Key Takeaways
- We compared six leading HEI companies on payout size, term length, availability, and credit requirements to find the best options
- Point is our Best Overall pick, with the highest lender score, HEI funding up to $600,000, a 30-year term, and an accessible 500+ credit minimum.
- Point, Hometap, Nada and Splitero offer the largest maximum payouts (up to $600,000), Point the broadest availability (31 states plus Washington, D.C.), and Splitero the most flexible repayment timeline.
Home equity investment (HEI) companies give homeowners a lump sum of cash today in exchange for a share of the home’s future value. An HEI has no stated interest rate or required monthly payment, but it is not cost-free. Settlement is generally due when you sell, reach the contract’s end, or another contractual trigger occurs. Refinancing may help fund settlement, subject to lender and contract requirements.
Check your home equity loan options. Start hereThe Mortgage Reports compared six HEI companies on funding limits, term length, fees, credit minimums and state availability, and scored each one using the methodology explained at the end of this guide.
In this article (Skip to...)
- Best home equity investment companies in 2026
- Home equity investment companies comparison table
- How to choose the best home equity investment company (quiz)
- The Mortgage Reports best HEI companies methodology
- The bottom line
- Home equity investment companies FAQ
Best home equity investment companies in 2026
The best home equity investment company in 2026 depends on your priorities. After The Mortgage Reports compared providers on real terms — payout size, term length, availability, and credit requirements — Point stood out as our Best Overall pick, combining the highest Mortgage Reports Overall Lender Score in our comparison with one of the longest available terms (30 years) and an accessible 500+ credit minimum.
Check your home equity loan options. Start hereThat said, no single provider is the right fit for everyone. Hometap, Nada and Splitero tie Point for the largest maximum payout at $600,000. Point also has the broadest reach of any company we compared, with HEIs in 31 states plus Washington, D.C. Splitero lets homeowners delay repayment for the full 30-year term, giving the most control over timing a sale or refinance.
The Mortgage Reports Best Home Equity Investment Companies
Our Best Overall pick, followed by companies grouped by what matters most to you: payout size, upfront fees, flexibility and timeline.
- Best Overall
Point
Best Overall4.7/5 The Mortgage Reports Overall Lender Score Read the full reviewFunding Range $30K–$600KTerm Length Up to 30 yrsMin Credit Score 500+Why it's #1: The highest Overall Lender Score in our comparison, HEI funding up to $600,000 (tied for the largest on this list), a 30-year term, and credit scores accepted starting at 500. Point offers HEIs in 31 states plus Washington, D.C.; availability varies by county. Point charges a processing fee of up to 4.9%, subject to a $2,000 minimum, plus third-party closing costs. These costs are deducted from your investment proceeds.
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Splitero
Best for Flexible Timeline4.5/5 The Mortgage Reports Overall Lender Score Read the full reviewFunding Range Up to $600KTerm Length Up to 30 yrsMin Credit Score 500+Why it's here: No repayment required before the 30-year term ends and no prepayment penalty, giving homeowners the most control over timing a sale or refinance. Splitero offers investments up to the lesser of $600,000 or 25% of your home’s appraised value, subject to underwriting. It requires a minimum credit score of 500 but has no income or employment requirement. Its Safety Cap limits the repurchase amount using a 17.99% annual rate compounded monthly. This is not an all-inclusive cost ceiling: a 4.99% origination fee and third-party closing costs are deducted from the investment proceeds.
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Nada
Best for Pricing Transparency4.3/5 The Mortgage Reports Overall Lender Score Read the full reviewFunding Range $20K–$600KTerm Length 10 yearsMin Credit Score 500+Why it's here: Publishes more pricing detail than many competitors, including an annualized cost cap of 19.99% or the applicable state maximum, whichever is lower, on top of origination, underwriting, and processing fees. No hard credit pull to check eligibility. Available in 13 states. For primary and second homes, Nada invests up to the lesser of $600,000 or 30% of home value; investment properties have a $100,000 maximum and 50% combined loan-to-value limit, subject to underwriting. As a licensed mortgage company, Nada can also place you in a HELOC, refinance, or other loan if that fits better than its HEA.
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Unison
3.9% Transaction Fee4.2/5 The Mortgage Reports Overall Lender Score Read the full reviewFunding Range $30K–$500KTerm Length 30 yearsMin Credit Score 620+Why it's here: Charges a 3.9% transaction fee deducted at closing, plus third-party costs, with terms of up to 30 years and the option to buy out Unison’s share at any time. Available in select states. Unison generally requires a mid-FICO score of at least 620.
