Home Equity Loans vs HELOCs: What’s the Difference?

Why This Matters If you’ve built up equity in your home, you might be considering ways to tap into it for big expenses like renovations, debt consolidation, or education costs. Two of the most common options are Home Equity Loans and HELOCs (Home Equity Lines of Credit). At first glance, they might sound the same — both let you borrow against the value of your home. But how they work, how you repay them, and which one fits best into your financial plan can look very different. Understanding th