How to Apply for a Home Equity Loan: A Step-by-Step Guide

A home equity loan is a type of second mortgage that allows you to borrow against the equity you have in your home, using your home as collateral. They typically have lower interest rates than other personal loans and provide fixed interest rates and regular monthly payments. To take out a home equity loan, determine how much money you want to borrow, shop around for lenders, complete an application, and work with the lender. We’ll walk you through each of these steps in detail.

Step 1: Make Sure You Meet the Requirements

Applying for a home equity loan can be quite a process, so check to see if you meet the requirements before you spend time filling out paperwork. Specifically, you should find out your credit score to see if it’s at least in the mid-600s. If it’s lower, work on building your credit before starting a home equity loan application. While this can take time, having a better credit score can greatly improve your chance of getting approved.

While you’re looking into your credit score, check your credit report for errors. If you spot any, reach out to the credit monitoring bureaus and submit a dispute. Potential lenders will read your credit report to see how many credit accounts you have and if you’ve been late on any payments.

Lenders will also consider your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. This is the percentage of your income that goes towards monthly debts. Generally, lenders want borrowers with DTIs below 36%, but some may work with you if your DTI is up to 43%. To improve your odds of getting approved, work on paying down debt (like student loans, medical bills, and credit card debt) or earning more income.

Lastly, it’s important to learn how much equity you have since lenders will only consider your application if you have at least 20% equity in your home. For example, if you have a $400,000 home and have $320,000 left on the mortgage, you have the necessary 20% equity. Most lenders allow you to borrow up to 85% of your current equity.

Step 2: Determine How Much You Want to Borrow

You should already know how much equity you have in your home, so you also have an idea of the maximum you can borrow. Using our previous example, if you have a $300,000 home and no mortgage, a lender might offer you a maximum of $240,000, which is 80% of your equity. But, if you still owe $150,000 on the home, you’d subtract this from the potential loan amount, so you’d only be eligible to get $90,000.

Before you accept the maximum offered, consider how much you truly need to borrow. After all, by taking out a second mortgage, you’re reducing your equity and adding a hefty monthly payment to your budget. If you fail to make payments, you risk losing your home.

Think carefully about how much you want your loan to be, keeping in mind that you will be reducing the equity in your home and increasing your monthly debt obligation. You’ll also be paying closing costs, which will reduce the lump sum amount you get. Your goal should be to borrow just enough rather than taking more than you need.

Step 3: Compare Interest Rates and Lenders

Once you have an idea of how big of a loan you want to get, you can begin shopping for home equity lenders. Resist the urge to skip this step and use the first lender you come across.

The terms and interest rates offered by lenders can vary widely, which can cost or save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Look for legitimate lenders from banks, credit unions, and mortgage brokers. Then, request quotes and compare them based on:

• Interest rates
• Loan term options (like term length and repayment options)
• Closing costs
• Fees (like prepayment penalties)

Step 4: Complete a Home Equity Loan Application 

Once you’ve chosen a lender and home equity loan product, you can complete an application. Some lenders allow you to submit an application online or over the phone, while others require you to apply in person.

You’ll usually need to provide the following information on your application:

• Contact information and proof of identity
• Details about your home (like the title and property tax statements)
• Loan needs—how much you’re applying for
• Income documentation (like paystubs, W2s, and federal tax returns)
• Permission for a credit check

Step 5: Wait for Approval

Some might say this is the hardest step: waiting. During this time, the lender will closely look over your application and the company’s underwriting team will research and verify the information. You might be asked additional questions or asked to provide more documentation. For instance, the lender may ask you to set up and pay for a home appraisal.

If your application checks out and you meet the lender’s requirements, you’ll be approved. Be aware that you do have the right to cancel a home equity loan within three days if you change your mind or for any reason.

Step 6: Close and Receive Funds

If approved, your lender will tell you the closing date. This is when you’ll sign the loan documents and the funds will be transferred. Since this is a big financial obligation, be sure to read through the paperwork closely before signing.

When all is said and done, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to months between applying for a home equity loan and receiving the funds.

The Bottom Line

In many ways, getting a home equity loan is easier than getting a mortgage, assuming you meet the lender’s requirements. To make the loan application process go more smoothly, research qualifications, check out your credit factors, and consider how big of a loan you need. If you’re unsure whether or not a home equity loan is right for you, talk with a financial advisor about your best options.