HELOC Rates Fall Back, Loans Inch Up

Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate

Last week’s HELOC spike was short-lived. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit fell 80 basis points to 8.10 percent, back to the level it was two weeks prior, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. The rise and fall largely reflects a major lender in the field ending, and then resuming, its low introductory rates. Meanwhile, the average rate on the benchmark 5-year $30,000 home equity loan ticked one basis point higher to 8.23 percent, still holding close to its lowest levels this year.

As promo home equity rate offers come and go, Bankrate Financial Analyst Stephen Kates advise homeowners to hold steady. “As with many lending promotions, it’s best to take advantage of a lower rate when you already have a plan to borrow,” he says. “Don’t look for a reason to spend just because a tempting offer is available.”

What’s driving home equity rates today?

Rates on HELOCs and home equity loans are being driven primarily by two factors: lender competition for new customers and the Federal Reserve’s actions. The Fed especially impacts the cost of variable-rate products like HELOCs.

Both HELOC and home equity loan rates have declined substantially from their 2024 highs, although HELOC rates have rebounded somewhat from this spring, when they were under 8 percent.

Current home equity rates vs. rates on other types of credit

Because HELOCs and home equity loans use your home as collateral, their rates tend to be much less expensive — more akin to current mortgage rates — than the interest charged on credit cards or personal loans, which aren’t secured.

While average rates are useful to know, the individual offer you receive on a particular HELOC or new home equity loan reflects additional factors like your creditworthiness and financials. Then there’s the value of your home and the size of your ownership stake. Lenders generally limit all your home loans (including your mortgage) to a maximum 80 to 85 percent of your home’s worth.

Keep in mind: Even if you’re able to secure a favorable rate from a lender, home equity products are still relatively high-cost debt.

Unlock your home’s value

A fixed-rate home equity loan offers a lump-sum payout and a predictable repayment schedule.

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• Methodology
  

  The Bankrate.com national survey of large lenders is conducted weekly. To conduct the National Average survey, Bankrate obtains rate information from the 10 largest banks and thrifts in 10 large U.S. markets. In the Bankrate.com national survey, our Market Analysis team gathers rates and/or yields on banking deposits, loans and mortgages. We’ve conducted this survey in the same manner for more than 30 years, and because it’s consistently done the way it is, it gives an accurate national apples-to-apples comparison.