HELOCs aren’t the only solution for tapping into your home equity. Here are some other methods: Home equity loans: They can mean accessing more of the value of your home equity (up to 80%). Borrowers get an exact lump sum upfront and begin reimbursing interest + principal immediately. Refinance: refinancing a mortgage replaces your existing mortgage. You can access up to 80% of the current value of your home. If you still carry a balance, the 80% covers must first cover that balance before you are able to tap into the sum. Note that this resets everything: your balance, years remaining, contract and more. Sell: Selling your home is the most extreme way of accessing your home equity. In most cases, this won’t make sense, but it could be an option for someone looking to downsize or move to a less expensive area. Finally, if you are uncomfortable with using the equity in your home to secure a line of credit, there are many other ways of borrowing. The most common are: Credit cards Personal loans Personal lines of credit