Best Home Equity Loan Rates for October 2024

A home equity loan lets you borrow against your home equity, which is the difference between your home’s market value and the remaining balance on your mortgage. Like home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), home equity loans are secured by collateral: your home.

In general, home equity loans tend to have lower interest rates than personal loans or credit cards. That’s because home equity loans are secured debt, which makes them less risky for the lender. The downside is that if you miss payments, you risk losing your home.

I’ve spoken with experts about the advantages and disadvantages of home equity loans, how they work and where to find the best rates. Here’s what I’ve uncovered.

This week’s home equity loan rates

Here are the average rates for home equity loans and home equity lines of credit as of Oct. 2, 2024.

Loan type	This week’s rate	Last week’s rate	Difference
10-year, $30,000 home equity loan	8.47%	8.5%	-0.03
15-year, $30,000 home equity loan	8.38%	8.41%	-0.03
$30,000 HELOC	8.94%	8.94%	None

Current home equity loan rates and trends

Since March 2022, the Federal Reserve has increased borrowing costs by hiking its benchmark rate in an attempt to bring inflation down. As inflation cooled, the Federal Reserve paused its rate hikes but home equity loan rates remained high, around 8.5% range for borrowers. Now that the Fed has started to cut interest rates again, the borrowing cost for financial products like home equity loans and HELOCs should begin falling.

Over the past two years, home equity loans have become a popular alternative for borrowing, since they carry lower interest rates than other types of loans. One major draw of a home equity loan is that homeowners can leverage their home’s equity without having to refinance. 

“Most homeowners with mortgages in 2024 are choosing home equity loans or HELOCs, instead of a cash-out refinance, to avoid losing their attractive interest rates,” said Vikram Gupta, head of home equity at PNC Bank.

Best home equity loan rates of October 2024

Lender	APR	Loan amount	Loan terms	Max LTV ratio
U.S. Bank	From 7.65%	Not specified	Up to 30 years	Not specified
TD Bank	7.99% (0.25% autopay discount included)	From $10,000	5 to 30 years	Not specified
Connexus Credit Union	From 7.31%	From $5,000	5 to 15 years	90%
KeyBank	From 9.3% (0.25% autopay discount included)	From $25,000	1 to 30 years	80% for standard home equity loans, 90% for high-value home equity loans
Spring EQ	Fill out application for personalized rates	Up to $500,000	Not specified	90%
Third Federal Savings & Loan	From 7.49%	$10,000 to $200,000	Up to 30 years	80%
Frost Bank	From 6.66% (0.25% autopay discount included)	$2,000 to $500,000	15 to 20 years	90%
Regions Bank	From 6.75% to 14.125% (0.25% autopay discount included)	$10,000 to $250,000	7, 10, 15, 20 or 30 years	89%
Discover	From 6% for first liens, from 7.85% for second liens	$35,000 to $300,000	10, 15, 20 or 30 years	90%
BMO Harris	From 8.84% (0.5% autopay discount not included)	From $25,000	5 to 20 years	80%

Comparing the best home equity loan lenders of October 2024

Reasons to get a home equity loan

A home equity loan is a good choice if you need a large sum of cash all at once. You can use that cash for anything you’d like — it doesn’t have to be home-related. However, some uses make more sense than others.

1. Home renovations and improvements: If you want to upgrade your kitchen, install solar panels or add on a second bathroom, you can use the money from a home equity loan to pay for the cost of these renovations. Then, at tax time, you can deduct the interest you pay on the loan — as long as the renovations increase the value of your home and you meet certain IRS criteria.

2. Consolidating high-interest debt: Debt consolidation is a strategy where you take out one large loan to pay off the balances on multiple smaller loans, typically done to streamline your finances or get a lower interest rate. Because home equity loan interest rates are typically lower than those of credit cards, they can be a great option to consolidate your high-interest credit card debt, letting you pay off debt faster and save money on interest in the long run. The only downside? Credit card and personal loan lenders can’t take your home from you if you stop making your payments, but home equity lenders can. 

