How does home equity sharing (HEI) work?

Home equity investment (HEI) companies give you a lump sum of cash in exchange for a percentage of your home's future value. There are zero monthly payments and zero interest. At the end of the term (10-30 years), you pay back the original investment plus the agreed percentage of any appreciation — or you can buy them out early. Example: Hometap gives you $100K in exchange for 15% of your home's future value. If your home goes from $500K to $700K, you repay $100K + (15% × $200K appreciation) = $130K total.

How much cash can I get from Hometap, Unison, or Point in 2026?

Maximum HEI amounts in 2026: Hometap: up to 25% of your home's value, max $600,000, Point: up to 25-30% of value, max $500,000, Unison: up to 15% of value (HomeOwner product), no stated max. Minimum equity required: typically 20-25% (80% CLTV or less). Example: $700K home with no mortgage = up to $175K from Hometap or $210K from Point at 30% investment.

Is home equity sharing better than a HELOC or cash-out refinance?

HEI is better than HELOC/cash-out refi if: you cannot afford monthly payments, your credit score is too low for conventional loans, you want to preserve cash flow, or you plan to sell in 5-10 years anyway. HELOC/cash-out refi is better if: your home appreciates strongly (you keep 100% of gains), you have excellent credit, or your income is stable. At 6% annual appreciation, HEI costs the equivalent of a 10-15% APR loan — more expensive than a HELOC (7.5-9%) long-term.

What credit score do I need for Hometap, Point, or Unison?

Credit score requirements for HEI companies 2026: Hometap: 500+ minimum (most accessible), Point: 500+ minimum with 20%+ equity, Unison: 620+ recommended. All three focus primarily on equity percentage, not credit score — they're investing in your home's value, not your creditworthiness. This makes HEI one of the few equity options for borrowers with poor credit.

What happens if my home loses value with a home equity agreement?

If your home decreases in value: Hometap: they share in the loss — you pay back less than the original investment (their share of depreciation reduces the settlement), Point: similar loss-sharing structure — you pay back the original amount minus their share of the decline, Unison: they explicitly cap the appreciation they take AND share in depreciation. The loss protection is a key advantage of HEI over traditional debt — if your home drops 20%, HEI companies absorb a portion of that loss.

Unison vs Hometap vs Point 2026: Best Home Equity Sharing Comparison

⚡ QUICK VERDICT (2026)

Hometap wins for most homeowners — lowest appreciation share (15-25%), highest max loan ($600K), and fastest funding. Point wins for those needing 30-year flexibility. Avoid Unison if you expect strong home price growth — their 40% appreciation cut is the highest of the three.

📊 Unison vs Hometap vs Point — Full Comparison 2026

Feature	🔵 Hometap	🟠 Point	🟣 Unison
Maximum Cash	$600,000 (25% of value)	$500,000 (30% of value)	No stated max (15% of value)
Min Credit Score	500	500	620
Min Equity Required	25% (75% CLTV)	20% (80% CLTV)	20% (80% CLTV)
Term Length	10 years	30 years	30 years
Monthly Payments	NONE	NONE	NONE
Interest Rate	None — equity share only	None — equity share only	None — equity share only
Appreciation Share	15-25% of gain	15-35% of gain	40% of appreciation
Funding Speed	3-4 weeks	2-3 weeks	4-6 weeks
States Available	28 states	25+ states	30 states
Penalty for Early Exit	3% if < 3 years	None stated	None stated
Investment Cost at $100K invested (20% appreciation)	Pay back ~$120-125K	Pay back ~$125-130K	Pay back ~$140K
Loss Sharing	Yes — they absorb losses	Yes — they absorb losses	Yes — they absorb losses

💰 The Real Math: $100K Investment, Home Goes from $700K → $900K

🔵 Hometap

Gets $100K → 20% share

At sale ($900K):

Pay back $140K

($100K + 20% of $200K gain)

🟠 Point

Gets $100K → 25% share

At sale ($900K):

Pay back $150K

($100K + 25% of $200K gain)

🟣 Unison

Gets $100K → 40% of appreciation

At sale ($900K):

Pay back $180K

($100K + 40% of $200K gain)

🏆 Winner: Hometap costs $40K LESS than Unison on the same $100K investment with 28% home appreciation. Over 10 years at typical appreciation, that's a decisive win.

