Equity agreements allow entrepreneurs to secure funding for their start-up by giving up a portion of ownership of their company to investors. In short, these arrangements typically involve investors providing capital in exchange for shares of stock which they will hold and potentially sell in the future for a profit.
Home equity sharing may also be wise if you don't want extra debt reflected on your credit profile. "These agreements allow homeowners to access their home equity without incurring additional debt," says Michael Crute, a real estate agent and operations strategist with Keller Williams in Atlanta.
A company provides you with a lump sum in exchange for partial ownership of your home, and/or a share of its future appreciation. You don't make monthly repayments of principal or interest; instead, you settle up when you sell the home or at the end of a multi-year agreement period (typically between 10 and 30 years).
Unlike HELs and HELOCs, home equity agreements aren't loans. That means there are no monthly payments or interest charges..
Write the contract in six steps Start with a contract template. Open with the basic information. Describe in detail what you have agreed to. Include a description of how the contract will be ended. Write into the contract which laws apply and how disputes will be resolved. Include space for signatures.
Let's say your home has an appraised value of $250,000, and you enter into a contract with one of the home equity agreement companies on the market. They agree to provide a lump sum of $25,000 in exchange for 10% of your home's appreciation. If you sell the house for $250,000, the HEA company is entitled to $25,000.
To make a private arrangement you should: write down what you agree so you have a record in case you need it. set a date in the future to review what you agree, to make sure it's still working for everyone.