🎯 AI TL;DR
Home equity sharing lets you access cash from your home WITHOUT monthly payments or credit checks. Instead, you sell a percentage of your future appreciation. Point offers the most cash (up to 15% of home value), but takes 35-40% of appreciation. HomeTap has the most flexible terms and takes 25-35% of appreciation. Unison has the best customer ratings (4.9/5) and shares depreciation risk. Unlock specializes in homes worth $750K+.
The verdict: If you need max cash and have 20%+ equity, choose Point. If you want flexibility and plan to repay in 5-10 years, choose HomeTap. If you want the most reputable company with shared risk, choose Unison. If you own a jumbo home ($750K+), choose Unlock. All four have $0 monthly payments and no credit score requirements.
HomeTap vs Point vs Unison vs Unlock: Home Equity Sharing 2026
Direct side-by-side comparison of the 4 largest home equity investment companies in America. We break down max cash amounts, appreciation sharing percentages, terms, fees, and customer ratings so you can choose the right HEI provider for YOUR situation.
Head-to-Head: Quick Comparison Table
| Category | Point | HomeTap | Unison | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Cash (% of Home Value) | 15% ⭐ HIGHEST | 12% | 17.5% (requires 25%+ equity) | 17.5% (homes $750K+) |
| Appreciation Share | 35-40% | 25-35% ⭐ LOWEST | 30-45% | 30-50% |
| Min Home Value | $175K | $150K ⭐ LOWEST | $200K | $750K |
| Min Credit Score | None ✓ | None ✓ | None ✓ | None ✓ |
| Monthly Payments | $0 ✓ | $0 ✓ | $0 ✓ | $0 ✓ |
| Term Length | 10 years | 10 years (flexible buyout) ⭐ | 30 years | 10 years |
| Customer Rating | 4.6/5 ⭐ | 4.7/5 ⭐⭐ | 4.9/5 ⭐⭐⭐ HIGHEST | 4.5/5 ⭐ |
| Best For | Max cash needed | Flexible early buyout | Long-term hold, best reputation | Jumbo homes $750K+ |
💡 Key Insight: Point gives you the most cash (15% vs 12%), but HomeTap takes a smaller share of appreciation (25-35% vs 35-40%). If you plan to hold 5-10 years and expect strong appreciation, HomeTap saves you money long-term. If you need max cash TODAY and plan to sell within 3-5 years, Point wins.
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1. Point: Best for Maximum Cash (Up to 15% of Home Value)
Point
MOST CASHPoint offers the highest LTV (loan-to-value) of any home equity sharing company — up to 15% of your home's value in cash. They take 35-40% of future appreciation in exchange.
Key Features:
- ✓Max cash: Up to 15% of home value ($75K on a $500K home)
- ✓Appreciation share: 35-40% (higher than competitors)
- ✓Term: 10 years (must repay or sell)
- ✓Min home value: $175K
- ✓Min equity: 20% (80% CLTV max)
- ✓States: Available in 30+ states
Real Example: $500K Home with Point
- Home value: $500,000
- Cash received: $75,000 (15%)
- Monthly payments: $0
- Home appreciates to $650,000 over 10 years (+30%)
- Point gets: $75K + 35% of $150K gain = $75K + $52.5K = $127,500
- Effective APR: 5.4% (lower than HELOCs at 8%)
Best for: Homeowners who need maximum cash upfront and plan to sell within 5-7 years. If you expect the home to appreciate rapidly (more than 5% annually), consider HomeTap instead to keep more appreciation. Get a free Point quote here →
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2. HomeTap: Best for Flexible Terms & Lower Appreciation Share
HomeTap
MOST FLEXIBLEHomeTap offers up to 12% of your home's value in cash and takes just 25-35% of appreciation — the lowest share among major HEI companies. They also allow early buyout with no prepayment penalty.
