Not a loan · No monthly payment

Your home is worth more than your bank account.
Reach it without a monthly payment.

A home equity agreement is not debt. There is no interest rate and no monthly bill. You receive a lump sum now and share a portion of your home’s value later — so you keep the house, and the asset keeps working for you.

$35.8 trillionheld by US homeowners as equity in their real estateSource: Federal Reserve, Financial Accounts of the United States (Z.1), Q2 2026 — 71.9% of all household real estate value.
Browse all 100 reasons

Free · No obligation · Does not affect your credit score

How it works

Four steps. Nothing is committed until you sign, and you can stop at any point.

Tell us about the property

A ZIP code, a rough value, and what you owe. About two minutes, and no credit check to find out.

We check your options

We match your property and your reason against the providers and partners in our network.

Review the terms

You see exactly what is offered, what share is involved, and how it settles — before anything is signed.

Funds released

Funding in as quickly as 3 days for qualified applicants.

Timing is not guaranteed. Three days reflects a best case for applicants who have completed approval and whose property, title, and valuation are already clear. Most take longer, and some do not qualify at all.

A hundred reasons, in nine categories

Homeowners reach for equity for very different things, and the right structure is not the same for a kitchen as it is for a business acquisition. Start with what you are actually trying to do.

13 pages

Start or grow a business

Capital to launch, buy, expand, or stabilise a company.

Start a businessBuy an existing businessBuy a franchiseExpand an existing business
See all 13 →
13 pages

Buy or build real estate

Down payments, land, development, and investment property.

Buy a rental propertyRental property down paymentBuy a vacation rentalBuy a second home
See all 13 →
19 pages

Improve your home

Remodels, roofs, solar, additions, and major repairs.

Major home remodelKitchen renovationBathroom remodelAdd a room or addition
See all 19 →
13 pages

Settle debt and obligations

High-interest debt, tax matters, divorce, and estate settlements.

Pay off credit card debtConsolidate personal loansPay tax debtFund an IRS settlement
See all 13 →
07 pages

Insurance and protection

Life cover, long-term care, annuities, and asset protection.

Pay a life insurance premiumFund single-premium life insuranceFund an indexed universal life policyFund a whole life policy
See all 7 →
09 pages

Invest and build wealth

Portfolios, private markets, metals, and alternatives.

Invest with a financial advisorBuild an investment portfolioMake an alternative investmentMake a private equity investment
See all 9 →
06 pages

Pay for education

College, graduate and professional school, and certifications.

Pay college tuitionPay for graduate schoolPay for medical schoolPay private school tuition
See all 6 →
10 pages

Cover medical costs

Procedures, dental, fertility, and long-term care.

Pay a family member's hospital billPay for major surgeryPay for elective surgeryPay for dental implants
See all 10 →
10 pages

Family and life events

Helping children buy, weddings, and major purchases.

Help a child buy a homeGift a child a down paymentPay for a weddingHandle a family emergency
See all 10 →

Every reason we cover

All 100, linked directly. Pick the one that matches your situation.

Straight answers

What is a home equity agreement?

A contract in which you receive a lump sum today in exchange for a share of your home's future value. It is not a loan: there is no interest rate and no monthly payment. It is settled in full when you sell the home, refinance, or reach the end of the agreement's term — typically 10 to 30 years.

How is this different from a HELOC or a home equity loan?

A HELOC and a home equity loan are debt. You borrow money, you pay interest, and you make a monthly payment. An equity agreement has no interest rate and no monthly payment; instead the investor participates in your home's value when the agreement ends. The trade-off is that a rising home value costs you more under an agreement than a fixed-rate loan would have.

Do I need good credit?

Credit matters less than it does for a loan, because qualification rests principally on the property and your equity position rather than on monthly repayment capacity. Requirements still vary by provider and by state, and not everyone qualifies. Checking does not affect your credit score.

How much of my equity can I access?

It depends on your property's value, what you owe, your location, and the provider. Most providers require you to retain a meaningful equity cushion, so this is not a route to accessing everything you have. You will see the specific figure before you commit to anything.

How quickly can I get the money?

Funding can happen in as quickly as three days for qualified applicants whose approval, property, title, and valuation are already clear. That is a best case rather than a typical one — most take longer, and some applicants do not qualify at all.

What happens if my home loses value?

That depends on the agreement, and it is one of the most important questions to ask. Some providers share downside as well as upside; others apply a floor that protects their position. Read the settlement terms carefully, and ask specifically what happens in a falling market before you sign.

What do I owe at the end?

The agreed share of your home's value at settlement, paid in a single amount. That is the central thing to understand: there is no monthly payment, but there is a lump sum due when the agreement ends, and you need a realistic plan for it — usually selling, refinancing, or settling from other funds.

Is Equity Direct a lender?

No. We are a marketing and referral service. We do not make credit decisions, we do not lend, and we do not provide financial, tax, or legal advice. We connect homeowners with providers and professional partners, and we are compensated for that referral.