Which home equity investment company has the lowest credit score requirement?

Hometap, Point, and Unlock all accept credit scores as low as 500 — significantly lower than Unison (620) or traditional HELOCs (typically 660–680). If your credit is below 620, Hometap is generally the best starting point.

How do home equity investment companies make money?

HEI companies invest cash in your home today in exchange for a percentage of your home's value at settlement. If your home appreciates, they earn more. If it stays flat or declines, they may earn less — or in some cases, lose money. This is fundamentally different from lenders who profit from interest charges regardless of your home's performance.

Is a home equity investment better than a HELOC?

It depends on your situation. A HELOC charges interest and requires monthly payments, but may be cheaper over a short time horizon if your home appreciates significantly. HEI charges no monthly payments and requires no income docs, making it better for self-employed homeowners, retirees, or anyone who can't qualify for traditional financing. See our full HEI vs HELOC comparison for detailed cost scenarios.

Can I get a home equity investment if I have bad credit?

Yes. Most HEI companies accept credit scores as low as 500. This is one of the biggest advantages of HEI over traditional home equity loans, which typically require 680+. For more on this topic, see our guide on home equity with bad credit.

How long does it take to get funded through a home equity investment?

Funding timelines vary by company. Hometap is the fastest at approximately 3 weeks. Point and Unison typically take 4–6 weeks. Timeline depends on appraisal scheduling, title work, and document turnaround.

Best Home Equity Investment Companies 2026

You've decided a home equity investment is the right move — no monthly payments, no income verification, fast funding. Now the question is: which company? We've ranked the four major HEI providers on the factors that matter most to homeowners: how much you can get, what it costs, how fast they close, and what states they serve.

The Short Answer

Hometap is the best option for most homeowners — largest investment amounts (up to $600,000), lowest credit requirement (500), and availability in 17 states. But depending on your state, equity position, and how long you plan to stay in your home, Point, Unlock, or Unison may be a better fit.

Quick Comparison: Top HEI Companies 2026

Company	Max Investment	Min Credit Score	Term Length	States Available	Funding Speed
Hometap	$600,000	500	10 years	17 + DC	~3 weeks
Point	$500,000	500	30 years	24 states	4–6 weeks
Unlock	$500,000	500	10 years	15 states	3–4 weeks
Unison	$500,000	620	30 years	29 states	4–6 weeks

#1 Hometap — Best Overall

Hometap is the market leader for good reason. With a 500 minimum credit score, up to $600,000 in investment capital, and a 10-year term, it hits the sweet spot for most homeowners. Hometap invests up to 25% of your home's current value, taking a share of appreciation at settlement.

📊 Free Comparison Guide

Compare Home Equity Options

Download our free guide comparing Hometap, Point, and Unlock — valuations, fees, and what they don't tell you upfront.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What makes Hometap stand out:

Lowest credit floor of any major provider (500)
No income documentation required — a key differentiator for self-employed owners
Fastest funding in the industry at approximately 3 weeks
Proprietary Home Equity Dashboard to track your investment over time
Straightforward settlement: sell, refinance, or buy out Hometap within 10 years

Where Hometap falls short: Only available in 17 states + DC as of 2026 (expanding). If you're in a state Hometap doesn't serve, Point or Unison are the next best options. See our full Hometap review for the complete picture.

Get a free estimate from Hometap — no credit impact

Find out exactly how much you can access from your home equity. Takes 5 minutes, no income docs required, and checking your estimate won't affect your credit score.

Check My Hometap Estimate →

#2 Point — Best for Long-Term Flexibility

Point offers the longest term on the market at 30 years, which makes it attractive if you're not planning to sell anytime soon and want maximum time to settle. Point operates in 24 states — broader coverage than Hometap — and invests up to 35% of your home's value (higher than most competitors).

Best for: Homeowners in states Hometap doesn't serve, or those who want a 30-year runway. Read our full Point review for detailed terms and costs.

#3 Unlock — Best for High LTV Situations

Unlock is particularly useful if you have a higher loan-to-value ratio — they'll work with homeowners who have slightly less equity than Hometap typically requires. With a 10-year term matching Hometap and availability in 15 states, Unlock is a strong alternative where available.

Best for: Homeowners with less equity who may not meet Hometap's equity minimums. See our complete Unlock review.

#4 Unison — Best for Widest State Coverage

Unison operates in 29 states — the widest coverage of any major HEI provider — which makes it the default option if you live somewhere none of the others serve. The tradeoff: Unison requires a higher minimum credit score (620) and offers 30-year terms that may mean giving up more appreciation if your home rises significantly.

Best for: Homeowners in states not served by Hometap, Point, or Unlock.

How to Choose the Right HEI Company

Run through this decision tree:

Is Hometap available in your state? If yes, start there. Best rates, fastest funding, lowest credit floor.
Do you want 30 years to settle? If you're planning to stay long-term, Point or Unison offer 30-year terms.
Is your equity tight? Unlock is most flexible on LTV requirements.
Are you in a state none of the above serve? Unison has the broadest coverage.

For a head-to-head on the two most popular options, see our Hometap vs. Point comparison. For a cost deep-dive, our home equity investment cost guide breaks down the real numbers on what HEI will actually cost you at settlement.

What All HEI Companies Have in Common

Regardless of which provider you choose, home equity investments share these characteristics:

No monthly payments: You receive a lump sum today and repay nothing until settlement
No interest: The cost is a share of your home's future appreciation, not a fixed rate
No income verification: Approval is based on equity and credit, not income
Settlement triggers: Sell your home, refinance, or buy out the company's share within the term

For a complete explanation of how home equity investments work versus traditional options, see our HEI vs. HELOC guide.