Homeowners Toolkit
Free tools and guides for people who already own a home.
No signup, no sales calls, and we do not collect what you enter.
How Much Equity Do I Have?
See your equity, how much you could borrow at common lender limits, and what happens if your home value changes.
Which Way Should I Tap My Equity?
Answer a few questions about your goal, timeline, credit, and mortgage to see how a home equity loan, a HELOC, and a cash-out refinance compare.
Refi or Second Mortgage?
Compare the blended rate, payment, and total cost of a cash-out refinance against keeping your mortgage and adding a second. Credit card payoff optional.
How Will a Lender Count My Income?
See how a lender is likely to count your income for a refinance or home equity loan, from pay to self-employment and rental income.
What Refinance or Home Equity Rate Could I Get?
A quick estimate of the rate lenders might offer on a refinance, home equity loan, or HELOC, based on today's market.
Discount Points Calculator
Does buying down the rate make sense? See how long points take to pay off, with extra payments.
What Are Discount Points?
How paying points lowers a refinance or home equity rate, what a point costs, and when it is worth it.
Compare Your Equity Offers
Have quotes from lenders? Enter up to three offers to see which really costs less, and when.
Take Control of Your Interest Rate
See how extra payments make your mortgage act like a lower-rate loan, or set a goal and find the extra payment that gets you there.
Should I Let a Lender Check My Credit?
Soft checks, full checks, and how to shop lenders for a refinance or home equity loan without hurting your score.
HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan
HELOC means home equity line of credit, and HELOAN means home equity loan. Both are second mortgages. Compare rates, payments, and which fits debt consolidation or a renovation.
Why this site is different
Many free home and mortgage websites online are lead generators. A lead generator is a website that offers a handy guide or tool mainly to collect your name, phone number, and email. That information, called a “lead,” is then sold or passed along to lenders and agents, who may call, text, and email you for days or weeks, often before you have decided anything.
This site works differently. It never asks for your name, phone number, or email, and we do not collect or store anything you enter. This site is purely informational. It is here to help you learn and plan, not to find you a lender.
To keep the site free, we show ads from third-party ad networks. As on most ad-supported sites, those networks may use cookies and collect their own data, such as your IP address and which pages you visit. Our Privacy Policy has the details.
When you are ready to talk to a lender, you choose who, and when. Ads are not endorsements, and nothing on this site is a loan offer.
About Homeowners Toolkit
Homeowners Toolkit is a free set of easy-to-read tools and guides for people who already own a home. See how much equity you have, find out which way of tapping it fits you, compare the cost of a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan (HELOAN), and a home equity line of credit (HELOC), and see how extra payments can lower your effective rate.
Lenders, rates, and fees vary, so a lender can give you actual numbers for your situation. Thinking about buying a home? Try Home Buyer Toolbox.
Common questions about home equity
How much equity do I have in my home?
Your equity is what your home is worth minus what you still owe on it. The home equity calculator shows your equity, your loan-to-value, and how much you could borrow at common lender limits.
Should I get a HELOC, a home equity loan, or a cash-out refinance?
It depends on your goal, your timeline, your credit, and your current mortgage rate. The equity options tool compares them for your situation, and the HELOC vs. home equity loan guide explains how each works.
Are these tools free, and is my information saved?
Yes. Every tool and guide is free, with no signup and no sales calls. We do not collect, store, or sell the information you enter. It stays in your browser until you refresh or leave the page.
Are the results a loan offer?
No. The results are estimates for illustration. Nothing here is a loan offer, a commitment to lend, or financial advice. A lender can tell you what you actually qualify for.
Can I see what rate I could get on a refinance or HELOC?
Yes. The refinance and HELOC rate estimator gives a rough range based on current market rates and your credit score. It is for estimation only, not a quote.