Best Home Equity Sharing Companies of July 2025
One of the main benefits of homeownership is building up equity. While that equity can amount to cash in hand when it’s time to sell your house, you can also turn your home's increased value into cash without putting it on the market. Home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and reverse mortgages are the most common tools for accessing equity while you’re still in your home. However, another option has emerged in recent years: home equity sharing agreements.
These unique arrangements allow you to sell a portion of your future equity to an investment company in exchange for a lump sum payment. And unlike other options, they don’t come with interest or monthly payments. If you're considering using your equity for cash and are looking for an alternative to traditional home equity products, equity sharing might be a good option. Read on for our reviews of the top home equity sharing companies.
What to know about home equity sharing
- Home equity sharing and home equity investments allow you to turn the equity you've gained into cash without taking out a loan.
- With home equity sharing agreements, an investor purchases a portion of your home’s future value, giving you a lump sum of cash in return.
- With a share appreciation product, you repay or buy back the invested amount plus the investor’s portion of your home’s appreciation when the agreement’s term is up.
- There are no interest or monthly payments with home equity agreements. Most investors won't charge a penalty if you repurchase the investment option before the end of the term.
How we chose our top picks
Home equity sharing is a small industry. To choose our top home equity sharing companies, Money’s writers and editors evaluated the nine main home equity investors on the market, focusing on fees, payoff terms, geographic availability, credit score minimums, loan amounts and eligible property types. Our winners highlight the best options for home equity sharing overall, as well as the top choices for certain consumer niches — investors, low-credit consumers or those looking for high payment amounts, for example.
Read the full methodology to learn more.
Our top picks for home equity sharing companies of July 2025
- Point: Best overall
- Hometap: Best for large payment amounts
- Unlock: Best for investors
- Unison: Best for good credit
- Splitero: Best perks
- Low credit score minimum
- Upfront fee on the lower side of companies analyzed
- 30-year payoff term
- Fairly wide availability
- Requires 30% equity
- No mobile or manufactured homes allowed
- Upfront fee:
- 3.9% of payment amount
- Availability:
- 26 states, plus Washington, D.C.
- Loan amounts:
- $30,000 to $500,000 (max of 20% of the home’s value)
- Minimum credit score:
- 500
- Payoff term:
- 30 years
- Property types allowed:
- Single-family residences, condos, one- to four-unit multifamily properties, townhomes, investment properties and second homes
Why we chose this company: According to our analysis, Point takes the crown for the top home equity sharing company. Its wide nationwide availability, fairly low upfront fee, low credit score requirements and flexibility regarding property type make it a good choice for a wide swath of homeowners and investors looking to access their equity. Its long payoff term is notable, too, allowing you a full three decades before repayment comes due.
- One of the lowest upfront transaction fees
- Low credit score minimum
- Highest loan amounts of all analyzed
- Multiple property types allowed
- Only a 10-year payoff term
- Limited availability
- Upfront fee:
- 4.5% of payment amount
- Availability:
- 17 states, plus Washington, D.C.
- Loan amounts:
- Up to $600,000 (max of 25% of the home’s value)
- Minimum credit score:
- 500
- Payoff term:
- 10 years
- Property types allowed:
- Single-family homes, condos, vacation properties, rental properties, one- to four-unit multifamily homes and manufactured homes
Why we chose this company: If you’re looking for a lot of cash or to access a sizable portion of your home’s equity, Hometap is likely your best bet. The investment company offers a maximum amount of $600,000 — the highest maximums we found. You can even cash in on the equity in your vacation home, rental property or a multifamily property, if you have one, and you need just a 500 credit score to qualify.
- Low minimum credit score
- Multiple property types allowed
- Only 20% equity required
- High upfront fee
- Limited availability
- Only a 10-year payoff term
- Upfront fee:
- 4.9% of payment amount
- Availability:
- 13 states
- Loan amounts:
- $30,000 to $500,000
- Minimum credit score:
- 500
- Payoff term:
- 10 years
- Property types allowed:
- Single-family homes, condos, two- to four-unit multifamily properties, townhomes, primary residences, second homes and rental properties
Why we chose this company: Unlock lets you access the equity in single-family homes, multi-unit properties, townhomes, second houses, rentals and more, and they can be a great option for investors looking to pull from a property’s equity to purchase their next investment. The best part: The company requires just a 20% equity stake to qualify — less than any other company on our list, meaning you may be able to build onto that portfolio sooner than other options would allow.
- Lower upfront fee compared to other options
- Below-market interest rate
- Limited availability
- Second homes and rentals aren’t eligible
- Upfront fee:
- 3% origination fee
- Availability:
- 8 states
- Loan amounts:
- $30,000 to $400,000 (max of 35% of the home’s value)
- Minimum credit score:
- 680
- Payoff term:
- 10 years
- Property types allowed:
- Owner-occupied primary residences, including single-family homes, townhouses and condos.
