You love your home. You also need cash. And the advice you keep hearing: sell, downsize, move on, just doesn't sit right.
It shouldn't.
American homeowners are collectively sitting on $34 trillion in home equity, according to the Federal Reserve. For the average homeowner, that's roughly $299,000 locked inside the walls of a property they live in and love. Yet for millions of people, that wealth stays untouched, not because there are no options, but because nobody explains them clearly.
This guide does exactly that. Below you'll find 12 home equity access services available to U.S. homeowners in 2026, every one of them designed to let you stay put. No moving trucks. No uprooting your family. Just honest information so you can make the right call for your situation.
How to evaluate any equity access option
Not every option works for every homeowner. Before diving in, here are the five things to evaluate for each one:
- Do you take on new debt? (Yes / No)
- Is there a monthly payment? (Yes / No)
- Can you stay in your home? (Always yes for this list)
- Credit score required? (High / Moderate / Low / None)
- How fast does it close? (Days / Weeks / Months)
Keep these in mind as you read. The right option depends on your financial picture, your timeline, and how much certainty you need.
The 12 home equity access services, broken down
1. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
A HELOC works like a credit card secured by your home. You get a credit limit based on your equity, draw from it as needed, and only pay interest on what you use during the draw period (typically 5–10 years).
With average HELOC rates around 7.26% in May 2026, it's one of the more affordable debt-based options. But the key word there is debt. You're adding a payment on top of your existing mortgage and if your income is irregular or already stretched, that's a real risk.
- Best for: Homeowners with steady income needing flexible, recurring access to funds
- Watch out for: Variable rates mean your payment can climb; missed payments put your home at risk
2. Home Equity Loan
Sometimes called a second mortgage, this gives you a lump sum upfront at a fixed interest rate — currently averaging around 7.36%. You pay it back in equal monthly installments over a set term. The predictability is appealing. The new monthly obligation is not.
- Best for: One-time large expenses (renovation, medical, debt consolidation)
- Watch out for: You're doubling down on debt against an asset you already own
3. Cash-Out Refinance
You replace your existing mortgage with a larger one and pocket the difference in cash. The problem? Most homeowners locked in rates near 3% between 2020 and 2022. Refinancing today effectively doubles your rate, adding hundreds to your monthly payment for the life of the loan.
- Best for: Homeowners with a higher current rate who'd benefit from refinancing anyway
- Watch out for: If you have a low mortgage rate, this is almost certainly not the right move
4. Reverse Mortgage (HECM)
Available to homeowners 62 and older, a reverse mortgage pays you: monthly, as a lump sum, or as a line of credit and doesn't require repayment until you sell, move, or pass away. With Americans aged 62+ collectively holding $14.66 trillion in home equity, this is a popular option for retirees. But the fees are high, heirs inherit a complex situation, and the balance can quietly outpace your home's value over time.
- Best for: Retirees 62+ who plan to stay in the home long-term and have no need to leave equity to heirs
- Watch out for: High upfront costs; loan balance grows, eroding estate value
5. Home Equity Investment (HEI)
Companies like Point, Hometap, and Unlock give you a lump sum of cash today in exchange for a percentage of your home's future appreciation. No monthly payments, no interest, just a share of the upside when you eventually sell or buy them out. Point offers investments between $25,000 and $500,000; Hometap goes up to $600,000 and is available in 16 states.
- Best for: Homeowners with limited income or credit who can't qualify for traditional loans
- Watch out for: The payout on exit can be significantly larger than the upfront amount received
6. Shared Appreciation Agreement
Similar to HEI, shared appreciation agreements (like those offered by Unison) give you cash now for a share of your home's future value. Unison offers up to $400,000 and is available in 29 states plus D.C.
- Best for: Homeowners who don't qualify for loans and want no monthly payments
- Watch out for: Long terms (10+ years), complex exit math, limited state availability
7. Home Equity Contract
A newer category, home equity contracts function like HEIs but with slightly different structures depending on the provider. The category is growing but still evolving — always get independent legal advice before signing.
- Best for: Those open to newer financial products with flexible terms
- Watch out for: Limited track records; fine print varies widely by provider
8. Sale-leaseback: Sell2Rent
This is the one most homeowners haven't heard of and it's often the one that changes the conversation entirely.
