5 Best Home Equity Agreement Companies of 2025

If you’re considering a home equity agreement, also known as a home equity investment, the list below can help you find the best provider for your situation. We cover options for homeowners with low credit, limited income, or specific goals like funding a remodel.

These contracts are complex and can end up costing 15 to 20 percent annually on the cash you receive upfront. Terms vary widely by provider, so we strongly recommend reading our in-depth reviews to understand the full cost, repayment structure, and potential risks.

What Is A Home Equity Agreement?

Home equity sharing lets you access your home’s equity without taking on monthly payments. In return, the company receives a share of your home’s future value — either a portion of the gains above a baseline or a set percentage of the total value when you sell or refinance.

Some companies say they’ll share in any loss if your home declines in value. But in practice, they often protect themselves by starting with a lower baseline when calculating their share. As a result, it’s rare that you would repay less.

R.J. Weiss CFP® Says: Home equity agreements are best viewed as a last-resort option. They should only be considered after exploring traditional alternatives like a HELOC, home equity loan, or a securities-backed line of credit. Just as important, you’ll need a clear exit plan from the start. Without one, you risk being forced to sell your home or facing long-term repayment costs that can rival high-interest credit cards.

Best Home Equity Sharing Companies

The list below ranks the best home equity agreement providers based on cost, flexibility, and availability. Keep in mind that not all companies operate in every state, and key details like your cost and share percentage often aren’t finalized until after underwriting. What’s best for your situation may only become clear once you receive a personalized offer.

#1. Point

Point allows for agreements up to 30 years in length. It allows for a loan-to-value ratio of up to 73% and you can buy back your equity at any time without repayment penalties. 

With home equity sharing agreements, one of the biggest risks is forced sale at the end of the contract term. While many competitors have 10-year terms, Point’s 30-year agreement reduces this risk. Another key advantage of Point is their appreciation-only model – they only take a share of your home’s appreciation above a risk-adjusted baseline value, rather than a percentage of your entire home value.

This structure can reduce your costs if your home appreciates significantly.

Key Facts:

• Offers contracts as long as 30 years in length. 
• Provides investments between $30,000 and $500,000.
• The minimum credit score required is 500, but applicants with higher credit scores and lower debt-to-income ratios will likely qualify for more favorable terms.
• Point allows for a maximum combined loan-to-value (CLTV) ratio of 73%.
• There are no requirements for income or liquid assets, but your financial profile—including your debt-to-income ratio—can impact the terms you receive.
• Homeowners with rental properties are eligible for a Point home equity investment, but a rental premium is charged at payoff.
• Point charges a processing fee of up to 3.9%, with a minimum of $2,000, plus appraisal, escrow, and government fees.

Point Review

Visit Point

#2. Hometap

Hometap is ideal for those with average credit (minimum 600 score) and is particularly well-suited for remodels and house flips where you can achieve a high ROI on a shorter timeline.

For example, if Hometap gives you 10% of your home’s value upfront, you may owe around 15% of your home’s future value if you settle in 0 to 3 years, 17.8% if you settle in 4 to 6 years, and 20% if you settle in 7 to 10 years. These amounts are based on your home’s future value at the time of repayment, not an interest rate.

Hometap also adjusts for qualified renovations, meaning the added value from home improvements may be excluded from their share. This structure can offer more predictable short-term costs, especially if you plan to sell or refinance after completing a remodel.

Key Facts:

• Hometap allows homeowners to access up to 30% of their home’s value, with a maximum investment of $600,000.
• Offers renovation adjustments, so improvements to your home are not included in the calculation of the home’s appreciated value.
• There’s no firm income or credit score requirements (although most applicants have scores of at least 600 and hold 25% or more equity in their property).
• There’s a forced sale risk if you’re unable to pay Hometap after 10 years when Hometap’s repayment is due.
• Hometap charges a 3.5% closing fee, which is deducted from your funding amount at the time of investment.

Hometap Review

Visit Hometap

#3. Unlock

Unlock stands out among home equity sharing companies because of its flexibility. While contract lengths are a maximum of 10 years, Unlock is the only company that allows for a partial buyback of your home equity agreement. For example, you can buy back 50% of your investment at any time once you enter the agreement. 