3. College tuition: Instead of using student loans to cover the cost of college for yourself or a loved one, you can use the cash from a home equity loan. If you qualify for federal student loans, though, they’re almost always a better option than a home equity loan. Federal loans have better borrower protections and offer more flexible repayment options in the event of financial hardship. But if you’ve maxed out your financial aid and federal student loans, a home equity loan can be a viable option to cover the difference.

4. Medical expenses: You can avoid putting unexpected medical expenses on a credit card by tapping into your home equity before a major medical procedure. Or, if you have outstanding medical bills, you can pay them off with the funds from a home equity loan. Before you do this, it’s worth asking if you can negotiate a payment plan directly with your medical provider.

5. Business expenses: If you want to start a small business or side hustle but lack money to get it going, a home equity loan can provide the funding without many hoops to jump through. However, you may find that dedicated small business loans are a better, less risky option.

6. Down payment on a second home: Homeowners can leverage their home’s equity to fund a down payment on a second home or investment property. But you should only use a home equity loan to buy a second home if you can comfortably afford multiple mortgage payments over the long term. 

Experts don’t recommend using a home equity loan for discretionary expenses like a vacation or wedding. Instead, try saving up money in advance for these expenses so you can pay for them without taking on unnecessary debt.

Pros and cons of a home equity loan

Home equity loan vs. HELOC

Home equity loans and HELOCs are similar but have a few key distinctions. Both let you draw on your home’s equity and require you to use your home as collateral to secure your loan. The two major differences are the way you receive the money and how you pay it back.

A home equity loan gives you the money all at once as a lump sum, whereas a HELOC lets you take money out in installments over a long period of time, typically 10 years. Home equity loans have fixed-rate payments that will never go up, but most HELOCs have variable interest rates that rise and fall with the prime rate.

A home equity loan is better if:

• You want a fixed-rate payment: Your monthly payment will never change even if interest rates rise.
• You want one lump sum of money: You receive the entire loan upfront with a home equity loan.
• You know the exact amount of money you need: If you know the amount you need and don’t expect it to change, a home equity loan likely makes more sense than a HELOC.

A HELOC is better if:

• You need money over a long period of time: You can take the money as you need it and only pay interest on the amounts you withdraw, not the full loan amount, as is the case with a home equity loan.
• You want a low introductory interest rate: Although HELOC rates may increase over time, they also typically offer lower introductory interest rates than home equity loans. So you could save money on interest charges.

Home equity loans vs. cash-out refinances

A cash-out refinance is when you replace your existing mortgage with a new mortgage, typically to secure a lower interest rate and more favorable terms. Unlike a traditional refinance, though, you take out a new mortgage for the home’s entire value — not just the amount you owe on your mortgage. You then receive the equity you’ve already paid off in your home as a cash payout.

For example, if your home is worth $450,000, and you owe $250,000 on your loan, you would refinance for the entire $450,000, rather than the amount you owe on your mortgage. Your new cash-out refinance home loan would replace your existing mortgage and then offer you a portion of the equity you built (in this case $200,000) as a cash payout.

Both a cash-out refi and a home equity loan will provide you with a lump sum of cash that you’ll repay in fixed amounts over a specific time period, but they have some important differences. A cash-out refinance replaces your current mortgage payment. When you receive a lump sum of cash from a cash-out refi, it’s added back onto the balance of your new mortgage, usually causing your monthly payment to increase. A home equity loan is different — it doesn’t replace your existing mortgage and instead adds an additional monthly payment to your expenses.

Who qualifies for a home equity loan?

