Best Home Equity Loan Lenders of 2024 - NerdWallet (2024)

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If you're interested in a home equity loan, we'll help you choose the best home equity loan lender.

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Last updated on March 1, 2024

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Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.

  • 50+ mortgage lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
  • 40+ years of combined experience covering mortgages and financial topics.
  • Objective, comprehensive star rating system assessing 120+ categories and 5,000+ data points.
  • Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

NerdWallet's mortgage content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in home lending. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, Newsweek and many other national, regional and local publications. They have been cited in publications including The Wall Street Journal, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast as well as local TV and radio.

Best Home Equity Loan Lenders

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Lender

NerdWallet Rating

Max LTV

National / regional

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Navy Federal: NMLS#399807

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on NerdWallet

5.0

/5

Home equity loans

Best for high borrowing limit

100%

National

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on NerdWallet

Network Capital: NMLS#11712

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on NerdWallet

5.0

/5

Home equity loans

Best for high borrowing limit

90%

National

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on NerdWallet

Pennymac: NMLS#35953

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on NerdWallet

4.5

/5

Home equity loans

Best for flexible repayment terms

85%

National

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on NerdWallet

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

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on NerdWallet

4.5

/5

Home equity loans

Best for high borrowing limit

85%

National

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on NerdWallet

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

Top 3 most visited 🏆Learn moreat New American Funding

at New American Funding

4.0

/5

Home equity loans

Best for low fees

80%

National

Top 3 most visited 🏆Learn moreat New American Funding

at New American Funding

Rocket Mortgage, LLC: NMLS#3030

Top 3 most visited 🏆Learn moreat Rocket Mortgage, LLC

at Rocket Mortgage, LLC

4.0

/5

Home equity loans

Best for high customer satisfaction

90%

National

Top 3 most visited 🏆Learn moreat Rocket Mortgage, LLC

at Rocket Mortgage, LLC

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on NerdWallet

Navy Federal: NMLS#399807

5.0

Home equity loans

NerdWallet rating

Max LTV

100%

National / regional

National

Why We Like It

Good for: military members and their families looking for low-down-payment mortgages.

Pros

  • Offers a wide range of affordable mortgage products, including 0%-down-payment loans, designed for military members.
  • Offers HELOCs and home equity loans.
  • Offers low rates compared with most lenders, according to the latest federal data.

Cons

  • Website does not provide customized mortgage rates based on credit score or other factors before you apply.
  • Credit union membership is limited to veterans and current military members, their families, and certain federal employees, retirees and contractors.

Read Full Review

Why We Like ItGood for: homeowners who want a lump sum with a convenient process and relatively low closing costs.

Pros

  • Borrowers can access up to 90% of home equity.
  • Offers a variety of loan terms.
  • No appraisal required.

Cons

  • Sample rates for purchase mortgages, but not home equity loans, available online.

Read Full Review

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on NerdWallet

Pennymac: NMLS#35953

4.5

Home equity loans

NerdWallet rating

Min. credit score

680

Max LTV

85%

Why We Like ItPennymac offers a wide range of repayment terms and does not penalize borrowers for early repayment.

Pros

  • Terms of 10, 15, 20 and 30 years.
  • Borrowers can apply for and track loans online.
  • No fee for early repayment.

Cons

  • Doesn’t publish home equity loan rates online.
  • Not available for investment properties or second homes.

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on NerdWallet

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

4.5

Home equity loans

NerdWallet rating

National / regional

National

Max LTV

85%

Min. credit score

700

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who want a wide range of choices — not only among mortgage products, but also in the channel they prefer, whether a branch, online or on the phone.

Pros

  • Offers a wide range of loan types and products, including FHA, VA and USDA.
  • Borrowers can apply and track loan status online.
  • Offers customized online rate quotes with monthly payment estimates, including mortgage insurance, when applicable.

Cons

  • Home equity loans are geographically limited.
  • Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.

Read Full Review

Learn moreat New American Funding

at New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

4.0

Home equity loans

NerdWallet rating

National / regional

National

Min. credit score

580

Why We Like ItGood for: First-time home buyers and other borrowers looking for a broad array of loan choices.

Pros

  • Offers a wide variety of purchase and refinance mortgages with an emphasis on helping underserved communities.
  • Its home equity line of credit can be used for an owner-occupied or second home.
  • Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.

Cons

  • Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.

Read Full Review

Learn moreat Rocket Mortgage, LLC

at Rocket Mortgage, LLC

Rocket Mortgage, LLC: NMLS#3030

4.0

Home equity loans

NerdWallet rating

Min. credit score

680

Max LTV

90%

Why We Like ItRocket Mortgage allows borrowers to take out a home equity loan on a second property, though they don't offer e-closing.

Pros

  • Terms of 10 and 20 years.
  • No fee for early repayment.
  • Available for second homes, too.

