Personal Finance
Your Home Equity Can Do More Than You Think — If You Tap It the Smart Way
Your equity can support upgrades, goals and everyday costs — all without resetting your mortgage or adding any monthly payments.
Home equity is one of the most powerful financial tools many homeowners have — but most people think of it only when they’re selling or refinancing. The truth? Your equity can work much harder for you while you remain in your home — helping you upgrade your space, cover important expenses, or rebalance your monthly budget without restarting your mortgage.
The challenge is that traditional borrowing options often fall short. Cash-out refinances can force you to give up your low rate, home equity loans usually come with steep monthly payments, and HELOCs can be unpredictable if interest rates rise.
That’s why more homeowners are exploring a different approach: Unison’s Equity Sharing Agreement, which lets you leverage your home’s future equity with no monthly payments required, no interest charges and the ability to keep full ownership. The term is 30 years, but homeowners can end the agreement earlier if they sell their home or choose to buy it out. It’s a flexible option that gives families room to tackle the upgrades and priorities that matter most.
Why Traditional Equity Options Don’t Always Fit
If you’ve ever looked into borrowing against your home, you’ve likely run into one of these roadblocks:
- Cash-out refinance — Resets your mortgage, raises your loan amount, and may increase your monthly payment — all while adding closing costs.
- HELOC — Provides flexibility, but variable interest rates can make budgeting unpredictable, especially if rates increase.
- Home equity loan — Delivers a lump sum upfront, but comes with fixed payments of principal + interest — often meaning a much larger monthly obligation.
These tools work for plenty of people, but they can feel limiting if you’re aiming for financial breathing room, not more pressure.
A Smarter Way To Use Your Equity — Without Refinancing Your Mortgage
Unison’s Equity Sharing Agreement is built for homeowners who want access to their equity without taking on additional monthly payments and preserving their existing mortgage rate. It’s not a refinance, and it’s not a typical second mortgage — it’s a modern tool designed with flexibility in mind.
Here’s how it works:
- It’s not a loan. Unison gives you a lump-sum of cash today in exchange for a portion of your home’s future appreciation.
- During the 30-year term, there are no monthly payments and no interest
- Live your life–the funds are yours to use however you need
- You can end the agreement early if you buy Unison out or if you happen to sell your home
- At the end of the term, you pay the original amount plus a portion of the home’s appreciation (or depreciation)*
- Access up to $500,000, depending on your equity
- Get pre-qualified in under 2 minutes with no credit impact
*Unison will not share in any decrease in value if you sell your home within five years of the agreement or if you buy them out without selling your home.
This structure of no monthly payments gives you room in your monthly budget without giving up your current mortgage rate.
That financial flexibility opens the door to more possibilities than most homeowners realize.
What Your Equity Can Help You Do
1. Make your home work better for you — Whether you’re renovating a dated kitchen, replacing worn flooring, or investing in energy-efficient upgrades, a lump-sum cash payment gives you the freedom to take on meaningful improvements without adding a new monthly bill.
2. Smooth out monthly cash flow — From rising household costs to tuition, child care, or medical expenses, life is expensive. Because the Equity Sharing Agreement has no monthly payments and no interest, you can put more of your existing income toward the priorities that matter most.
3. Handle big expenses without disrupting your mortgage — With Unison's Equity Sharing Agreement, you keep your current mortgage and rate. There’s no refinancing, no added debt and no interest charges — just flexible access to cash when you need it, without disrupting the loan you already have in place.
4. Stay in your home longer — Whether you’re planning to retire in place or simply want financial flexibility without moving, the Equity Sharing Agreement gives you cash now with no monthly payments, no interest and full ownership. It’s a way to invest in your home — not leave it.
Planning a Renovation? Keep the Value You Add
One standout advantage of Unison’s Equity Sharing Agreement is its Remodeling Adjustment, which ensures you benefit from the value you create through eligible home upgrades.
Here’s how it works:
- After three years, eligible renovations can be assessed by an independent appraiser.
- If licensed contractors and proper documentation are provided, the appraiser determines how much value your improvements added.
- That amount is excluded from Unison’s shared appreciation calculation.
In other words: When you invest in upgrades, you keep 100% of the new value you created. A remodeled bathroom, new windows, updated siding, solar panels — the appreciation from those improvements stays entirely with you.
Why This Modern Approach Might Be a Fit for You
Unison’s Equity Sharing Agreement may be a strong option if:
- You want to access equity without refinancing your current mortgage.
- You’re looking for no monthly payments
- You need flexibility for everyday expenses, renovations, tuition or medical bills.
- You want to upgrade your home and keep the value those improvements create.
- You prefer a solution with no interest
- You want a way to unlock equity that feels manageable — not overwhelming.
Unlocking your home’s value doesn’t have to come with higher stress. When used wisely, your home equity can support your goals, ease financial strain and help you build toward the future you want.
Discover how Unison’s Equity Sharing Agreement can help you tap your equity in a smarter way. Learn more today.
Sponsored by Unison. This is promotional content and not financial advice. Consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Important Disclosures: The Unison Equity Sharing Agreement is offered by Unison Agreement Corp. and is not a loan. Available in select states only (currently 26 states ; see unison.com for details and eligibility). No monthly payments or interest charges, but a 3.9% origination fee plus standard third-party closing costs (e.g., appraisal, title, escrow) apply. Pre-qualification involves a soft credit check (no impact to your credit score) and income verification to ensure you can comfortably continue owning your home. Credit scores 620+ (mid-FICO) welcome. Unison shares in your home’s future change in value (appreciation or depreciation)—not your existing equity—and both parties benefit if the home value rises or share in losses if it declines. Payment occurs upon sale, buyout, refinance, or after 30 years. Home values can fluctuate; consult a financial advisor. Terms subject to change.
