How much equity do I need?

Most home equity lenders cap combined loan-to-value at about 85% (cash-out at 80%), so you generally need to keep at least 15-20% equity in the home.

Will it touch my first mortgage?

A HELOC or home equity loan sits behind your existing mortgage and leaves its rate alone. Only a cash-out refinance replaces your first mortgage.

Tap Equity to Pay Off Credit Cards

Tap Equity to Pay Off Credit Cards is more doable than many homeowners assume. Below is what lenders actually require and how to put your strongest file forward.

The short answer

Rolling credit card balances into a home equity loan or HELOC swaps double-digit unsecured rates for a much lower secured rate, which can save substantial interest. The caution is twofold: the interest is not tax-deductible, and you should avoid running the cards back up, since you have now put your home on the line for that debt.

What home equity lenders look for

Equity: keep at least 15-20% — combined loan-to-value caps near 85% (cash-out at 80%).
Credit: roughly 620+ to qualify; 680+ unlocks the best HELOC pricing.
Debt-to-income: generally under ~43-50% including the new payment.
The right tool: a HELOC or home equity loan keeps your first mortgage; a cash-out refinance replaces it.

Rates and equity rules change. Join the free Cashout Equity alerts to hear when the numbers that affect this move.

Your next steps

Estimate your value and current balance to gauge equity, pull your credit, and get quotes from two or three lenders the same day. Then choose the product that fits — flexible (HELOC), fixed lump sum (home equity loan), or full refinance (cash-out).

See How Much Equity You Can Tap

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Frequently Asked Questions

Tap Equity to Pay Off Credit Cards — is it possible in 2026?: Rolling credit card balances into a home equity loan or HELOC swaps double-digit unsecured rates for a much lower secured rate, which can save substantial interest. The caution is twofold: the interest is not tax-deductible, and you should avoid running the cards back up, since you have now put your home on the line for that debt.
How much equity do I need?: Most home equity lenders cap combined loan-to-value at about 85% (cash-out at 80%), so you generally need to keep at least 15-20% equity in the home.
Will it touch my first mortgage?: A HELOC or home equity loan sits behind your existing mortgage and leaves its rate alone. Only a cash-out refinance replaces your first mortgage.