Why we chose this company: If you’ve got a great credit score, then Unison can be a smart choice for accessing your home equity. The company offers an equity sharing home loan that offers a below-market interest rate and allows the homeowner to access up to $400,000 in equity. In exchange, you'll make low monthly payments during the loan's 10-year term. You’ll repay any deferred interest plus the agreed-upon portion of your home's appreciated value when the agreement ends or you sell the property. There are no prepayment penalties if you decide to end the agreement early. Unison primarily considers owner-occupied primary residences for its investments.
- Allows repurchase terms as long as your main mortgage lasts
- Low minimum credit score
- Has an affiliated brokerage that will help you sell your house when it’s time
- Highest upfront fee of companies analyzed
- Limited availability
- Upfront fee:
- 4.99% of payment amount
- Availability:
- 13 states
- Loan amounts:
- Up to $500,000 (max of 25% of the home’s value)
- Minimum credit score:
- 500
- Payoff term:
- Up to your main mortgage’s term
- Property types allowed:
- Owner-occupied single-family homes, condos, townhomes, two- to four-unit multifamily properties
Why we chose this company: Although Splitero's fees are slightly higher than those of other equity sharing options we analyzed, it can give you an approval decision within one to two business days — one of the fastest approvals we found in our analysis. It also has some interesting features that consumers could find appealing. First, its investment terms are flexible, ranging between 10 and 30 years. With Maturity Match, if you have a first-lien mortgage on your property, you won’t have to pay Splitero back until that first mortgage term is up. And if you want to sell your house and repurchase your equity investment, the company has a brokerage that can do the heavy lifting for you.
What you need to know about home equity sharing
Home equity sharing agreements, also known as home equity investments, allow you to sell a portion of your home’s future equity to an investor in exchange for a lump sum payment. You can then use the money for any purpose you’d like.
There are only a few home equity sharing options on the market, and each one is pretty limited geographically, with even the most accessible company offering agreements in just 29 states. To choose the right home equity sharing company, you should start with your location to find out what options are available.
Read more about how equity sharing works, who qualifies and the pros and cons of entering into this type of agreement. There are also other alternatives to consider if home equity investments aren't right for you.
How does home equity sharing work?
Equity sharing is an alternative way to access the cash value of your home's equity. It’s not a loan in any traditional or legal sense, and instead sells a portion of your home’s equity to an investor, who will generally allow you to buy that equity back over time. So, if your home has $100,000 in equity, you may be able to sell 25% or more to an investor, who will give you cash for that share in exchange for an agreement that you will repay their investment in your home at the end of the agreed-upon term.
These aren’t charitable contributions, however, and you’ll also be on the hook for a percentage of your home’s appreciation when the investment is over. This typically happens either at a set interval, like five years, or when your first mortgage is paid in full.
Although you don’t have a payment to make and you don’t take on any new debt, home equity sharing is not an easy path to accessing your equity and should be considered very carefully. If you aren't able to pay the investor back at the end of the term, you may have to sell your home to do so.
Most investors do allow you to repurchase your equity early without penalty, and if you pursue one of these equity sharing options, you should be putting money back at a rate that will allow you to reclaim your home’s equity so you can choose what happens at the end of your mortgage. Although they can be risky to homeowners, there is a place for home equity sharing in the real estate ecosystem. Just be sure you fully understand the agreement you’re being presented with before you sign it.
Who is eligible for home equity sharing?
Although specific eligibility requirements vary by company, homeowners generally need to meet the following criteria:
- Credit: Credit score and income requirements are more lenient than those for traditional loans. Typically, companies require homeowners to have a credit score of at least 500.
- Loan-to-value ratio (LTV): The LTV is the current loan balance, plus the new loan or home equity share agreement, divided by the home's current value. The resulting number reflects how much you owe on your debt; generally, you need an LTV below 70%. If you owe more money, you may not qualify.
- Investment amount: A home equity sharing agreement usually offers between $25,000 and $500,000 in investment. The amount you can receive depends on your home value, credit, and the company's restrictions.
- Property use: Some companies limit the types of property eligible for home equity share agreements. For example, some only accept single-family, single-owner primary residences.
What are the pros and cons of home equity sharing?
As with any type of loan, there are benefits and risks when you enter into an equity sharing agreement. Fully understanding the pros and cons will help you determine if a home equity investment is the right choice for you.
Pros:
- Access to cash without incurring debt: Home equity sharing is one way to tap your home’s equity without having to borrow money from a traditional lender. However, this does not mean that you’re not on the hook for something. The equity you’ve sold can be repurchased prior to the end of your agreement, or you may have to sell your home in order to repay the obligation to your investor when the agreement term ends.