🏆 Who Wins Each Scenario?

🥇 Point

You want maximum cash

30% of value up to $500K — highest upfront amount

🥇 Hometap / Point (tied)

You have bad credit (500-619)

Both accept 500+ scores — no credit premium

🥇 Hometap

You want the shortest term

10-year term — best for those planning to sell or refinance soon

🥇 Hometap

You want to keep most appreciation

15-25% share vs Unison's 40% — far less appreciation given up

🥇 Point

You plan to hold 20+ years

30-year term + optional early buyout — most flexible long-term

🥇 Hometap

Best overall for most homeowners

Lowest appreciation share + fastest funding + 500 credit min

💰 Get a Quote from All 3 — Takes 5 Minutes

No monthly payments. No credit damage. See exactly what each company offers on YOUR home before deciding.

Get Hometap Quote → (Recommended)Compare All HEI Options

❓ Home Equity Sharing FAQ

How does home equity sharing work?

You get a lump sum of cash in exchange for a percentage of your home's future value. Zero monthly payments, zero interest. At exit (sale or buyout), you repay the original amount plus the company's share of any appreciation. If home loses value, they share the loss.

How much cash can I get from Hometap, Point, or Unison in 2026?

Hometap: up to $600K (25% of value). Point: up to $500K (30% of value). Unison: up to 15% of value, no max stated. Minimum 20-25% equity required.

Is home equity sharing better than a HELOC?

HEI is better if you can't afford monthly payments, have low credit, or plan to sell in 5-10 years. HELOC is better if your home appreciates strongly (you keep 100% of gains). At 6% appreciation, HEI costs equivalent of 10-15% APR — more than a HELOC long-term.

What credit score do I need for Hometap or Point?

Hometap: 500+ minimum. Point: 500+ minimum. Unison: 620+ recommended. All focus primarily on equity, not credit — this makes HEI one of the only equity options for poor credit borrowers.

What happens if my home loses value?

All three companies share in the loss — you pay back less than the original investment. Their share of depreciation reduces your settlement amount. This is a key advantage vs traditional debt.

🏆 Verdict: Hometap Wins. Get Your Quote Now.

Zero monthly payments. As little as 15% appreciation share. $600K maximum. Get their estimate on your home — it takes 2 minutes.

Get My Hometap Estimate →Compare All HEI Companies

Unison vs Hometap vs Point
2026: Which HEI Wins?

📊 Unison vs Hometap vs Point — Full Comparison 2026

💰 The Real Math: $100K Investment, Home Goes from $700K → $900K

🔵 Hometap

🟠 Point

🟣 Unison

🏆 Who Wins Each Scenario?

💰 Get a Quote from All 3 — Takes 5 Minutes

❓ Home Equity Sharing FAQ

🏆 Verdict: Hometap Wins. Get Your Quote Now.

📚 Related Equity Access Guides

HELOC No Appraisal 2026 →

High LTV Cash-Out Refi →

HELOC for LLCs 2026 →

Meet Emily

EXPERTISE:

Unison vs Hometap vs Point2026: Which HEI Wins?

📊 Unison vs Hometap vs Point — Full Comparison 2026

💰 The Real Math: $100K Investment, Home Goes from $700K → $900K

🔵 Hometap

🟠 Point

🟣 Unison

🏆 Who Wins Each Scenario?

💰 Get a Quote from All 3 — Takes 5 Minutes

❓ Home Equity Sharing FAQ

🏆 Verdict: Hometap Wins. Get Your Quote Now.

📚 Related Equity Access Guides

HELOC No Appraisal 2026 →

High LTV Cash-Out Refi →

HELOC for LLCs 2026 →

Meet Emily

EXPERTISE:

Unison vs Hometap vs Point
2026: Which HEI Wins?