California Home Equity Line of Credit Rates

Rates provided by BestCashCow are based on loan amount of $50,000 and a variety of factors including credit score and loan to value ratios. For specific requirements please check with the lender. Rates may change at any time.

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Rates

Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) are loans secured against the equity in your home, They are typically less costly and more flexible than home equity loans.  Since they are lines of credit, the borrower only draws the amount that they need and only pays interest on that amount. The amortization schedule ordinarily does not require payback of the principal drawn until year 10 (HELOCs are, therefore, technically “interest only” loans until that time).

HELOC lenders will lend up to 90% the value of the equity in your home and the typical HELOC line is from $200,000 up to $500,000.

How to Find the Best HELOC Rate

As you see in the table above, the pricing of a home equity line of credit varies from lender to lender.  HELOC rates are based on the prime lending rate (“prime”) - the rate that commercial banks charge their most creditworthy customers.  Most lenders add on a margin above the prime rate. The average HELOC rate is 5.74%.

Risk to HELOCs

HELOC rates fluctuate. Repayment terms are tied to the prime lending rate and that rate is likely to move up – perhaps dramatically - over the next few years as the Federal Reserve raises the Fed Funds rate. A 10-year home equity loan or a 15-year home equity loan, however, may be a safer option at this time. Depending on your personal circumstances, you should also consider mortgage refinance options.