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Hometap
Best for Large Payouts4.1/5 The Mortgage Reports Overall Lender Score Read the full reviewFunding Range $15K–$600KTerm Length 10 yearsMin Credit Score 575+Why it's here: Ties for the highest maximum funding in our comparison at $600,000, with a clear 10-year window for repayment planning and strong marks for transparency. Hometap lists a minimum FICO score of 575. Available in select states; check your property’s eligibility.
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Unlock
Most Flexible4.1/5 The Mortgage Reports Overall Lender Score Read the full reviewFunding Range $15K–$500KTerm Length 10 yearsMin Credit Score 500+Why it's here: One of the most customizable structures available, with flexible qualification standards and the option to repay early without penalty. Unlock accepts credit scores starting at 500 for single-family homes and townhomes used as a primary residence, and 550 for condos, 2-4 unit properties, investment properties and second homes.
Funding amounts, terms, fees and credit requirements vary by state, property and borrower profile. Credit score figures are each company’s published minimum as of November 2026. Meeting the minimum credit score does not guarantee approval; property, equity and other underwriting requirements apply. See each company’s full review for details.
What experts are saying
Thomas Brock, CFA, CPA
“When comparing offers from HEI companies, the real cost often comes down to the fine print. Key terms to evaluate include the share of future appreciation you’re giving up, any minimum return guarantees, and how the home’s value is determined when you exit. It’s also important to factor in upfront fees, ongoing servicing costs, and whether there are penalties or restrictions tied to an early buyout.”
Check out the HEI companies with the highest limits to start comparing.
Home equity investment companies comparison table
The table below compares key features of the top home equity investment companies in 2026. For a breakdown of what each fee covers, see the guide to home equity investment fees and tax implications.
Check your home equity loan options. Start here| Company | Funding Range | Term Length | Fees | Availability | Credit Requirements | Unique Feature |
| Point | $30,000–$600,000 | Up to 30 years | Processing fee up to 4.9% ($2,000 minimum) + third-party closing costs, deducted from your proceeds | 31 states + D.C. (varies by county) | 500+ | Longest contract term |
| Splitero | Up to the lesser of $600,000 or 25% of appraised value | Up to 30 years | Safety Cap: 17.99% annual rate compounded monthly (not an all-in cost ceiling) + 4.99% origination fee and third-party closing costs | Select states | 500+ | Long-term flexibility |
| Nada | Up to the lesser of $600,000 or 30% of home value (primary and second homes) | 10 years | Annualized cap of 19.99% or the applicable state maximum, whichever is lower, + origination (3%), underwriting (1.5%) and processing (0.4%) fees | 13 states | 500+ | Most transparent published pricing |
| Unison | $30,000–$500,000 | 30 years | 3.9% transaction fee, deducted at closing, + third-party costs | Select states | 620+ | 3.9% transaction fee |
| Hometap | $15,000–$600,000 | 10 years | Investment fee of 4.5% (up to $20,000) + third-party closing costs | Select states | 575+ | Largest funding (tied with Point, Nada and Splitero) |
| Unlock | $15,000–$500,000 | 10 years | Origination fee up to 4.9% of the transaction amount + third-party closing costs | 25 states | 500+ | Flexible repayment and early buyout |
How to choose the best home equity investment company (quiz)
The right HEI company depends on how long you want the agreement to last, how much cash you need and where your home is located. Start with term length: Hometap, Nada and Unlock use 10-year terms, while Point, Splitero and Unison offer terms of up to 30 years. The quiz below narrows the field from there.
Check your home equity loan options. Start hereFind Your Best-Match HEI Company
Answer a couple of quick questions and we’ll point you to a strong match from our HEI comparison.
1How long do you want the agreement to run?
2What matters most to you?
2What matters most to you?
Your Match
Point
Best OverallThe highest Overall Lender Score in our comparison (4.7/5), with funding up to $600,000 and credit scores accepted starting at 500. Available in 31 states plus Washington, D.C.; availability varies by county.
Unison
3.9% Transaction FeeCharges a 3.9% transaction fee at closing, plus third-party costs, and offers terms of up to 30 years. Available in select states. Unison generally requires a mid-FICO score of at least 620.