Key Facts:

• Agreements are a maximum of 10 years in length.
• Offers agreements ranging from $30,000 to $500,000.
• The minimum required credit score is just 500.
• Doesn’t share in the appreciation of your home due to renovations (appraisals are required).
• There is no standard income requirement, though income is a factor in determining how much of an investment Unlock will make in your home.
• Your combined mortgage balance and Unlock’s investment cannot exceed 80% of your home’s value.
• Only available in 13 states (see our review for complete list).
• Unlock charges an origination fee of up to 4.9% plus other third-party closing costs.

Unlock Review

Visit Unlock

#4. Unison

Unison offers a unique hybrid product called the Equity Sharing Home Loan, which differs from other home equity sharing options by requiring monthly payments. It’s structured as an interest-only, second-lien mortgage with fixed payments for 10 years, where you pay 75% of the interest monthly while 25% is deferred until the end of the term.

Key Facts:

• 10-year term with low, interest-only monthly payments (partial deferred interest).
• Can provide up to 20% of your home’s value with a maximum of $500,000
• Maximum combined loan-to-value ratio of 70%
• Requires a minimum FICO score of 620
• Available in 30 states including DC
• Unison typically takes a percentage of the home’s appreciation that is greater than the initial funding percentage, often around 1.5x the amount borrowed, but this can vary based on contract terms.
• No sharing of depreciation if your home’s value decreases
• Provisions for home improvements allow credit for added value after three years
• Unison charges a 3.9% transaction fee, plus third-party closing costs such as appraisals and government fees.

Unison Review

Visit Unison

#5. Splitero

Splitero is a relatively new home equity investment company offering up to $500,000 in funding with no income requirements and credit scores as low as 500. What sets Splitero apart is its flexible agreement term, which is designed to match the remaining length of your mortgage—ranging from 10 to 30 years—and its capped annual return of 19.99%, compounded monthly.

When you repay Splitero (via sale, refinance, or early buyout), you owe the original investment plus 38% of the appreciation above a preset threshold (typically 82% to 88% of your home’s value at the time of funding). While the cap limits your worst-case scenario, these agreements can be costly—especially over longer timeframes or in fast-appreciating markets.

Splitero’s agreements also include a 4.99% origination fee, and like most competitors, you’ll also pay appraisal and escrow costs. Unlike some providers, Splitero does share in appreciation related to renovations, which may increase your repayment obligation.

Splitero may appeal to homeowners with limited financing options due to income or credit issues, especially those needing a longer-term agreement. However, it should be viewed as a last-resort option given its high potential cost and the company’s recent funding disruptions.

Key Facts:

• Funding range: $50,000 to $500,000
• Credit score: Minimum 500
• Income: No employment or income verification required
• Term length: Matches remaining mortgage (10 to 30 years)
• Repayment: 38% of gains above a preset threshold or capped at 19.99% annually
• Fees: 4.99% origination fee plus third-party costs
• Availability: 13 states
• Owner-occupied only at origination; trusts eligible upon approval

Splitero Review

Visit Splitero

Comparison of Key Facts and Information

Company	Max Funding Amount	Credit Score Requirement	Max Loan to Value Ratio	Terms	Availability
Point	$500,000	500	73%	Up to 30 years	AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, MO, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA, DC, WI
Hometap	$600,000	500	75%	10 years	AZ, CA, FL, MA, MI, MN, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, UT, VA, WA
Unlock	$500,000	500	80%	10 years	AZ, CA, FL, IN, KY, MI, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA
Unison	$500,000	620	80%	Up to 30 years	AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA, DC, WI
Splitero	$500,000	500	75%	Up to 30 years (but depends on mortgage length)	AZ, CA, CO, FL, NV, NJ, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA

How to Vet a Home Equity Agreement

These contracts are not one-size-fits-all. To protect yourself, we recommend the following due diligence steps before committing to any provider:

1. Review the full contract carefully. Read the agreement in detail. If possible, have an attorney or fiduciary financial advisor review it. These are long-term commitments with serious financial consequences, and the terms may differ from what is advertised upfront.

