Home Equity & HELOC Calculator
Determine how much cash you can borrow against your home's current value.
70% (Conservative)
75% (Standard)
80% (Common)
85% (Aggressive)
90% (Credit Unions)
Excellent (740+)
Good (680-739)
Fair (620-679)
Total Home Equity:
$0
Max Borrowing Limit:
$0
How Your Home Equity Borrowing Power is Calculated
A Home Equity Loan or HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) allows you to use the portion of your home that you truly "own" as collateral. Lenders generally do not allow you to borrow 100% of the home's value. Most traditional banks cap the Combined Loan-to-Value (CLTV) ratio at 80% to 85%.
The Formula
(Market Value × Max LTV %) – Current Mortgage Balance = Available Equity to Borrow
Key Factors for Approval
- Appraised Value: Professional appraisal determines the real-world value of your property.
- CLTV Ratio: The sum of all loans on the property divided by the value. If you have a $400k home and want an 80% CLTV, the total of your first mortgage and your equity loan cannot exceed $320k.
- Debt-to-Income (DTI): Lenders verify that your monthly income can support the new loan payment.
- Credit Score: A score of 740+ typically secures the lowest interest rates and highest LTV limits.
Example Calculation
Suppose your home is worth $500,000 and your current mortgage balance is $300,000. If a lender permits an 85% CLTV ratio:
- $500,000 × 0.85 = $425,000 (Maximum total debt allowed)
- $425,000 – $300,000 (Existing balance) = $125,000 (Your max borrowing power)