- No monthly payments: Because you’re not taking out a loan, you won’t have any monthly payments that can strain your budget or accumulate interest that will increase the borrowed balance.
- Flexibility: You can use the money you get any way you like, from making home repairs to paying off high-interest debt. This flexibility lets you make financial decisions that prioritize your needs and are best suited to your current circumstances.
- Easier qualification requirements: Home equity sharing companies tend to have lower credit score minimums, so you can qualify even if your credit score is below 600.
Cons:
- Loss of full ownership: When you enter an equity-sharing agreement, the investment company becomes a secondary lien holder, much like a traditional mortgage lender. If you don't want to give up control, you may be better off if you get a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC).
- Risks associated with both appreciation and depreciation: If your property appreciates, you'll have to share that appreciation with the investor based on the equity percentage they own. This can mean parting with a substantial sum when the agreement concludes. Conversely, if your property decreases in value, the investor may still be entitled to a return on their investment, meaning you owe more than anticipated.
- Having to make a lump sum payment: At the end of the equity sharing agreement, you will likely have to make a large balloon payment to the investor. This payment can be substantial, particularly if the property has appreciated significantly. If you don't have the funds readily available, you may need to sell your home or take out a loan to repay the investor.
- Possible loss of a tax deduction for mortgage interest: If you typically take a mortgage interest deduction, you’ll not be able to deduct anything to do with your equity sharing agreement, since it’s not a mortgage, and no interest accumulates.
Alternatives to home equity sharing
Although home equity shares can be helpful, they can be risky, particularly if you think you'll need to refinance or sell your home within the next few years. If you decide against home equity sharing but need access to cash, consider one of these alternatives:
- Cash-out refinance: With a cash-out refinance loan, you apply for a new mortgage that is larger than your existing balance. You use the loan to pay off the existing mortgage, and you receive the additional funds in cash to use for home improvements, medical expenses or other needs.
- Home equity loan: If you need a large lump sum and have good credit, a home equity loan allows you to borrow against your established equity. The loan has a fixed repayment term and predictable monthly payments.
- Home equity line of credit (HELOC): A HELOC is similar to a home equity loan, except it gives you a revolving line of credit. It's best for those who may have ongoing expenses or are unsure of the total project cost.
- Personal loan: A personal loan can be a helpful alternative if you need a smaller sum or haven't built enough equity in your house yet. Personal loan lenders offer loans between $1,000 and $100,000, and you usually have two to seven years to repay the loan. However, these loans tend to have higher interest rates than home equity loans since they're unsecured.
Latest news in home equity
Being a homeowner continues to pay off in terms of increasing home equity. According to the National Association of Realtors, the large increase in home values during the pandemic years has led to a 46% increase in median net worth since 2019, with homeowners currently holding an average of $430,000 in wealth.
The increased wealth has led to record amounts of home equity for property owners. According to real estate analytics firm Intercontinental Exchange, homeowners hold an average of $212,000 in home equity — a reliable source of cash in case of an emergency or economic downturn.
Home equity loans and lines of credit are the more traditional means of accessing that cash, but by no means the only alternative. In recent years, home equity sharing agreements, also known as home equity investments, have become increasingly common. With home prices continuing to increase, and uncertainty over the strength of the U.S. economy rising, having the option to tap into these large amounts of equity can provide some relief to concerned homeowners.
How we chose the best home equity sharing companies
To choose our top home equity sharing picks, we did extensive research to pinpoint five key data points we could use to assess companies. We then scored each company on those categories, giving an overall weighted score. Our weightings were as follows: Geographic availability (25%), payoff term (20%), maximum loan amount (20%), credit score minimum (20%) and eligible property types (15%). We favored companies with wide availability, long payoff terms, high loan amounts and low credit score requirements.
Below are details of each data point we looked at.
- Geographic availability: We considered the accessibility of equity sharing agreements and gave more weight to companies licensed to operate in a greater number of states.
- Payoff terms: We evaluated each company on how much time their clients had to pay back the investment, with greater emphasis on longer terms.
- Maximum loan amount: Companies that offered higher maximum investment amounts were prioritized over those with lower caps.
- Credit score minimum: Home equity investments work differently than traditional loans. Although most will accept lower-than-usual credit scores, we prioritized those that had the lowest minimums.
- Eligible property types: Companies considering many different properties were ranked higher than those with limited options.
Aside from the above winners, other companies we considered included EquiFi, QuantumRE and HomePace.
Summary of our top picks for home equity sharing companies of July 2025
- Point: Best overall
- Hometap: Best for large payment amounts
- Unlock: Best for investors
- Unison: Best for good credit
- Splitero: Best perks
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