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Watch a short overview of how home equity options work and what to consider before moving forward.
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Use Your Home Equity
Understand how home equity works, what options may be available, and how to decide whether using equity makes sense.
Whether you want to consolidate debt, improve your home, or explore your options, this page can help you get oriented before you apply.
Start here
A simple way to begin if you’re thinking about using the equity in your home.
Estimate
Use our home equity calculator to get a rough idea of how much equity may be available.
Open calculator
Understand
Read a plain-English guide to the main ways homeowners can use equity and the tradeoffs to consider.
Read guide
Move forward
Ready to explore your options? Start the conversation or apply when it makes sense.
Start your applicationAlso explore
Featured videos
Helpful videos about home equity, debt consolidation, refinancing, and payment decisions.
Plan your equity options
Before using home equity, it helps to estimate available equity and understand how a new loan or payment could affect your budget.
Home equity calculator
Estimate how much equity may be available based on your home value and existing mortgage balance.
Open calculatorDebt consolidation calculator
Estimate how consolidating debts with a home equity loan could affect your monthly payments and overall cash flow.
Open calculatorPayment calculator
Estimate how a new loan amount, interest rate, and term could affect your monthly payment.
Open calculatorRefinance calculator
Compare your current loan with possible new loan terms to see how the payment may change.
Open calculatorCan I qualify?
Home equity can open up options, but available equity is only one part of the decision. These topics explore how income, credit, property value, and loan structure may affect what is available.
Featured qualification topic
Can I qualify to take cash out of my home?
Learn how qualifying to take cash out of your home works in Texas, including first-lien cash-out refinancing, home equity second mortgages, HELOCs, and renovation loan options.
More qualification topics
- Can I qualify if recently divorced? Learn how divorce can affect mortgage qualification, including credit separation, joint debts, refinancing the marital home, owelty deeds, support income, and buying before divorce is final.
More ways we can help
Some home equity situations are tied to a specific goal. If one of these fits what you are trying to do, the linked page may ask a few questions or invite you to request more information.
Not sure what to do about holiday debt?
Start with a checkup
If holiday debt is still hanging around, start with a no-pressure checkup. We'll help you compare real options so you can understand whether home equity, refinancing, or another strategy may make sense.
Start the conversationOne conversation can simplify your debt
Debt can feel easier to manage when you understand your options. Start one clear conversation to see whether consolidation, home equity, or another mortgage strategy may help simplify your monthly payments.
Start the conversationKeep your low mortgage rate and still consolidate debt
You may not have to give up a low first-mortgage rate to consolidate debt. See whether a home equity option could help you address debt while keeping your current mortgage in place.
Start the conversationUse your home equity
Not sure whether a home equity loan, HELOC, or cash-out refinance makes sense? Start with the calculator and explore which option may fit your goal.
Request detailsHelpful articles
More reading if you want to understand the options before requesting details.
What clients say
“We really enjoyed working with you and could not have navigated the process without you!! Thanks so much for your expert guidance and support!”
— Dave and Susan S.
From the kitchen
Because life is not all mortgages. Click on a recipe card to enlarge and print it.
Sheet Pan Chicken
Salmon Bites
Ready to move forward?
You can start the application online. If you have questions first, use the chat icon or contact us.
Have a question? Use the chat icon in the bottom right - we’re here to help.