HEI & HEA — Home Equity Solutions

Access your home's equity without monthly payments or interest. No income verification, and credit requirements start at a 500 FICO score. Keep full ownership of your home.

What Is a Home Equity Investment?

HEI — Home Equity Investment

Receive a lump sum of cash (commonly 10–20% of your home's value) in exchange for a share of your home's future appreciation. No monthly payments. No interest. You keep full ownership and continue living in your home.

HEA — Home Equity Agreement

Similar to HEI, but the investor buys a stake in your home's current value — sharing in both appreciation and depreciation. This can lower your effective cost if appreciation is modest.

How It Works

Apply

Quick application — no income documents, and credit requirements start at a 500 FICO

Appraisal

Your home is appraised to determine current market value

Receive Cash

Get your lump sum — use it for anything you need

Settle Later

Settle when you sell, refinance, or at end of term (10–30 years)

HEI/HEA vs Traditional Options

Feature	HEI / HEA	HELOC	Cash-Out Refi	Reverse Mortgage
Monthly Payments	None	Yes	Yes	None
Interest Charged	None	Yes	Yes	Yes (accrues)
Income Required	No	Yes	Yes	No
Credit Score Required	500+	600+	500+	Flexible
Age Requirement	None	None	None	62+
Keep Full Equity	Share appreciation	Yes	Yes	Share equity

Who Is This Best For?

Retirees & Fixed Income

Access equity without adding monthly payments to a fixed budget. No income verification needed.

Self-Employed Borrowers

No tax returns, no W-2s, no income documentation required. Qualification is based on your home’s equity and credit history rather than income.

Debt Consolidation

Pay off high-interest credit cards, medical bills, or other debt — without taking on new monthly payments.

Home Improvements

Fund renovations that increase your home's value — potentially offsetting the investor's share through forced appreciation.

Try the HEI Calculator Learn Key Terms

Qualifying Guidelines

There is no income or employment documentation, but there are credit and equity requirements. These are the same rules the calculator applies, so you can check where you stand before we ever speak.

Program Terms

Minimum home value$200,000

Minimum advance$50,000

Maximum advance25% of home value, within the OLTV limits

Origination fee4.99% of the advance, deducted from your proceeds

Return cap17.99% annualized on the investor’s return, excluding the origination fee

Monthly paymentsNone until settlement

FICO Score & Maximum OLTV

FICO Score	Max OLTV	Lien Position
500–539	60%	1st & 2nd eligible — 3rd lien ineligible
540–579	65%	All lien positions eligible
580+	75%	All lien positions eligible

Adjustments apply on top of the standard maximum and are cumulative: −10% non-owner occupied, −5% third lien position.
OLTV = the option investment plus all outstanding loans, divided by the home’s value.
Your lien position depends on what else is recorded against the home: an HEI takes first position on a home owned free and clear, second behind a mortgage, third behind a mortgage and a HELOC.

Bankruptcy, Foreclosure & Collections

Category	Requirement
Chapter 7	No less than 4 years since dismissal or discharge
Chapter 13	No less than 2 years from discharge, or 4 years from dismissal
Foreclosure	No foreclosure within the last 7 years
Collections	Non-mortgage collection accounts over $500 must be paid off at or prior to closing

Collections are a condition to close rather than a decline — paying the balances at or before closing satisfies the requirement.

Requirements vary by provider and are subject to underwriting. Nothing here is a commitment to lend.

Check Your Scenario Documents You’ll Need

Documents You’ll Need

Three documents are needed on every file. Everything else depends on your situation — most homeowners send only a few of the items below. I will tell you exactly which ones apply to you before you gather anything.

Always required

Photo ID

A valid, unexpired driver’s license, state ID, passport, or permanent resident card for every owner on title, plus any non-borrowing spouse. Send the front and back with all four corners visible, showing your current address.

Mortgage statements

Your most recent statement for every active mortgage and HELOC on the property, showing the current balance, payment status, and loan details. A timeshare is handled differently — its contract is used so it can be excluded from the property.

Homeowners insurance declarations page

A current, unexpired policy declarations page showing your coverage limits, effective dates, and policyholder details.

If your mortgage has special terms

Only if these apply to a loan on the property

Promissory note

If any mortgage is an adjustable rate, carries a balloon payment, or is interest-only.

Mortgage riders

If riders are attached to the recorded deed of trust — ARM, balloon, or HOA and condo riders.

Loan modification or deferral agreement

If you have ever modified your mortgage or deferred past-due payments. The balance on the agreement needs to match your current mortgage statement.

Payoff demand statement

If a senior loan balance cannot be confirmed from the monthly statement, or when an exact payoff figure is needed.

Reinstatement quote

If you are behind on your mortgage and plan to use the proceeds to bring it current. It has to come from your loan servicer and cover the expected closing date.

Title, liens, and the property

Only if these exist on your property

HOA statement

Your most recent statement showing dues are paid current. Any unpaid dues are collected through escrow at closing.

Lien release or satisfaction documents

A reconveyance, paid-in-full letter, or unconditional waiver showing that earlier liens or judgments have been satisfied.

HERO or PACE loan statements

If you have energy retrofit financing on the home. Subordinate liens that would take priority have to be paid off before or at closing.

Solar agreements

The full lease, power purchase agreement, or loan contract, along with a UCC release or subordination. If the installation was completed within the last 180 days, an unconditional waiver of final payment from the contractor is also needed.

If your marital status or vesting changed

Only if title no longer matches your situation

Marriage certificate

If you have married since the last recorded deed.

Divorce decree

The finalized court order, if you have divorced since you acquired the property.

Death certificate

A certified copy if a co-owner or spouse has passed away. It is recorded at closing.

If the home is held by a trust or an LLC

Only if title is not in your personal name

Certification of trust

Confirms the trustee has authority to sign the agreement.

LLC documentation

A certificate of good standing issued within the last 30 days, the signed operating agreement, EIN or tax ID confirmation, and signatory consents where they apply.

Requirements vary by provider and by what shows up on title and credit, so your final list may differ. Nothing here is a commitment to lend.

Ask Which Documents You Need Pre-Qual Checklist

Common Questions

What is a home equity investment (HEI)?

A home equity investment gives you a lump sum today in exchange for a share of your home's future value. It is not a loan, so there is no monthly payment and no interest rate. You settle up at the end of the term, or when you sell or refinance, out of the home's value at that time.

What is the difference between an HEI and a HELOC?

A HELOC is debt: you borrow, you pay interest, and you make monthly payments. An HEI is an equity share: no monthly payment and no interest, but you give up a portion of the home's future appreciation. Which is cheaper depends entirely on how the property performs over the term.

Do HEI programs require income or a high credit score?

Requirements are generally lighter than for a mortgage, because qualification leans on the property and your equity rather than on debt-to-income ratios. Providers still review credit and the property, and they set minimum and maximum amounts. Specific thresholds vary by provider.

Ready to Get Started?

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