Splitero
Best for Flexible TimelineOffers up to the lesser of $600,000 or 25% of your home’s appraised value, with no repayment required before the 30-year term ends. Requires a minimum credit score of 500. Its Safety Cap uses a 17.99% annual rate compounded monthly; it is not an all-inclusive cost ceiling, and a 4.99% origination fee and third-party closing costs are deducted from the proceeds.
Hometap
Best for Large PayoutsTies for the highest maximum funding in our comparison at $600,000, with a clear 10-year window for repayment planning. Hometap lists a minimum FICO score of 575.
Nada
Best for Pricing TransparencyPublishes more pricing detail than many competitors, including an annualized cost cap of 19.99% or the applicable state maximum, whichever is lower, on top of origination, underwriting, and processing fees. A 500+ credit minimum, with no hard credit pull to check eligibility.
Unlock
Most FlexibleOne of the most customizable structures available, with the option to repay early without penalty. Unlock accepts credit scores starting at 500 for single-family homes and townhomes used as a primary residence, and 550 for condos, 2-4 unit properties, investment properties and second homes.
The Mortgage Reports best HEI companies methodology
Time to make a move? Let us find the right mortgage for youOur Methodology: How We Picked and Scored These Companies
Here’s exactly how we evaluated the HEI companies on this page — what we looked at, how we chose our Best Overall pick, and what every other company’s distinction means.
What we evaluated
- Overall Lender Score — The Mortgage Reports’ independent rating of the company as a whole: affordability, lending flexibility, trustworthiness, and customer experience.
- Funding range — The maximum payout a homeowner can access.
- Term length — How long the agreement runs before it must be settled through sale, refinance, or buyout.
- Credit accessibility — The minimum credit score required to qualify, where published.
- Cost structure and transparency — How clearly a company discloses its fees and pricing mechanism.
Best Overall
Point
We weighed all five factors together to name one Best Overall pick. Point won by combining the highest Overall Lender Score in our comparison (4.7/5) with one of the largest funding ranges (up to $600,000, tied with Hometap, Nada and Splitero), one of the longest available terms (30 years), and an accessible 500+ credit minimum — a genuinely strong company across the board, not just a leader in one category.
How every other company is featured
Every other company on this page is featured for one specific, verifiable strength from the list above — the largest payout, a published transaction fee, the most flexible timeline, and so on. These companies are not ranked against each other. We don’t average their scores into a single number and order them 1 through 6, because the “best” company genuinely depends on what matters most to you: how much equity you need to access, which states you’re eligible in, or how long you want before settling the agreement.
A company featured lower on the page isn’t “worse” — it may simply excel at something that isn’t your top priority. Check each company’s “Best for” tag and stats to see if its strength matches your situation.
What “Overall Lender Score” means
This score reflects our independent review of a company’s home equity business as a whole — it’s a meaningful signal of whether a company is reliable and well-run, based on affordability, lending flexibility, trustworthiness, and customer experience. Click “Read the full review” on any company to see the complete breakdown behind its score.
Funding amounts, terms, fees, and credit requirements shown throughout this page are approximate and vary by state, property, and borrower profile — meeting a company’s minimum credit score does not guarantee approval, and qualification also depends on home equity, the property and other underwriting factors. Always confirm current terms directly with the company.
The bottom line
Home equity investment companies turn part of your equity into cash with no stated interest rate or required monthly payment, which can help when monthly cash flow is tight or your credit score is too low for a home equity loan. The agreement is still secured by a lien on your home, and the amount you owe at settlement can grow as your home’s value rises. You remain responsible for your mortgage, property taxes, insurance and maintenance. If you cannot settle the agreement when required, you could have to sell your home or face foreclosure.
Before choosing an HEI, compare it with a HELOC or home equity loan, estimate the true cost of a home equity investment at your expected selling date, and consider how long you plan to stay in your home.
Before signing any agreement, speak with a financial advisor or mortgage professional who understands both traditional and equity-sharing models.
What experts are saying
Thomas Brock, CFA, CPA
“Many people celebrate the day they receive the money from a home equity agreement, but they rarely think about the day they’ll have to settle with the investor. Receiving a lump sum with no monthly payment can provide peace of mind, especially when cash flow is tight. Unfortunately, over time, the value of the home can appreciate significantly, leaving the homeowner shocked by the amount of money they’re giving up.
That’s why I encourage people to think of the arrangement as selling a future asset rather than simply tapping today’s equity. When framed that way, you’ll tend to ask more thoughtful questions, like how long you expect to own the home, how much appreciation you could give away, and whether the upfront cash received is likely to generate enough value to justify that trade-off.”
