Wendy Rianda

NAR forecasts mortgage rates ↓ to 6% in 2026.
Median home prices predicted ↑ by 4% next year.
Market volatility and short-term spending are risks for equity growth.
NAR's predictions suggest a favorable year for tapping home equity.
HELOC applications can be started digitally; access equity in ~10 days.

2026 Home Equity Outlook Shows Growth

Americans hold $35.8T in home equity, much of it illiquid and hard to access.
HEAs offer up-front cash for equity, with no interest or monthly payments, but complex terms favor issuers.
In first 10 months of 2024, 11,000 HEA contracts worth $1.1B were signed; total market ~$2–3B.
Settlement amounts can grow 19.5–22% yearly, often exceeding traditional home-secured credit rates.
Homeowners may pay more for HEAs than HELOCs due to fees, multipliers, and undervalued home estimates.