Access Your Home Equity
You've built equity in your home. Here's every realistic way to put it to work — cash, monthly income, care, repairs, or debt relief — with the trade-offs explained honestly.
Borrow against it
HELOCs, home equity loans, cash-out refinancing, and reverse mortgages.
Share or sell part of it
Home equity investments and sale-leasebacks.
Sell and move
Downsizing to free up cash and lower costs.
Get Cash From Your Home
How to Get Money Out of Your House Without Selling
Every way to tap your home's value while you keep living in it.
- HELOC
- Home equity loan
- Cash-out refinance
- Reverse mortgage
How to Get Cash From Your Home Without Selling
Stay in the home you love and still turn some of its value into cash.
- HELOC
- Reverse mortgage
- Renting out space
- Home equity investment
How to Turn Home Equity Into Cash
A practical menu of ways to convert equity into spendable money.
- Selling or downsizing
- HELOC
- Home equity loan
- Cash-out refinance
How to Get Money From a Paid-Off House
Owning free and clear gives you the widest range of choices.
- HELOC
- Home equity loan
- Cash-out refinance
- Reverse mortgage
How to Borrow Against a Paid-Off House
What lenders look at and how each type of loan works on a home you own outright.
- HELOC
- Home equity loan
- Cash-out refinance
- Reverse mortgage
Retirement Income
How to Access Home Equity in Retirement
How retirees can use their largest asset alongside Social Security and savings.
- Downsizing
- HELOC
- Reverse mortgage
- Sale-leaseback
How to Use Home Equity for Retirement Income
Ways to make your home part of your retirement income plan.
- Reverse mortgage
- Downsizing & investing proceeds
- Renting out space
- Annuity funded by a sale
How to Create Monthly Income From Home Equity
Turning equity into a steady monthly check.
- Reverse mortgage tenure payments
- Reverse mortgage term payments
- Renting out space
- Selling and buying an annuity
Health & Care
How to Use Home Equity for Home Care
Paying for help at home so you or a loved one can stay there.
- Medicaid waiver programs
- Veterans benefits
- Long-term care insurance
- HELOC
How to Use Home Equity for Long-Term Care
Planning for assisted living or nursing care costs.
- Selling the home
- Long-term care insurance
- Medicaid planning
- Bridge loan
How to Use Home Equity for Medical Expenses
Covering bills Medicare and insurance leave behind.
- Hospital financial assistance
- Payment plans
- HELOC
- Home equity loan
Home & Housing Costs
How to Use Home Equity for Home Repairs
Funding a roof, furnace, or other repair that can't wait.
- Repair grants
- Home equity loan
- HELOC
- Single-purpose reverse mortgage
How to Use Home Equity for Accessibility Improvements
Ramps, grab bars, walk-in showers, and other changes for aging in place.
- Home modification grants
- Veterans adaptation grants
- HELOC
- Reverse mortgage
How to Use Home Equity to Pay Off a Mortgage
Eliminating a required monthly mortgage payment in retirement.
- Refinancing
- Downsizing
- Reverse mortgage payoff
Debt & Financial Pressure
How to Use Home Equity to Pay Off Debt
Using your home to clear credit cards or other loans — and the risks to weigh.
- Nonprofit credit counseling
- Debt management plan
- Home equity loan
- HELOC
How to Access Home Equity for Emergency Expenses
What works when you need money quickly — and what takes too long.
- Existing HELOC
- Emergency assistance programs
- Personal loan
- Reverse mortgage line of credit (set up in advance)
More in this section
Where reverse mortgages fit
For homeowners 62 and older, a reverse mortgage is often worth a look because it requires no monthly mortgage payment. It isn't right for everyone — compare it with the alternatives first.
Curious what you might qualify for?
Get a free, no-obligation estimate. Takes about two minutes — no credit pull required.
