8 Reasons To Tap Your Home Equity For Cash

If you’re a homeowner and you need a significant amount of cash, a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) may be a good option. These allow you to borrow against the amount of equity you have in your home.

Of course, you will need to pay back any loan borrowed using your home’s equity — and you risk foreclosure if you default — so it is not something to be undertaken lightly. There are good reasons for taking out a home equity loan, but be aware of the drawbacks before you commit.

8 reasons to use a home equity loan or HELOC

1. Home improvements

Home improvement is one of the most common reasons homeowners take out home equity loans or HELOCs. Besides making the home more comfortable, upgrades could make it more valuable.

“Home equity is a great option to finance large projects like a kitchen renovation that will increase a home’s value over time,” says Glenn Brunker, president of online lender Ally Home. “Many times, these investments will pay for themselves by increasing the home’s value.”

A HELOC, which allows gradual withdrawals can be ideal for long-term projects in which you pay contractors at set intervals, or ones in which the final cost is indefinite. However, keep in mind that if you can’t repay your loan or HELOC, the lender could foreclose on your home.

Pros

• You are essentially putting the worth of your home to work, using it to increase the value of your property.
• If you itemize your tax deductions, you could deduct the interest on your home equity loan or HELOC, up to the limit.
• A HELOC, which allows gradual withdrawals, in particular can be ideal for long-term projects in which you pay contractors at set intervals, or ones in which the final cost is indefinite.

Cons

• The monthly payments on a home equity loan or HELOC, coupled with your monthly mortgage payments, could stretch your budget too thin.
• Depending on the scope of the remodel, you might need more than the amount you can borrow from your equity.
• If you can’t repay the home equity loan or HELOC, the lender could foreclose on your home.

2. Education costs

A home equity loan or HELOC can help you fund higher education or continuing education. This route typically only makes sense when home equity rates are lower than student loan rates or if reach the maximum borrowing limit.

Before turning to your home equity to fund education costs, look into more traditional options. For instance, someone obtaining a teaching certification might be able to get the cost covered by their future employer. Some public service professions are also eligible for student loan forgiveness after a period of time.

Pros

• Could be a lower-interest option than a private student loan, a federal parent loan or a personal loan.
• HELOC gradual withdrawal structure is tailor-made for annual or semi-annual tuition payments.
• Could furnish a greater sum than a student loan.

Cons

• Repayment starts sooner (with a home equity loan).
• Rates not as competitive as federal student loans’.
• Tapping home equity is riskier: If you default, you could lose your home.
• The student might be able to get financial help in other ways, such as from a future employer or via loan forgiveness.

3. Debt consolidation

Americans’ credit card debt is skyrocketing. According to Bankrate’s Credit Card Debt Survey, 47% of credit card holders currently carry a balance from month-to-month. Given cards’ average interest rate of 20.09%, paying down that debt can be tricky, not to mention expensive—but doing so can boost your credit score as well as allow you to save on interest.

A HELOC or home equity loan can be used to pay off the plastic, along with other high-interest loans. Borrowers may be able to find a loan with an interest rate that is much lower than what they were paying for their credit card debt, allowing them to consolidate debt and reduce monthly expenses.

There are drawbacks, however. You could be turning unsecured credit card debt into secured debt, backed by your house, that leaves you vulnerable to foreclosure if you default. And unless you take steps to change the financial habits that brought on your debt in the first place, you’re simply swapping one form of debt for another.

Pros

• You could save on interest and lower your monthly payments.
• Eliminating credit card debt boosts your credit score.

Cons

• You’re turning an unsecured debt, such as a credit card, into secured debt now backed by your home. If you default on your equity loan or HELOC, you could lose your house to foreclosure.
• If you haven’t broken the financial habits that got you into debt in the first place, or come up with a plan for repayment, you’re simply swapping one form of debt for another.

4. Emergency expenses

Many financial experts agree you should have an emergency fund to cover three to six months of living expenses, but that’s not the reality for many people. Over half (54%) of Americans have less than three months of expenses saved or have no emergency savings at all — and, as of December 2025, just 30% of people would use their savings to pay for a major unexpected expense, according to Bankrate’s Emergency Savings Survey. If you find yourself in a costly situation — maybe you’re facing large medical bills or unexpected home repairs — a home equity loan or HELOC can be one way to stay afloat.

However, this is only a viable option if you have a plan for how to repay the debt. While you might feel better knowing you could access your home equity in case of an emergency, it still makes smart financial sense to set up and start contributing to an emergency fund. Plus, the application process for a HELOC or home equity loan takes time (though it’s speeded up of late: Some online lenders, such as Better, are offering approval decisions within one day). In a true emergency when you need cash fast, you’d need to already have the loan in place to use it.

5. Business expenses

Some business owners use their home equity to start or grow their company. If you need capital, you might be able to save money on interest by taking equity out of your home instead of taking out a business loan. Before you commit, though, run the numbers. A return on investment isn’t guaranteed, and you’re putting your house on the line.

Pros

• You might be able to borrow money at a lower interest rate with a home equity loan than you would with a small business loan.
• It might be easier to obtain capital with a home equity loan than with a loan tied to your business, especially if you’re just starting out.

Cons

• If your business fails, you’d still need to make payments on what you borrowed, regardless of lack of earnings. If you can’t, you could face foreclosure.

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6. Investment opportunities

It’s possible to use home equity to invest in the stock market or buy a rental property — though both propositions are risky and require serious care and consideration. A well-qualified borrower might be able to take out a home equity loan on an investment property they own, as well.

