A home equity investment is one of the few ways to take cash out of a house without taking on a payment. You get a lump sum now. You settle later, when you sell, refinance or reach the end of the term, by handing back a share of what the home is worth at that point. Nothing is owed monthly in between, and no interest builds up.
That structure is why it works for people a HELOC turns away. Four of the five companies below ask for no income at all, and Point will look at a credit score as low as 500. Hometap funds up to $600,000, the highest cap here, and locks a 10-year term. What you give up is upside: if the house appreciates sharply, the share you hand back costs more than a fixed-rate HELOC would have.
Where you live decides more than any of that. Coverage is uneven, and a company that does not operate in your state is not an option no matter how good the terms look. Point reaches 30 states plus D.C., Hometap covers 20, and the rest sit somewhere in between. The selector below narrows this page to the companies that can actually fund you, which is worth doing before you weigh anything else. Every rate and requirement here was taken from each company’s own published figures, and all five estimates are free with a soft credit check.
Rates and terms accurate as of August 2026 · Updated regularly by our editorial team
Top HEI Companies for 2026 Partners shown here reflect the most viewed listings on our platform based on user engagement. We may receive compensation from some companies listed. This does not influence ranking order.
Quick comparison: the five HEI companies
Side-by-side look at the top HEI companies for 2026.
*Unison equity share varies by circumstances. Unison invests a maximum of $500,000 or 15% of your home’s current value, whichever is less, with a $30,000 minimum. Terms accurate as of August 2026.
In-depth reviews
Our editors spent 40+ hours evaluating terms, transparency, customer experience, and long-term value.
Hometap
$2B+ invested. 25,000+ homeowners served. Access $15K to $600K with no monthly payments and no impact to your credit score.
- Largest investment amounts, up to $600K
- Available in 20 states
- No monthly payments, ever
- No income requirements, and no impact on your DTI ratio
- Sell or refinance anytime, no exit penalty
- Transparent pricing, no hidden fees
- Not available in all 50 states
- Settlement required at sale or 10-year term end
- Lump-sum settlement, plan your exit
Hometap is the gold standard for home equity investments. With $2B+ deployed to 25,000+ homeowners, they offer the best mix of large investment amounts, transparent pricing, and flexible exit terms. If you need substantial cash without monthly payments, start here.
Point
Accepts credit scores from 500 and operates in more states than Hometap or Unison. No monthly payments, and you choose when to exit over a term of up to 30 years.
- Accepts credit scores from 500, the lowest bar here
- Available in 30 states plus D.C.
- No monthly payments, ever
- No income requirements
- Up to $600K, matching the highest cap on this page
- Buy back your equity at any time, no prepayment penalty
- Availability varies by county within listed states
- An appraisal or automated valuation is required
- You share in future appreciation, which can cost more if values climb
Point is the one to check first if credit or location has ruled the others out. A 500 minimum is meaningfully lower than Hometap’s 585 or Unison’s 620, and at 30 states plus D.C. it reaches homeowners the others cannot. You give up a share of your home’s future value in exchange, which is the same trade all three ask for, so compare the offer you actually receive rather than the headline terms.
Unison
Industry pioneer since 2006 with the longest 30-year term available. Broad coverage. 22 states plus D.C.
- Longest 30-year term in the industry
- Wide coverage, 22 states plus D.C.
- Industry pioneer since 2006
- Up to $500K available
- No monthly payments or interest
- Shares in depreciation, down market protection
- Higher origination fees at 3.9%
- Complex equity share formula
- 5% discount applied to home value at start
- May complicate future refinancing
Unison pioneered the HEI category in 2006 and offers unmatched flexibility with its 30-year term, you're never rushed to sell or refinance. It operates in 22 states plus D.C., and its 620 credit minimum is the highest of the four, so check both before you count on it. Where you do qualify, it is the strongest fit for homeowners planning to stay long-term.
Splitero
Credit from 500 with no income or employment check, and it will take homes held in a trust or an LLC. Fewer states than the leaders, but an easier door to get through.
- 500 minimum credit score, matching the lowest bar here
- No income or employment requirement at all
- Accepts homes held in a trust or an LLC
- Can sit junior to your mortgage, or first if you own outright
- Up to 25% of your home value, more generous than Unison’s 15%
- Only 13 states, well behind Point and Unison
- Does not publish a contract term
- Your home must appraise between $200,000 and $5,000,000
Splitero is the easiest of these to qualify for if income is the sticking point. There is no income or employment check at all, credit starts at 500, and it is the only one here that will look at a home held in a trust or an LLC. The catch is reach: 13 states against Point’s 30, and every state it serves is one Point serves too, so compare the two offers directly. Compare the two offers side by side before you commit.
Nada
The only company here that funds Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Credit from 500, no minimum income, and it will sit behind your existing mortgage.
- Credit score from 500, matching the lowest bar here
- The only option on this page in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma
- No minimum income and no asset requirements
- Soft credit pull, so checking does not affect your score
- Second homes and investment properties are eligible, unlike most rivals
- Smallest footprint here, 13 states and no D.C.
- Does not publish a contract term the way the others do
- Your home must appraise at $175,000 or more
- Investment properties need a 720 score and cap at $100,000
Nada is a niche pick rather than a headline one. It matches Point’s 500 credit floor and caps at $600,000 or 30% of your home value, on a 10-year term, but it operates in only 13 states. What earns it a place is coverage: in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma it is the only company on this page that can fund you at all. It is also the one option here that will look at second homes and investment properties. If you are in a state the others serve, start with them.
What Is a Home Equity Investment?
An HEI gives you a lump sum from your home's equity today. No loan. No monthly payments. No interest. In exchange, the company takes a share of your home's future value when you eventually sell or settle. Your mortgage, title, and monthly budget stay untouched.
HEI vs. HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan
Can you document income? A HELOC usually costs less than sharing your home’s appreciation, and you keep all the upside. Figure funds in as little as five days.
Check Figure rates →Should you consider an HEI?
- ✓ You need cash without new monthly bills
- ✓ You plan to stay 5+ years
- ✓ You want to keep your mortgage rate
- ✓ Credit below what HELOCs require
- ✗ You plan to sell soon
- ✗ Your home is in a fast-rising market
- ✗ You plan to refinance soon
- ✗ You want to convert to a rental
All five are free to check. Soft credit check only, no impact to your score.
See If I Qualify →Everything you need to know before applying.
Which one is right for you?
All five are free to check. Soft credit check only, no impact to your score.
Which one actually fits you?
All three pay you cash for a share of your home’s future value, with no monthly payments. What separates them is credit, term and which states they serve.
Largest payout$600K · 585+ credit · 20 states
Check →
Easiest to qualify$600K · 500+ credit · 30 states
Check →
Longest track record$500K · 620+ credit · 22 states
Check →
No income check$600K · 500+ credit · 13 states
Check →
Fills the gaps$600K · 500+ credit · 13 states
Check →
Free estimate from any of them. Soft credit check only, so checking will not affect your score.