Although it varies by lender, to qualify for a home equity loan, you’re typically required to meet the following criteria:

• At least 15% to 20% equity built up in your home: Home equity is the amount of home you own, based on how much you’ve paid toward your mortgage. Subtract what you owe on your mortgage and other loans from the current appraised value of your house to figure out your home equity number.
• Adequate, verifiable income and stable employment: Proof of income is a standard requirement to qualify for a HELOC. Check your lender’s website to see what forms and paperwork you will need to submit along with your application.
• A minimum credit score of 620: Lenders use your credit score to determine the likelihood that you’ll repay the loan on time. Having a strong credit score — at least 700 — will help you qualify for a lower interest rate and more amenable loan terms.
• A debt-to-income ratio of 43% or less: Divide your total monthly debts by your gross monthly income to get your DTI. Like your credit score, your DTI helps lenders determine your capacity to make consistent payments toward your loan. Some lenders prefer a DTI of 36% or less.

A home equity loan is better if:

• You don’t want to pay private mortgage insurance: Some cash-out refinances require PMI, which can add hundreds of dollars to your payments, but home equity loans don’t.
• You can’t complete a refinance: With rates rising, it’s possible that your mortgage rate is lower than current refinance rates. If that’s the case, it likely won’t make financial sense for you to refinance. Instead, you can use a home equity loan to take out only the money you need, rather than replacing your entire mortgage with a higher interest rate loan.

A cash-out refinance is better if:

• Refinance rates are lower than your current mortgage rate: If you can secure a lower interest rate by refinancing, this could save you money in interest, while providing access to a lump sum of cash. 
• You want only one monthly payment: The amount you borrow gets added back to the balance of your mortgage so you make only one payment to your lender every month.
• Less stringent eligibility requirements: If you don’t have great credit or you have a high debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, you may have an easier time qualifying for a cash-out refi compared with a home equity loan.
• Lower interest rates: Cash-out refinances sometimes offer more favorable interest rates than home equity loans.

Tips for choosing a lender

You’ll want to consider what type of financial institution best suits your needs. In addition to mortgage lenders, financial institutions that offer home equity loans include banks, credit unions and online-only lenders.

“Select a lender that makes you feel comfortable and informed with the home equity loan process,” said Rob Cook, vice president of marketing, digital and analytics for Discover Home Loans. “Look at what tools a lender makes available to borrowers to help inform their decision. For many borrowers, being able to apply and manage their application online is important.”

One option is to work with the lender that originated your first mortgage as you already have a relationship and a history of on-time payments. Many banks and credit unions also offer discounted rates and other benefits when you become a customer.

Some lenders offer lower interest rates but charge higher fees (and vice versa). What matters most is your annual percentage rate because it reflects both interest rate and fees.

Ensure the specific terms of the loan your lender is offering make sense for your budget. For example, be sure the minimum loan amount isn’t too high — be wary of withdrawing more funds than you need. You also want to make sure that your repayment term is long enough for you to comfortably afford the monthly payments. The shorter your loan term, the higher your monthly payments will be.

“Costs and fees are an important consideration for anyone who is looking for a loan,” Cook said. “Homeowners should understand any upfront or ongoing fees applicable to their loan options. Also look for prepayment penalties that might be associated with paying off your loan early.” 

No matter what, it’s important to talk to numerous lenders and find the best rate available.

How to apply for a home equity loan

Applying for a home equity loan is similar to applying for any mortgage loan. You’ll need both a solid credit score and proof of enough income to repay your loan.

1. Interview multiple lenders to determine which lender can offer you the lowest rates and fees. The more companies you speak with, the better your chances of finding the most favorable terms.

2. Have at least 15% to 20% equity in your home. If you do, lenders will then take into account your credit score, income and current DTI to determine whether you qualify as well as your interest rate.

3. Be prepared to have financial documents at the ready, such as pay stubs and Form W-2s. Proof of ownership and the appraised value of your home will also be necessary.

4. Close on your loan. Once you submit your application, the final step is closing on your loan. In some states, you’ll have to do this in person at a physical branch.

FAQs

Methodology

We evaluated a range of lenders based on factors such as interest rates, APRs and fees, how long the draw and repayment periods are, and what types and variety of loans are offered. We also took into account factors that impact the user experience such as how easy it is to apply for a loan online and whether physical lender locations exist.