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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.

Unlock has helped more than 7,000+ homeowners

to access their home equity

How it Works

01
01

Get your estimate.

See how much equity you can unlock in about two minutes. No credit score impact. No strings attached.
02
02

Apply.

Apply online, but you will always have a dedicated home equity consultant (HEC) that can assist you throughout the entire process.
03
03

Receive 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.

Hear from our Customers

See All Stories
I talked to my banker and I looked at options like a reverse mortgage, refinance, just some loans. I saw the option for an investment through Unlock and accessing my equity with a HEA and it seemed to make more sense.”
Marcus
Washington
It was such a good experience that I’d work for Unlock!”
Davy
Nevada
It’s given me peace and serenity, and a home that we like and is comfortable to live in. Unlock is a good, reputable company; just look at TrustPilot reviews for evidence.”
Melissa
Tennessee
I was able to do the home renovations that I had been putting off for years, which increased the value of my home. I feel like I have more options now. If you’re looking to access your equity this is perfect.”
Maritza
Florida
We needed cash to make some improvements to our home before we could put it on the market. My credit score was less than stellar due to medical problems we had a few years ago. My wife was out of work for awhile and I had to take some time off. As a result, getting a standard HELOC was out of the question. So the Unlock alternative was a good one for us. The staff at Unlock made all the difference. It was quick, simple and painless. There were no surprises.”
Shawn
New Jersey
Unlock’s process was very uncomplicated, and so much quicker and faster than competitors. It was very smooth. Any questions were answered, and even when they were redundant, the rep was very patient. She was helpful and transparent, never pushy, and guided me through the process.”
Javany
California
I’m going to use the funds to fix up my own house to become an investment property, and to help purchase other investment properties. In 10 years, the amount that would go back to Unlock then will be about the same amount as I’d be spending in doing a refinance. And I have no monthly payments!”
Khalia
Michigan
I was trying to renovate my home, and needed to pay bills I owed, including a city tax bill and medical bills. I was having a hard time getting approved for a HELOC because my credit was not good. Unlock gave me an opportunity. Everything was very smooth. The process was very fast. I never dealt with a company that worked that fast. Unlock helped me save my home; pay off the city tax bill and my medical bills.”
Stephanie
North Carolina
I had slid further and further behind into debt. Working with a debt settlement company to try and resolve it, but it was costing me $400 a month and that would have gone on for several years. I had high interest loans and ended up $100k in debt. That’s what made me say…I have to do something and Unlock was there for me.”
Clayton
North Carolina
This was a life changing experience. It was a simple and fast process. I appreciate being able to stay in my home and tap into my equity. Highly recommend.”
Carrie
Florida
I looked at just a couple of other companies online, and Unlock’s terms were the best. Moreover, the people I talked to – all the way through the process – were competent, and explained everything perfectly. I’ve paid off all my debts, including every credit card and all medical expenses. I’ve rebuilt the nest egg and invested some of the funds. My credit score is coming back up. Now I’m in really good financial shape, and have much less stress.”
Drew
North Carolina
My financial stress burden has been lifted, and I now have ‘reserve funding’ to use for debt reduction and unexpected business expenses. I can once again sleep well at night!”
John
California

Compare Your Options
Home Equity Loan
HELOC
Cash-Out Refinance
Reverse Mortgage
Minimum Credit Score
500
700
680
580
None
Debt-to-Income
N/A1
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)
Defaulting on your loan or missing payments could cause you to lose your home to foreclosure.
Variable monthly rate. 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

Minimum Credit Score500Debt-to-IncomeN/ALoan-to-Value80%Fine PrintMust maintain property, pay taxes, home insurance and first lien mortgage (if applicable)

Home Equity Loan

Minimum Credit Score650Debt-to-Income43%Loan-to-Value80-90%Fine PrintMonthly payments can fluctuate, home value could put owner under water

HELOC

Minimum Credit Score620Debt-to-Income43%Loan-to-Value80-85%Fine PrintPenalties for inactivity, required balance

Cash-Out Refinance

Minimum Credit Score580Debt-to-Income50%Loan-to-Value80%Fine Print30 to 60 days to close, interest rates higher

Reverse Mortgage

Minimum Credit ScoreNoneDebt-to-IncomeN/ALoan-to-Value50-60%Fine PrintMust 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.

Questions?

We Have Answers

Can I qualify if I have a mortgage on my home?

Yes! If you have a mortgage, you should have significant equity in your home to qualify  – typically about 40%.  

Do I have to maintain homeowners insurance during the agreement’s term?

Unlock requires you to maintain hazard insurance equal to the replacement cost of your home. Unlock must continue to be named on all property insurance policies as a “mortgagee” and/or “additional interest” throughout the term of your HEA. 

Am I eligible for an HEA if my home is in a trust?

Yes, as long as the trustor lives in the home as their primary residence, and all trustees and trustors sign the home equity agreement at closing. 

 

How is Unlock different from a 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 Unlock 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 your home equity. An Unlock agreement is not a loan, is impacted by home value and does not consume all your home equity.

How much can I get from Unlock?

Once you create an account, we’ll provide an estimate of the maximum cash available.

In general, the maximum amount of cash available from Unlock is $500,000.  The specific amount we can offer you depends on four things:

  • Your home’s current value. In general, 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.  In general, the less housing debt you have, the more cash is available.
  • Your credit history. A good credit track record may qualify for more cash.
  • The use of the property. We can typically offer more cash when the home is your primary residence.

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.

See the Unlock Product Guide for more details.

Who owns the home?

You do!  Unlock secures its interest by placing a lien on the property but has no rights of occupancy.  We do not go on title except in rare circumstances.

See the Unlock Product Guide for more details.

Which states are you available in?

We are currently helping homeowners access their equity in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state.

 

How much can you Unlock?

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