Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) allow homeowners to tap into the value of their homes. A home equity loan is a fixed-rate, lump-sum loan that allows homeowners to borrow up to 85% of their home’s value and pay that amount back in monthly installments.

What the market trends are: With current HELOC rates slightly lower, they could be the cheaper option for short-term borrowing, but rising rates could make them more expensive over time. If you prefer stability, a home equity loan's fixed rate might be worth the extra cost.

HELOC rates again came in lower this week, with the the $30,000 home equity line of credit dropping to an average of 8.36 percent — closing out 2024 with a record low for the year, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. In contrast, the average $30,000 home equity loan rate remained the same, at 8.41 percent.