For many, a HELOC is considered one of the cheapest ways to get equity out of a house without having to restructure their existing mortgage.
Taking equity out of your home can be risky because it involves borrowing against the value of your property. This means you are increasing your debt and potentially putting your home at risk if you are unable to repay the borrowed amount.
Home equity sharing is when you sell a portion of your home's equity to an investor in exchange for a lump sum payment plus a portion of your home's future value. They're offered through a variety of investment companies, including Unlock, Hometap, Unison and more.
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.