Cons

  • Doesn’t publish home equity loan rates online.
  • Loan closing cannot be accomplished online.

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on NerdWallet

Carrington: NMLS#2600

4.0

Home equity loans

NerdWallet rating

National / regional

National

Max LTV

85%

Min. credit score

640

Why We Like ItGood for: first-time home buyers or credit-challenged borrowers interested in government loan products.

Pros

  • Offers multiple low-down-payment loan programs.
  • May consider alternative credit data, such as bank statements.
  • You can view customized rates for purchasing a home and apply online.

Cons

  • Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
  • Lender fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.

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on NerdWallet

Andrews Federal Credit Union: NMLS#410421

4.0

Home equity loans

NerdWallet rating

Min. credit score

N/A

Max LTV

95%

Why We Like ItGood for borrowers in the Mid-Atlantic looking for a lender with deep roots in their local communities.

Pros

  • Caters to first-time home buyers with incentives and education.
  • Provides extra support for military borrowers, including branches near bases in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Offers HELOCs and home equity loans at competitive interest rates.

Cons

  • Physical branches in the U.S. are limited to Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
  • Does not offer renovation or construction home loans.

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on NerdWallet

US Bank: NMLS#402761

4.0

Home equity loans

NerdWallet rating

National / regional

National

Max LTV

80%

Min. credit score

660

Why We Like ItU.S. Bank gets high marks for its loan offerings and online customer conveniences — and has competitive fees and mortgage rates.

Pros

  • Offers a full line of conventional and government loan products.
  • Provides home equity loans and lines of credit.
  • Allows borrowers to apply and track their loan's progress online.

Cons

  • Published mortgage rates assume an above-average credit score.

Read Full Review

How a home equity loan works

As you make monthly mortgage payments, you’re building equity in your home. You’re growing the share of your home that you actually own, and once you have enough equity (typically at least 15-20%), you can borrow against it and spend the cash as you wish.

You’ll receive it all at once in the form of a loan, which is why a home equity loan can be a popular choice for borrowers who know exactly how much they’ll need to accomplish their goals. Shopping around to multiple lenders can help ensure that you get the best rate, which is determined by your debt-to-income ratio, credit score and the amount of equity that you’re borrowing, among other factors.

Alternatives to a home equity loan

Home equity loans aren’t your only option for accessing equity. Along with home equity loans, HELOCs and cash-out refinances also allow you to turn some of your home equity into cash, to use as you see fit.

Your home is the collateral for all three of these loan types, so it's considered safest to use the cash in a way that will improve your financial position. That's one reason these are often used for value-adding home renovations.

Here are some of the key things to know when you're comparing home equity loans, HELOCs and cash-out refinances.

Home equity loan

  • Provides you with a one-time payment that you pay back over time at a fixed rate. You'll pay off this loan in addition to your mortgage, since a home equity loan is technically a second mortgage.

  • Can have a shorter loan term, depending on how much you borrow and how quickly you want to repay the loan.

Home equity line of credit, or HELOC

  • Gives you a line of credit that you borrow against as you need it, rather than requiring you to figure out an exact sum beforehand (though it's still good to have an idea of the approximate total).

  • Has an adjustable interest rate, which means that your interest rate will change over the life of the loan. Some lenders also offer a fixed-rate option.

  • Check out NerdWallet's best HELOC lenders.

Cash-out refinance

  • Replaces your mortgage with a new home loan that's greater than the amount already owed on your existing mortgage. You get the difference between the higher loan amount and the amount owed as a cash payment.

  • Generally has a higher interest rate than a rate-and-term refinance, but a lower rate than home equity loans or HELOCs.

  • Check out NerdWallet's best lenders for a cash-out refinance.

» MORE: Full comparison of home equity loans, HELOCs and cash-out refinances

More from NerdWallet

  • Home equity loan calculator

  • See average home equity loan rates

  • Check your home's value

Last updated on March 1, 2024

Methodology

The star ratings on this page reflect each lender's performance in NerdWallet’s home equity loans category. For inclusion in this roundup, lenders must offer home equity loans and achieve a star rating of 4 or above in the home equity loan rubric from NerdWallet. We scored the category and chose lenders for this page using the following methodology:

NerdWallet reviewed more than 50 mortgage lenders, including the majority of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders by annual loan volume (measured among lenders with at least a 1% market share), lenders with significant online search volume and those that specialize in serving various audiences across the country.

All reviewed mortgage lenders that offer home equity loans were evaluated based on (1) maximum CLTV, (2) application fees, (3) closing costs, (4) whether or not an appraisal is required, (5) ease of application, (6) prepayment penalties, (7) repayment term options and (8) rate transparency. The highest scoring lenders appear on this page.