2. Run the numbers yourself. Do the math on how much you might owe under different appreciation scenarios. For example, what happens if your home increases in value by 3 percent, 5 percent, or 7 percent annually? This is the only way to truly understand the long-term cost.

3. Know what fees you will pay. Most providers charge an origination fee of 3 to 5 percent, usually deducted from your funding amount. You may also owe closing costs like appraisal, title, and escrow fees. Some providers charge fees again when you exit the agreement. .

4. Understand how they calculate their share. Some companies take a fixed percentage of your home’s future value. Others only take a portion of the appreciation above a preset baseline. That baseline can vary significantly and often works in the provider’s favor.

5. Ask about renovation credits. Some providers exclude value added from your home improvements when calculating what you owe. Others do not. If you plan to renovate, this can affect how much you repay.

6. Understand the repayment triggers. You typically repay when you sell, refinance, buy out the agreement, or reach the end of the term. Make sure you understand how long the agreement lasts and whether the company could force a sale if you do not repay.

7. Compare multiple offers. Apply to more than one company. The final offer may look different from the advertised terms once you go through underwriting. Comparing real offers is the best way to find what works for your situation.

Recommended Reading: For a deeper look at the risks and industry practices, see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Issue Spotlight on Home Equity Contracts.

Pros and Cons of Home Equity Agreements

You can read our dedicated guide to the pros and cons of home equity sharing to take a deep dive into the benefits and drawbacks.

Here’s an overview of some of the key points to consider.

Pros:

• No monthly payments.. These agreements can help improve short-term cash flow since you do not need to make monthly payments.
• Access to cash when traditional financing is unavailable.. Homeowners with significant equity but poor credit, low income, or high debt-to-income ratios may still qualify.
• May not impact your debt-to-income ratio.. Since this is not a loan, it typically does not appear on your credit report or affect borrowing capacity the same way traditional loans do.

Cons

• You give up a portion of your home’s future value. If your home appreciates, the provider will take a share of the growth or total future value, reducing your long-term wealth.
• These are complex, highly customized contracts. Agreements vary significantly by company and can be difficult to compare. Important terms, like how appreciation is calculated or when repayment is triggered, may not be clear until underwriting.
• Total costs can be much higher than a loan.. When you calculate the provider’s share of appreciation, the cost can exceed 15 to 20 percent per year on the original amount received.
• Limited availability.. These agreements are not offered in every state and availability may change depending on market conditions.
• May include a forced sale clause.. Some contracts require repayment at a set term and may allow the company to force a sale if you cannot repay.

Home Equity Agreement vs. HELOC/Home Equity Loan vs. Reverse Mortgage

Two alternatives to home equity sharing are:

1. Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) and home equity loans. 
2. Reverse mortgages. 

Traditional financing options like HELOCs and home equity loans are typically more favorable for homeowners than home equity sharing agreements. 

Not only can you lock in a guaranteed interest rate with these loans, and thereby reduce your risk, the fees are typically a lot less.

As an example, Hometap charges 3.5% of your investment amount — taken out of your initial proceeds — as a closing fee. This is separate from the appreciation you’ll pay back if your home increases in value. 

The caveat is that the lending guidelines for these types of loans are strict. In most cases, qualifying means having at least an average credit score and sufficient cash flow to pay back the loan. 

A reverse mortgage is an agreement that allows homeowners aged 62 years and older to borrow money upfront using their existing equity. Similar to home equity share agreements, no monthly payments are due. 

The big difference is that the money borrowed via a reverse mortgage is a loan. That means interest and fees are added to the loan balance each month. The balance then grows the longer you keep the reverse mortgage agreement in place, and is paid back once you sell the home.  

For a detailed breakdown of the pros and cons of each option—and the key questions to ask before choosing—see our guide on home equity agreements vs. reverse mortgages.

Best Home Equity Sharing Companies: Final Thoughts

Home equity sharing companies enable home-equity-rich homeowners with bad credit or low incomes to get their hands on some of their home’s value today, in the form of a lump sum payment, in exchange for giving up some of the home’s future upside.

If you qualify for a traditional home equity loan or HELOC, it’s likely to be a better (and lower-cost) option long-term. 

But for equity-rich homeowners who can’t take on the monthly payments or don’t qualify, home equity sharing agreements are a reasonable alternative.