Cons You give up a portion of your home's future appreciation. Not available in all states. Only by select private lenders. May include upfront fees. Limits how much equity you can access. May include restrictions on how you can use, renovate, or sell your home.
Traditional lenders don't offer HEAs. Instead, you'll need to work with specialized home equity sharing companies. Some of the eligibility requirements include: Home equity: You'll typically need to have at least 20% equity in your home, but this depends on the lender's requirements.
Home equity sharing agreements involve selling a percentage of your home's value or appreciation to an investor in exchange for a lump sum upfront. The agreement typically is settled, with the homeowner paying back the investor, after the home is sold or at the end of a 10- to 30-year period.
While a Home Equity Investment is not the right fit for all homeowners looking to tap into their equity, it might be a good fit for you if: You can't – or don't want to – make a monthly payment. Your income or credit disqualifies you from traditional financing solutions.
A HEA might make more sense if you need a lump sum now, prefer not to take on monthly debt, or have limited income or credit history. Both can be smart ways to tap into your home's equity. Just make sure to read the fine print, weigh the long-term costs, and choose the option that best aligns with your plans.
Qualifying for a HEA is relatively easy, too. The main requirement is to have built up some equity in your property. You don't need a super high credit score, and the income criteria are flexible.
Investing in equity shares is a great idea. The reason is that an equity share indicates that you have a certain percentage of equity in the company. Thus, the returns you get are directly linked to the profits of the company. This makes it a great option as the opportunity to earn a good return is high.