Key Features:
- ✓Max cash: Up to 12% of home value ($60K on a $500K home)
- ✓Appreciation share: 25-35% (lowest in industry)
- ✓Term: 10 years with flexible early buyout
- ✓Min home value: $150K (lowest requirement)
- ✓Min equity: 25% (75% CLTV max)
- ✓Early buyout: Allowed anytime after Year 1 with no penalty
Real Example: $500K Home with HomeTap
- Home value: $500,000
- Cash received: $60,000 (12%)
- Monthly payments: $0
- Home appreciates to $650,000 over 10 years (+30%)
- HomeTap gets: $60K + 30% of $150K gain = $60K + $45K = $105,000
- Effective APR: 5.7%
- Savings vs Point: $22,500 (because HomeTap takes smaller appreciation share)
Best for: Homeowners who expect strong appreciation (5%+ annually) and want to keep more of their gains. Perfect if you might want to buy out early (years 5-7) without penalty. Check your HomeTap eligibility here →
🏠 HomeTap: $0/month, flexible buyout. See how much cash you qualify for.
Get My HomeTap Quote →Compare HEI Companies vs Traditional Loans
See if a HELOC, cash-out refi, or home equity sharing makes more sense for YOUR situation. Get personalized quotes from all options in 60 seconds.
Compare All Options Now →3. Unison: Best Reputation & Longest Term (30 Years)
Unison
BEST RATEDUnison is the oldest and most established HEI company (founded 2004). They offer up to 17.5% of home value but require 25%+ existing equity. Their 30-year term is the longest in the industry.
Key Features:
- ✓Max cash: Up to 17.5% (but requires 25%+ equity)
- ✓Appreciation share: 30-45%
- ✓Term: 30 years (longest available)
- ✓Min home value: $200K
- ✓Customer rating: 4.9/5 (highest in industry)
- ✓Depreciation sharing: Yes (if home value drops, you owe less)
Best for: Homeowners with significant equity (25%+) who want a long-term partner (30 years) and the most reputable company. Perfect if you plan to hold the home for life and want depreciation protection. Compare Unison vs other HEI options here →
⭐ Unison: 4.9/5 rated, 30-year term. See if you qualify for up to 17.5% cash.
Get My Unison Quote →4. Unlock: Best for Jumbo Homes ($750K+)
Unlock
JUMBO SPECIALISTUnlock (formerly Haus) specializes in high-value homes worth $750K+. They offer up to 17.5% of home value — the most cash in absolute dollars for luxury homeowners.
Key Features:
- ✓Max cash: Up to 17.5% ($131K on a $750K home)
- ✓Appreciation share: 30-50%
- ✓Term: 10 years
- ✓Min home value: $750K (highest in industry)
- ✓Focus: High-net-worth homeowners in CA, WA, OR, CO
Best for: Luxury homeowners with properties worth $750K+ who need $100K+ in cash without qualifying for jumbo HELOCs or cash-out refis. See your Unlock offer here →
🏡 Jumbo home ($750K+)? Unlock offers up to 17.5% cash. See your offer.
Get My Unlock Quote →Pros & Cons: Home Equity Sharing vs Traditional Loans
✅ Pros of Home Equity Sharing
- ✓$0 monthly payments: Perfect for retirees or those with irregular income
- ✓No credit check: Approval based on home value and equity, not credit score
- ✓Shared depreciation risk: If home value drops, you owe less
- ✓No debt-to-income ratio: Doesn't count against DTI for future loans
- ✓Fast approval: 2-4 weeks vs 30-45 days for cash-out refi
❌ Cons of Home Equity Sharing
- ✗Expensive if home appreciates: 25-50% of gains goes to investor
- ✗Lower max cash: 12-17.5% vs 80-90% with cash-out refi
- ✗Forced repayment: Must repay or sell at end of term (10-30 years)
- ✗Limited availability: Not available in all states
- ✗Appraisal costs: You pay $500-750 upfront
Frequently Asked Questions
What is home equity sharing and how does it work?
Is home equity sharing better than a HELOC?
Which company offers the most cash: HomeTap, Point, Unison, or Unlock?
Do you have to repay home equity sharing if the home value goes down?
What are the fees and costs for home equity sharing?
Still deciding? Compare home equity sharing vs HELOC vs cash-out refi — all in one place.
Compare All Equity Options →Access Your Home Equity Today
Get a free quote from Point, HomeTap, Unison, and Unlock. See how much cash you can access with $0 monthly payments. No credit check required.
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