HELOC CALCULATOR

Check borrowing power

Based on your home equity

What's your home's current value?

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What's your mortgage's outstanding balance?

What's your desired loan amount?

What's your credit score?

Which state do you live in?

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Save with a fixed-rate HELOC

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Get a low, fixed rate

Your rates will never change, no surprise balloon payments.

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Flexible funds and terms

Loans up to $700,000 with 10, 15, 20, or 30-year terms for what you need.1

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Get your cash fast 

Loan decision in minutes. Application-to-funding in as fast as 10 days.

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Personal, expert help

A licensed Mortgage Advisor will work with you to customize your loan.

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No refi required

Loving your current mortgage rate? Keep it without changing your terms.

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Lower monthly payments

An affordable monthly payment lower than with credit cards or personal loans.

How to use our HELOC calculator

This HELOC calculator estimates your monthly payments and shows how much you could borrow against the equity in your home. 

Enter your home’s current value, your outstanding mortgage balance, the loan amount you want, your credit score, and your state. The calculator returns a payment estimate based on those inputs so you can compare scenarios before you apply. 

How does a HELOC work?

A home equity line of credit is a revolving line of credit that's tied to your home. This makes it a type of mortgage. If you're still paying your original purchase mortgage, the HELOC would be a second mortgage. Since HELOCs are secured by your home, you could lose your home if you don't repay.

Use the HELOC loan calculator before you shop for a HELOC to make sure the payment fits your budget. You can adjust the loan amount or term to find a monthly payment you’re comfortable with. 

Many HELOCs have variable interest rates, which means your monthly payment could change as your rate changes. A HELOC through Achieve Loans offers a fixed rate, so the rate you receive at closing stays the same for the life of the loan. 

Find out if you prequalify with no impact to your credit score.

How much can you borrow with a HELOC?

Lenders generally set your borrowing limit based on your combined loan-to-value (CLTV) ratio. Your CLTV compares everything you owe on your property to its market value. Many lenders cap your CLTV at 80% to 85%.

To calculate your CLTV, add up all of the loans secured by your property (your outstanding mortgage balance plus the new HELOC loan amount), then divide by your home's value.

Example: Let’s imagine your home is worth $400,000 and you still owe $200,000 on your mortgage. If you want a $40,000 HELOC, the total amount tied to your home would be $240,000.

  • $240,000 / $400,000 = 0.6

  • 0.6 x 100 = 60%

Divide $240,000 by $400,000 (your home’s current value), and you’ll have a CLTV of 60%. This would be well within most lenders' CLTV cap.

Your debt and DTI could affect your HELOC eligibility

Your results from the payment calculator are just a starting point. Your actual limits could change based on your credit and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Your DTI is the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward debt and housing payments. 

Many lenders want to see a DTI under 43%, and a ratio under 36% could strengthen your application even more. Use the debt-to-income ratio calculator to find out where you stand before you apply. 

Here’s what that looks like in real life: Say you earn $6,000 a month before taxes. If your total monthly payments for your mortgage, car loan, credit cards, and other debts add up to $1,980, your DTI is 33%. 

How to reduce your DTI

If your DTI is on the higher side, reduce your existing debt first to help lower your ratio, which could lead to better terms from lenders.

Start by looking at your overall debt, then write down each debt and its balance. Don’t forget things like your car payment or any appliances with outstanding balances. 

Consider your lowest balances and see if there are any debts that you could pay off completely. Credit card balances are a common place to start because they are often your highest interest debt, but it may be faster to pay off your smallest balance first. A debt payoff calculator could show you how long it will take to pay off your debt and strategize the best way to tackle it. 

Home Equity Loans FAQ

Home equity loans work a lot like the mortgage you’d use to buy a house. You apply in pretty much the same way. The lender will look at your credit history and verify your financial information. They will probably order a property appraisal to find out how much the home is worth. The loan limit is set by the lender, but you can expect them to cap it so that your total mortgage debt (including your first mortgage) is no more than 80-90% of your home’s value.

Yes, it's possible to obtain a HELOC with a fixed interest rate. While most HELOCs have a variable interest rate, some lenders offer fixed-rate options. Choosing a fixed-rate HELOC can provide stability and predictability since you won't have to worry about fluctuations in interest rates, making it easier to plan and manage your finances.

If you're a homeowner needing funds, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) with a fixed interest rate can be a great option. With a fixed rate, your interest rate will stay the same throughout the loan's life, making it easier to budget your monthly payments. Also, a HELOC can be a flexible and convenient way to access cash for home improvements, debt consolidation, or other expenses without affecting your first mortgage rate or terms.

To take out a home equity loan you need to have equity in your home. If your home has increased in value since you bought it, you may have more equity than you think, even if you’re still paying your first mortgage. 

Lenders also need to make sure you’ll be able to repay the loan, so they’ll check your income and the amount you’re paying on any other debt. They’ll also check your credit score. You might be approved for a home equity loan with a credit score as low as 600, and a higher credit score can help you get a lower interest rate.

Usually, a home equity loan is for one lump sum and is repaid in equal installments over a predetermined amount of time. 

A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is paid out as you need it. You can pull money out during the draw period either by writing a check or using a linked credit card. During this time, you might only have to make interest payments. Once the draw period ends, you may not take any more money out, and you’ll start making a regular monthly payment that includes the principal plus interest.

Home equity loans usually have a fixed interest rate, while HELOCs typically have a variable rate that may change over time. 

The Achieve home equity loan is unique because it combines the best features of home equity loans and HELOCs. Our loan comes with a draw period and a fixed interest rate. During the first five years, you can borrow, repay, and borrow more, up to your limit. Your rate will be set when you get your loan, and it won’t change for the life of the loan.

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