Mortgage — Equity Loan

Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit | Consumer Advice

An equity loan (often called a "second mortgage") allows you to borrow against the value of your home that is not already tied up in a primary mortgage. Unlike a primary mortgage used to purchase a home, an equity loan provides a lump sum for expenses like home improvements, debt consolidation, or education.

Lenders typically evaluate your eligibility based on three primary factors:

: A fixed-term loan that provides a one-time lump sum with a fixed interest rate, typically repaid over 5 to 30 years.

: A common guideline is the 28/36 rule , where no more than 28% of your gross monthly income goes to housing costs and no more than 36% goes to total debt. Some lenders may allow a back-end DTI up to 43%.