Home Equity
Home equity is the portion of your home you actually own — its current market value minus what you still owe on the mortgage. It grows two ways: as you pay down the loan's principal and as the home appreciates in value, making it a cornerstone of most households' net worth.
You can borrow against equity with a home equity loan or HELOC, and you realize it as cash when you sell (after selling costs). Early in a mortgage, equity builds slowly because most of each payment goes to interest — the amortization schedule shows exactly how the split shifts over time.
Put it to work
Mortgage Calculator
Estimate your monthly mortgage payment with taxes, insurance, PMI and HOA — plus total interest and a full amortization breakdown. Free, fast, no signup.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Should you rent or buy? Compare the two on a net-worth basis over the years you'll stay — including appreciation, closing and selling costs, and the return on money you'd invest instead.
Amortization Calculator
Build a complete amortization schedule for any loan: payment, year-by-year principal vs interest split, and the effect of extra payments.