Here's how it works: you sell your home to an investor at fair market value, receive your full equity in cash, and sign a lease to stay in the property as a renter. Your address stays the same. Your kids stay in the same school. Your neighborhood stays yours.
What changes: your mortgage disappears. The monthly payment stress disappears with it.
Sell2Rent has built a dedicated platform connecting homeowners directly with investors who value a property with a ready-made resident. No vacancy risk for them. No upheaval for you. The sale typically closes in weeks, and you get to stay on your own terms.
Unlike every loan or equity sharing option on this list, a sale-leaseback gives you full access to your equity, not a portion, not a draw, without taking on any new debt and without giving up a share of your future appreciation. Learn more about how Sell2Rent works or read our full guide on what a sale-leaseback is.
- Best for: Homeowners who want full equity access, immediate mortgage relief, and zero disruption to daily life
- Worth knowing: You're no longer building equity as an owner, though that may be a fair trade if ownership has become a financial burden
9. Property Tax Deferral Programs
Many U.S. states and municipalities offer property tax deferral programs, especially for seniors and low-income homeowners. While this doesn't unlock cash directly, it frees up monthly cash flow, which is sometimes the real problem. Deferred taxes accumulate with interest and are typically due on sale.
- Best for: Homeowners whose primary cash pressure comes from property tax obligations
- Watch out for: Deferred taxes accumulate with interest and are typically due on sale
10. PACE Financing
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans let you finance home improvements — solar panels, HVAC, roofing — tied to the property value and repaid through your property tax bill. No credit check required. This isn't cash-out in the traditional sense, but it can replace large capital outlays and free up savings.
- Best for: Homeowners needing to fund specific home upgrades without a credit check
- Watch out for: PACE liens are senior to your mortgage in some states — a known legal complexity
11. Deferred Sales Trust
A more advanced estate planning tool, a Deferred Sales Trust allows you to sell your home to a trust, receive installment payments over time, and defer capital gains tax. It requires a qualified trustee and legal structure.
- Best for: Homeowners with significant appreciation who want structured, tax-advantaged income
- Watch out for: Complex to set up; requires specialized legal and financial advisors
12. HUD-Approved Housing Counseling & Local Assistance Programs
If you're facing financial hardship, HUD-certified housing counselors can identify state and local programs that may provide relief without requiring you to tap equity at all.
- Best for: Homeowners who are asset-rich but cash-poor, or facing imminent hardship
- Watch out for: Availability varies widely by state and income qualification
The option that does what the others can't
Every loan-based option on this list comes with a new monthly obligation. Every equity-sharing option gives you a fraction of your home's value — and charges you a portion of its future growth.
The sale-leaseback does neither.
With Sell2Rent, you receive your full equity upfront. You don't take on debt. You don't share future appreciation. You don't move. You simply convert an illiquid asset — your home — into immediate financial freedom, while keeping everything else about your life exactly the same.
For homeowners who need more than a credit line, more than a loan, and more than a partial equity access solution — this is worth a closer look.
Is a sale-leaseback right for you?
A Sell2Rent transaction tends to work well for homeowners who:
- Have significant equity and need to access most or all of it
- Want to eliminate their mortgage payment without moving
- Are going through a life change (divorce, retirement, career transition) and need financial clarity fast
- Have found that traditional lending options aren't available or don't go far enough
It's not right for everyone. If building long-term ownership equity is central to your financial plan, a leaseback means stepping back from that — at least for now. That's a real trade-off worth thinking through.
But if financial breathing room matters more than the balance sheet benefit of ownership right now, it's one of the most powerful home equity access services available in 2026. And it's one most people don't even know they have access to.
Ready to see what your home could release?
There's no cost and no commitment to find out what your home's equity could look like as cash in your account. Sell2Rent provides a free, no-pressure offer so you can compare it against any of the 12 options on this list — with real numbers, not estimates.
Your home doesn't have to be a source of stress. It can be a source of relief — without you ever having to leave it.
Real estate innovator and Managing Partner at PIA Residential and Sell2Rent, boasting over 20 years of experience and 2,000+ units acquired. A Wharton MBA and Forbes contributor, he brings institutional-grade authority to every market insight he shares. Danny’s expertise is further validated by his role on the Planning and Zoning Board for the City of Hallandale, where he helps shape the local landscape. For readers seeking credible, battle-tested advice, Danny offers the perspective of a leader who has successfully navigated decades of market cycles.
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