Using home equity for this purpose particularly resonates with younger homeowners. According to Bankrate’s Home Equity Insights Survey, almost one-third (30%) of millennial homeowners consider making investments a good reason to tap home equity.

Consider the cost of home equity borrowing, though. While HELOC rates have dropped to two-year lows, they’re still upwards of 7% – not a bargain by any means. You’ll need to find an investment that beats that 8% mark to generate a meaningful return. Also note that you can’t take advantage of the home equity loan’s tax deduction on interest, except in a few cases, such as buying adjacent property or land.

Pros

• Investing in the stock market or real estate sets you on the path to building wealth, and the sooner you can start, the better.
• Leveraging assets to invest frees up money for other purposes, theoretically increases your rate of return.

Cons

• It’s possible that you won’t earn a high enough return to outweigh the loan interest you pay.
• You’re stuck with the debt, even if your investments decline in value.
• You can’t take advantage of the home equity loan’s tax deduction on interest, except in a few cases, such as buying adjacent property or land.

7. Retirement income

If your retirement savings are falling short, tapping your home’s equity can help supplement your income so you can better manage expenses. These funds can be used to cover bills, emergency expenses or even home improvements to make you more comfortable as you age. A big caveat: This strategy relies on your ability to repay the loan or HELOC. If you’re not yet drawing Social Security, you might be able to repay HELOC funds with the benefit money later on. If you’re fully retired and struggling to make ends meet, however, it’s possible you won’t have the means to repay the debt, even if you have a HELOC you don’t have to pay back right away.

There are other roadblocks to this strategy, too: If you’re still paying your first mortgage, tapping your equity adds to your expenses and puts you in debt that much longer. It might also be harder to even get an equity loan if your income has decreased since you’re no longer employed full-time.

Pros

• If you need to beef up your retirement income, why not borrow from your own assets — it can make more sense than selling investments.

Cons

• You’ll need to think through how to repay your loan while you’re retired, and even afterwards. Home equity debt doesn’t disappear when you pass away — your heirs will have to work with your lender if they want to keep the home.
• It could be harder to qualify for a home equity loan with a lower retirement income.

If you need retirement income, a reverse mortgage may be a better option than a home equity loan or HELOC.

8. Big-ticket items

It’s possible to use your home equity for big-ticket purchases. Traveling in particular can come with a steep price tag, and tapping your home’s equity could help cover the costs without having to increase your credit card debt. But it doesn’t add up in many cases.

Take cars, for example. Home equity loans have much longer repayment terms than auto loans, resulting in lower monthly payments. But that also means paying much more interest over time. Cars are also depreciating assets, meaning your car will be worth much less than you paid for it by the time you finish repaying the equity loan.

The same problem applies to expensive experiences, like weddings and vacations. Going into debt – and risking your home in the process – isn’t typically a good route to cover these kinds of discretionary expenses. They’re over in days or weeks, but the debt can drag on for decades. Even if they provide memories for a lifetime, it shouldn’t take a lifetime to pay for them. 

Pros

• Home equity loans typically have lower interest rates than credit cards, which could save you money.
• You can get that new car, throw the big party, or take that trip sooner rather than later.

Cons

• You’ll still be paying for it many years after it’s over, which could ultimately cost you more in interest.
• Your home isn’t worth risking for an expense that won’t give you a solid return.

What is home equity?

Home equity is the difference between what your home is worth and how much you still owe on your mortgage. As you pay down your mortgage and your home’s value increases, your equity stake grows.

If you’ve just closed on a home and need cash, you can generally tap into your home equity right away. However, some lenders require borrowers to wait several months before applying for a home equity loan or HELOC. And whether there’s a waiting period or not, you’ll have to meet the lender’s eligibility requirements. These can include credit score minimums, income verification and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio maximums. Most importantly, you’ll also need at least 20% equity in your home to qualify, though some lenders accept 15%.

There are a couple of common ways that most homeowners can access their home equity.

How much home equity you can borrow?

With a home equity loan, most lenders allow you to borrow as much as 80% to 85% of your combined loan-to-value (CLTV) ratio. It’s called “combined” because it considers both your current mortgage and any additional loans you’d take on.

CLTV is calculated by taking the total amount you would owe in home-based debt and dividing it by the total value of the home. For example, if your home is worth $450,000, and you have an outstanding mortgage amount of $200,000, and you would like to take out a home equity loan for $50,000, here’s how to calculate CLTV:

You can also use a home equity loan calculator to help you understand how much you could borrow.

Frequently asked questions

• How much home equity can I borrow against?
  

  The amount of home equity you can borrow against depends on a number of factors, including how much the home is worth, the outstanding balance on your mortgage and your credit score. Assuming you’re well-qualified, many home equity lenders allow you to tap up to 80% of your equity.

   

• Will using home equity affect my credit score?
  

  As with any loan product, a home equity loan or HELOC can hurt your credit score in the short term, in part because you’re taking on more debt and potentially raising your credit utilization ratio. Over time, however, your credit score could go up as you make regular monthly payments on your home equity loan. It’s possible to get a home equity loan with bad credit, too.

• Is the interest on home equity loans tax-deductible?
  

  It can be. You can deduct home equity loan interest if you use the funds to “buy, build or substantially improve” the home that was used to secure the loan, according to the IRS. You must itemize deductions on your tax return, and — similar to the mortgage deduction — there are limits as to how much you can deduct.