5 Best HELOC Alternatives For Home Equity In 2026

If you're a homeowner with a significant amount of equity in your home, taking out a home equity line of credit (HELOC) may come to mind when you need extra cash. 

Homeowners have long looked to HELOCs as fairly reliable ways to tap into the cash value they’d built in their home.

But since the beginning of the pandemic, lenders have been less willing to provide HELOCs to homeowners. Some banks have suspended their HELOC programs altogether while others have tightened up their credit requirements.

While many banks hope to make HELOCs more broadly available in the near future, getting one right now could be difficult. However, there are HELOC alternatives out there that could provide access to the cash you're hoping for. Below, we break down each of these options and list a few of the top companies that may be worth checking out.

5 Best HELOC Alternatives

Let’s explore our top 5 choices for HELOC alternatives. Four of these options are home equity investment companies while the fifth is a sale leaseback company.

Point

Point is another investment company that will buy a portion of your home’s equity with cash. You’ll need to have built up at least 20% in home equity to receive an investment from Point, but the company prefers that you have at least 35% of the equity in your property.

One big benefit of Point it that it will invest in some rental properties that have a maximum of up to 4 units. But it should be noted that the company uses "risk adjustments" to reduce your home's appraised value by 15% to 20% right off the bat, which is a big downside.

Typically, you’ll receive a decision from Point in a matter of minutes. At that point, you can proceed with accepting their cash investment offer. You’ll pay Point back when you sell your home, reach the end of a 30-year agreement, or decide to buy back your equity from Point. 

Hometap also provides homeowners with cash investments in exchange for some of their home equity. It stands out from some of its competitors, though, by having a low credit score minimum of just 500. 

The investment that Hometap makes must be less than 30% of the value of your home. Plus, there is an investment cap of $600,000 for any particular property.

It's important to note that with Hometap you must settle the investment within 10 years. So if you don't think that you'll be able to sell the property or buy out Hometap within that timeframe, you should probably look at a different HELOC alternative.

Unlock

Unlock is a home equity sharing agreement that works as a HELOC alternative. It stands out from some of its competitors, though, by having a low credit score minimum of just 500. 

You must have a home equity ratio of at least 20% to take advantage of Unlock. You can access anywhere from $30,000 to $500,000, depending on how much equity you have in your home.

It's important to note that with Unlock you must settle the investment within 10 years. So if you don't think that you'll be able to sell the property or buy out Unlock within that timeframe, you should probably look at a different HELOC alternative.

Unison

Unison offers homeowners Home Equity Investment as an alternative to HELOCs.  The company is willing to make investments in your home that range from $30,000 to $500,000. But the investment must not be worth more than 15% of the home’s current value.

The cool thing with these types of investments is there are no monthly payments required.

If you work with Unison, there is an upfront transaction fee of 3.9%. That can make this an expensive option when compared with a regular HELOC. The upside is that you won’t have to repay Unison until you sell the home, 30 years have passed, or you simply want to buy them out.

Nada

Nada is a fintech and investing platform that allows qualified homeowners to access their home equity without paying any interest or monthly payments, while maintaining full ownership of their home. 

When you take out a Home Equity Agreement with Nada, you are agreeing to share in the future value of your home in exchange for immediate access to your home equity. However, unlike a home equity line of credit, an HEA doesn't charge interest, nor are there any monthly payments or income requirements. 

Bonus: Credible Personal Loans

If you need a smaller amount, you can get a personal loan up to $100,000 on the Credible marketplace without using your home at all. You'll generally need a good credit score to get a favorable rate on a personal loan. But if your credit is strong, unsecured personal loans can be a useful HELOC alternative.

With Credible, you can compare your personal loan options from 15+ lenders in minutes. When you take out a personal loan, you will need to make regular monthly payments. But the free platform can help you find a loan term that fits your budget. And the cash won’t be attached to your home’s equity in any way. 

HELOC Alternatives: A Breakdown

HELOCs may be hard to come by right now. But there are plenty of other ways to tap into the equity you’ve built in your home. Here are a few options to consider:

Final Thoughts

A HELOC can be a useful way to tap into your home’s equity. But if traditional mortgage lenders aren’t willing to help you access that equity, then you’ll need to seek out a different option.

Before you dive into a HELOC alternative, weigh your other options. Is it possible to cover this expense with a short-term side hustle or a dip into your savings? If so, you might be able to avoid the process of selling your home’s equity or taking out a personal loan.

If access to cash is a priority, then keep the fees in mind as you explore your HELOC alternatives. Don’t overpay for the opportunity to leverage your home’s equity