How it Works
The smart way to access
home equity.
An Unlock HEA gives you cash in exchange for a portion of your home’s future value.
Unlock’s home equity agreement (HEA) has a simple approval process.
An Unlock HEA is not a loan. There’s no interest rate uncertainty and no monthly payments.
It’s available to property owners of all ages—unlike reverse mortgages.
You don’t need perfect credit to qualify.
With an Unlock HEA, you receive cash up front in exchange for a portion of your home’s future value.

Easy. Fair. Transparent.
01
01
Get your estimate.
See how much equity you can unlock in less than a minute. No credit score impact. No strings attached.
02
02
Apply.
A dedicated home equity consultant (HEC) will guide you through the process and send you a short online application.
03
03
Recieve an offer.
After reviewing an independent third-party appraisal and title report, an offer will be prepared for you.
04
04
Get funded.
After signing the closing documents, you should receive a secure wire transfer within a few days.
The Unlock Difference
![]() |
Home Equity Loan
|
HELOC
|
Cash-Out Refinance
|
Reverse Mortgage
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MinimumCredit Score
|
500
|
700
|
680
|
580
|
None
|
Debt-to-Income
|
N/A
|
43%
|
43%
|
50%
|
N/A
|
Loan-to-Value
|
80%
|
90%
|
85%
|
80%
|
60%
|
Fine Print
|
Must maintain property, pay taxes, home insurance and first lien mortgage (if applicable)
|
Monthly payments can fluctuate, home value could put owner under water
|
Penalties for inactivity, required balance
|
30 to 60 days to close, interest rates higher
|
Must pay taxes, insurance and live in the home. Age restrictions
|

MinimumCredit Score 500
Debt-to-Income N/A
Loan-to-Value 80%
Fine Print Must maintain property, pay taxes, home insurance and first lien mortgage (if applicable)
Home Equity Loan
MinimumCredit Score 700
Debt-to-Income 43%
Loan-to-Value 90%
Fine Print Monthly payments can fluctuate, home value could put owner under water
HELOC
MinimumCredit Score 680
Debt-to-Income 43%
Loan-to-Value 85%
Fine Print Penalties for inactivity, required balance
Cash-Out Refinance
MinimumCredit Score 580
Debt-to-Income 50%
Loan-to-Value 80%
Fine Print 30 to 60 days to close, interest rates higher
Reverse Mortgage
MinimumCredit Score None
Debt-to-Income N/A
Loan-to-Value 60%
Fine Print Must pay taxes, insurance and live in the home. Age restrictions
Chart for informational purposes only. Information sourced from Unlock, Bankrate and Credible. Terms and conditions apply.
Unlock has helped more than 3,000 homeowners
to access their home equity
Hear from our Customers
See All StoriesQuestions?
We Have Answers
How is Unlock different from a HELOC or reverse mortgage?
An Unlock agreement has no age requirements and can yield similar cash to a homeowner as a reverse mortgage. Unlike a typical reverse mortgage, you can take out an agreement in addition to your first mortgage.
In addition, a reverse mortgage is a loan and has an interest rate which increases the balance owed regardless of the home’s value. Over time it is possible for a reverse mortgage to consume all of your home equity.
An Unlock agreement is not a loan, is impacted by home value and does not consume all of your home equity.
How much can I get from Unlock?
In general, the maximum amount of cash available from Unlock is $300,000. The specific amount we can offer you depends on four things:
Your home’s current value. The more your home is worth, the more cash is available.
Pre-existing housing debt. This includes all mortgages and credit lines secured by your home. The less housing debt you have, the more cash is available.
Your credit worthiness. A good credit track record may qualify for more cash.
The use of the property. We may be able to offer more cash for owner occupants.
Note that these factors can affect each other. For instance, an expensive home with a lot of debt may qualify for less cash than a less expensive home with no debt.
Who owns the home?
You do!
Unlock secures its interest by placing a lien on the property but has no rights of occupancy and we do not go on title except in rare circumstances. See the Unlock Program Guide you receive after you apply for more details.
Where does Unlock operate?
Unlock is currently helping homeowners access their equity in:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington