed by a 20-year repayment period. You can pay the borrowed amount plus interest during repayment as either a lump sum or in installments.

Most HELOCs feature a variable interest rate, although some lenders offer the option of converting to a fixed rate.

If you’re interested in borrowing for a one-time expense, getting a home improvement loan, personal loan or a credit card could be a better alternative than a HELOC. However, keep in mind that personal loans meant for home renovations aren’t tax-deductible, while home equity loans, HELOCs and home improvement loans are. (If you’d prefer the latter, check out our guide on how to get a home improvement loan.)

Cash-out refinance

A cash-out refinance replaces your old mortgage with a new one for a larger amount than the current balance. The difference between the old mortgage and the new one is paid out to you in cash.

Cash-out refinances sometimes have more favorable terms than traditional refinance loans, and you can then use the cash for home improvements, college tuition, debt consolidation or just about any other purpose. With this option, you would still have only one mortgage, but the loan application process could take longer and there may be additional fees and closing costs.

Home equity loan vs HELOC

How to choose the best home equity option for you

Understand all of the costs involved

Regardless of which option you choose, make sure you understand all the costs involved with your loan or line of credit.

If it’s an adjustable-rate loan, do keep in mind that your monthly payments will fluctuate with interest rates. While mortgage rates remain low, your monthly payments will be low. However, those interest rates may start to go up at some point, which means your monthly payments will also increase.

Check whether you need to cover closing costs and if there are any additional fees. For instance, many banks agree to cover closing costs, with the caveat that if you pay off your loan in full earlier than expected — in most cases, within three years — some closing costs must be reimbursed. Other banks may also charge account annual fees and processing fees.

Get professional advice before making a decision

While the idea of having ready access to $50k or even $100k might be tempting, you need to make sure it’s the right move, especially during times of financial uncertainty. If you’re unsure how to proceed or which option is best for you, seek an unbiased expert opinion.

What credit score do you need to get a home equity loan?

While most lenders require a minimum credit score of 620 for home equity loans, some may require a higher score. As with most loans, the higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate. A credit score of 740 or higher will get you the best rates.

How much can you borrow with a home equity loan?

First, it’s important to keep in mind that you can only borrow against 80 to 85% of the equity in your home, as you’re required to keep at least 20% of equity in the home. The amount you can borrow will also depend on your income, credit and finally your loan-to-value ratio or LTV.

This ratio takes into account the equity you have in your home and is an often-used measure of risk for lenders. The lower the LTV, the less of a risk you present to lenders.

To calculate your LTV, you need to divide your mortgage’s outstanding balance by your home’s current market value and turn that into a percentage.

The formula looks like this:

(Mortgage’s outstanding balance ÷ Home’s current market value) x 100 = LTV %

You’ll want to obtain 0.8 (which is 80%) or less which is what most lenders require to be able to qualify for a home equity loan.

Let’s say your current mortgage loan balance is $175,000 and that your home is appraised at $250,000. Applying the formula we get:
($175,000 / $250,000) = 0.7 x 100 = 70%

This means you have a loan-to-value ratio of 70% and your total equity is 30%

Now, because you’re required to keep at least 20% of equity in the home, you’ll only be able to borrow against 10% of your equity. Multiply your home’s current value ($250,000) by 10% and it gives you $25,000. This is the amount you’ll be eligible to borrow.

Another (simpler) way to calculate how much you can borrow is to multiply your home’s current value by 80% and subtract what you still owe from the total. Like this:

(Home current value x 0.8) – Mortgage balance = how much you may qualify for

Continuing with the example above, you need to multiply the home current value by 80% ($250,000 x .8) which gives you $200,000. Now subtract the mortgage’s outstanding balance from the result ($200,000 – $175,000) and you obtain the amount you can qualify for — $25,000.

How We Chose The Best Home Equity Loans

To narrow down our list of best home equity loans, we vetted each mortgage lender by evaluating them on the following criteria:

Loan features: We evaluated the types of loans offered, minimum and maximum loan amount, interest rates, loan terms and credit score requirements for each lender.

Price transparency: We preferred lenders that openly disclose loan costs, discounts, fees and other charges on their website.

Application process: We checked eligibility requirements and approval times. In addition, we compared application and evaluation fees, and whether application services were available online, by phone and/or in person.

Reputation and customer satisfaction: We looked into two main data sources: J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Primary Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study and complaint data as reported by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Summary of Money’s Best Home Equity Loans of 2021

• Discover – Best for Competitive Rates
• Regions Bank – Best for Flexible Repayment Terms
• BB&T – Best Fixed-Rate Borrowing Option
• SunTrust – Best for Quick Approval
• U.S. Bank – Best for Borrowers with Good Credit
• Citizens Bank – Best for Flexible Loan Amounts
• PenFed – Best for Non-owner-occupied Properties