NerdWallet solicits information from reviewed lenders on a recurring basis throughout the year. All lender-provided information is verified through lender websites and interviews.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Home Equity Loan Lenders of 2024

  • Navy Federal: Best for high borrowing limit
  • Network Capital: Best for high borrowing limit
  • Pennymac: Best for flexible repayment terms
  • Flagstar: Best for high borrowing limit
  • New American Funding: Best for low fees
  • Rocket Mortgage, LLC: Best for high customer satisfaction
  • Carrington: Best for existing Carrington customers
  • Andrews Federal Credit Union: Best for high borrowing limit
  • US Bank: Best for no closing costs

Frequently asked questions

  • Home equity loan rates vary from day to day and from one lender to another. To make sure you're getting a good home equity loan rate, compare offers from at least three lenders. It may seem simpler to get a home equity loan from your current mortgage lender, but that might not get you the best deal.

  • If you need a large amount of cash, a home equity loan will likely get you a lower interest rate than a comparable personal loan. But if you need to borrow $10,000 or less, a personal loan, or even a credit card, could do the job — and you won't be using your home as collateral.

  • To qualify for a home equity loan, you'll need a credit score that is at least 620, though many lenders will look for a higher minimum score. You may also need to have at least 20% home equity, meaning you have paid off an amount of your original mortgage that's equal to 20% or more of your home's current value.

Best Home Equity Loan Lenders of 2024 - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

Will HELOC rates go down in 2024? ›

HELOCs benefit most from rate decreases. With the Fed looking to lower rates later in 2024, a HELOC may be more beneficial than a home equity loan because the rate could go down.

Is it better to get a HELOC from a bank or credit union? ›

HELOC Loan Fees are Typically Lower at a Credit Union vs Bank. Working families often join their local credit union because the not-for-profit business model allows management to focus on offering reduced fees to their membership.

How is a $50,000 home equity loan different from a $50,000 home equity line of credit? ›

While a HELOC works like a credit card — giving you a maximum amount you can borrow with a variable interest rate — a home equity loan works more like your mortgage. You get a lump sum of money, and you repay it on a set schedule with a fixed interest rate.

What happens to HELOC if market crashes? ›

If the market has taken a downturn and the value of your house has diminished, your equity is affected as well. When this happens, your lender can enforce a HELOC reduction so that your borrowing limit is based on just the equity that remains.

What is the monthly payment on a $100,000 home equity loan? ›

If you took out a 10-year, $100,000 home equity loan at a rate of 8.75%, you could expect to pay just over $1,253 per month for the next decade. Most home equity loans come with fixed rates, so your rate and payment would remain steady for the entire term of your loan.

Is it smart to get a HELOC right now? ›

Lower interest rates

While home-loan interest rates overall have risen dramatically since 2022, HELOC rates still tend to be lower than those on credit cards and personal loans. If you qualify for the best rates, a HELOC can be a less expensive way to consolidate debt or finance a home renovation.

Do I need an appraisal for a home equity loan? ›

Do all home equity loans require an appraisal? Yes. Lenders require an appraisal for home equity loans—no matter the type—to protect themselves from the risk of default. If a borrower can't make monthly payments over the long-term, the lender wants to know it can recoup the cost of the loan.

Is there a better option than a HELOC? ›

If you know exactly how much you need to borrow, a home equity loan can be a better option than a HELOC. Home equity loans tend to have lower interest rates than HELOCS, and the rates are usually fixed for the life of your loan.

Why are banks getting rid of HELOC? ›

It was just two short years ago that several major banks stopped offering HELOCs or home equity lines of credit. Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase were the most notable lenders who cited an uncertain economy in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic as the rationale for hitting the pause button on home equity loans.

What is a disadvantage of a home equity line of credit? ›

The most obvious downside to a HELOC is that you need to use your home as collateral to secure your loan. In today's rising interest environment, the fact that HELOCs have variable interest rates is also less advantageous, as the Federal Reserve has indicated that it will need to keep interest rates higher for longer.

Will HELOC rates go down in 2025? ›

CME Group predicts federal funds rate changes with its CME FedWatch Tool. It gives a 54% chance that the Fed will cut by 0.25% in June 2024 and a 92% chance of lower rates by September. A homeowner who opens a HELOC now could see their rate drop by 0.75% by the start of 2025, according to the tool.

Will interest rates be lower in 2024? ›

Where are interest rates now? More rate cuts are likely in the cards in 2025. But, right now, many bond investors are now pricing in only one rate cut for 2024, likely no earlier than November, according to Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for CreditCards.com and Bankrate.com.

What is the future of HELOC rates? ›

The general trend in HELOC rates throughout 2023 and into 2024 has been a gradual increase, largely influenced by the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions and the overall economic climate. The average HELOC rate in 2024 hovers around 7.5% to 8.5% for most borrowers.

Is now a bad time for a HELOC? ›

"For someone looking to tap home equity, now is a good time to look into it, considering that home values might not get much better for the foreseeable future," says Michael Micheletti, chief marketing officer at home equity investor Unlock. Learn more about the home equity loan rates available to you here.

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