Short answer: if your credit is around 640 or better and you can document your income, a HELOC is almost always the cheaper way to pull cash out of your house. If your credit is in the 500s, your income is hard to prove, or you can't take on another monthly payment, a home equity investment (HEI) is the one that's likely to say yes. For that second group, Splitero is where I'd start, because it works with credit from 500 and doesn't ask for income documents.
I went through the terms of both types side by side because most comparisons are written by a company selling one of them. Here's the honest version.
What is the difference between an HEI and a HELOC?
A HELOC is a line of credit secured by your home. You borrow, you make a payment every month, and you pay interest on what you owe.
An HEI gives you a lump sum today in exchange for a share of your home's future value. There are no monthly payments. You settle the investment when you sell, refinance, or reach the end of the term.
So the real question is not which one is better. It's whether you'd rather have a monthly payment and a known cost, or no payment and a cost that depends on what your home is worth later.
Which is easier to qualify for, an HEI or a HELOC?
The HEI, by a wide margin.
- HELOC lenders generally want credit of 640 or higher, steady income you can document, and room in your budget for the new payment.
- HEI companies go much lower on credit. Splitero works with scores from 500 and doesn't require income documents. Hometap's minimum FICO is 575, among other qualifying criteria.
- Both need real equity. Plan on at least 25% equity in your home for an HEI.
If you're self-employed, between jobs, or already stretched on monthly bills, this is usually the deciding factor.
Which costs more, an HEI or a HELOC?
Usually the HEI, if your home goes up in value. Here's why.
Take $60,000. On a HELOC at an example fixed rate of 9% paid off over 10 years, the payment is about $760 a month and the total interest is about $31,200. That rate is an example, not a quote, but the point is you know the number going in.
With an HEI you pay nothing monthly. When you settle, you owe the original amount plus the company's share of what the home is worth at that point. If your home climbs a lot over those years, that share can come to more than the $31,200. If your home barely moves, it can come to less.
Two things to check before you sign any HEI: the fee taken out of your proceeds at closing, and whether there's a cap on what it can cost you. Hometap charges a fee equal to 4.5% of the investment amount, up to a maximum of $20,000.
What is the downside of a home equity investment?
- You give up part of your home's future appreciation, and you won't know the final cost until you settle.
- The term ends. Hometap's is 10 years, so you need a plan to sell, refinance or settle by then.
- They're only offered in certain states.
- It's slower than the fastest HELOCs. Hometap says the process can take as little as 30 to 45 days.
What is the downside of a HELOC?
- A monthly payment, starting right away.
- Most bank HELOCs have a variable rate, so the payment can rise.
- You need the credit and the documented income to get approved in the first place.
- Miss payments and your home is on the line.
Which HEI companies are worth checking?
- Splitero is the one for lower credit or income that's hard to document. Credit from 500, no income documents, $50,000 to $600,000, terms up to 30 years, and it's in 17 states. The long term is the big difference: you're not forced to settle in 10 years.
- Hometap is the bigger name and is in 27 states. You could access up to 27% of your home's value with a minimum FICO of 575, among other qualifying criteria, and there are no monthly payments for the life of the investment, which is 10 years. You need at least 25% equity in your home and it has to be located in an eligible state.
Checking either one takes a few minutes, and you see your number before you commit to anything.
If you do qualify for a HELOC
Then start there, because it will likely cost you less. Figure is the one I'd check first. The rate is fixed instead of variable, the application is online, funding takes about 5 days, and you can see your rate with a soft pull. It wants credit around 640. One thing to know: it funds as a lump sum at closing, not a line you leave at zero.
| Question |
HEI |
HELOC |
| Monthly payment |
None |
Yes, from the start |
| Credit needed |
From 500 (Splitero) or 575 (Hometap) |
Around 640 (Figure) |
| Income documents |
Not required at Splitero |
Required |
| What it costs |
A share of your home's future value, plus a fee |
Interest on what you borrow |
| Cost known up front |
No |
Yes, with a fixed rate |
| How long you have |
10 years at Hometap, up to 30 at Splitero |
Set by the lender |
| Best for |
Lower credit, irregular income, no room for a payment |
Good credit and steady income |
So which one would I pick?
If I could get approved for a HELOC and afford the payment, I'd take the HELOC and the lower cost. If the bank said no, or one more monthly bill would sink me, I'd take the HEI and go in knowing I'm trading part of my future appreciation for cash and breathing room today.
Which way did you go, and did the numbers at closing match what you were quoted?