Home Equity Guide and Calculator

What home equity actually is

Your equity is your home's current market value minus everything you owe against it. If the house would sell for $420,000 and you owe $260,000, you have $160,000 in equity. It grows two ways: every mortgage payment you make, and every rise in what the house is worth.

Equity vs. "tappable" equity

Lenders don't let you borrow against all of it. Most cap combined borrowing at around 80–85% of the home's value, so a slice always stays in the house. The amount above that cap is what the industry calls tappable. In the example above, at an 80% cap: $336,000 limit, minus $260,000 owed, leaves about $76,000 you could realistically borrow.

Nationally, homeowners with a mortgage held about $11.7 trillion in tappable equity as of mid-2026, according to ICE Mortgage Technology data cited by ATTOM — a reminder that this is an ordinary thing, not a niche one.

Equity calculator

Two numbers in, one number out. This is an estimate to help you think; a licensed lending partner confirms the real figure.

What your home is worth today (your best guess) What you still owe on it (all mortgages)

Your equity (estimate)$160,000Room to borrow at an 80% combined limit (estimate)$76,000

Estimates only. Lenders set their own limits, and your credit, income and property type affect the real number. This calculator stores nothing. See what a lender would say

Three ways to use it

Option	You get	First mortgage	Usually best when
Home equity loan	Lump sum, fixed payment	Unchanged	You know the amount
HELOC	A line to draw on	Unchanged	Costs arrive over time
Cash-out refinance	New, larger mortgage, cash at closing	Replaced	Today's rate beats yours

Glossary

Combined loan-to-value (CLTV): Everything you owe against the house, divided by its value. Lenders cap this.
Second lien / second mortgage: Any loan secured by your home that sits behind your first mortgage. HELOCs and home equity loans are second liens.
Draw period: The years during which you can borrow from a HELOC.
Appraisal: A licensed valuation of your home, which the lender uses instead of your guess.
Soft pull / hard pull: A soft credit check doesn't affect your score; a hard one can, slightly. Ask which the lending partner uses and when.
NMLS ID: The licence number every mortgage lender and loan officer must hold. Look it up at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

Common questions

How does EquityPaid work?

You answer a few short questions about your home. We match you with a licensed lending partner who fits your situation, and they reach out to walk you through your options. There's no application on this site and no obligation.

Is this a loan application?

No. Nothing you enter here is an application, and there's no document upload. If you decide to move forward, the application happens with the lending partner directly.

Will this affect my credit score?

No. Answering our questions involves no credit check of any kind, soft or hard. A credit check only happens later, with a lending partner, if you decide to apply, and they will tell you when and how they run it.

Who will contact me?

A licensed professional from one of our lending partners. They'll introduce themselves by their own company name. Every partner is licensed and can be verified at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

Does this cost anything?