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Home Equity Calculator
Your home equity is your most valuable financial asset. Calculate how much you have now and see how it grows through appreciation and mortgage paydown over the coming years.
Educational calculators — always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.
Use a recent appraisal, Zillow estimate, or recent comparable sales.
From your most recent mortgage statement.
Found on your mortgage statement or closing documents.
A 30-year loan started 5 years ago has about 300 months remaining.
US average is ~3–4%. Your local market may differ.
See how your equity grows over time.
Equity in 10 years
$416,154
Up from $170,000 today
Where Your Money Goes
Future Snapshot (Year 10)
Projections assume consistent appreciation rate. Actual home values fluctuate. Consult a real estate professional for a current market valuation.
Your Saved Scenarios
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What you'll need
- ·Current home value (Zillow, appraisal, or recent comps)
- ·Remaining mortgage balance
- ·Current mortgage interest rate and months remaining
- ·Expected annual appreciation rate
- ·How many years ahead to project
What you'll get
- ✓Current equity — Your equity today
- ✓Future equity projection — At your chosen year
- ✓Appreciation vs paydown — Where growth comes from
- ✓Usable equity (85% CLTV) — Available for HELOC or cash-out
How it works
Enter home value
Use your Zestimate, recent appraisal, or comparable sales for current market value.
Enter mortgage balance
Find your current payoff balance on your mortgage statement.
See borrowable equity
Most lenders allow 80–90% combined LTV — your equity minus that buffer is accessible.
Borrowable Equity by Home Value
| Home Value | Balance | Equity | Borrowable (80% CLTV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $200,000 | $100,000 | $40,000 |
| $400,000 | $250,000 | $150,000 | $70,000 |
| $500,000 | $300,000 | $200,000 | $100,000 |
| $600,000 | $350,000 | $250,000 | $130,000 |
Borrowable equity = (Home value × 80%) − mortgage balance.
State guides
How this varies by state
Property taxes, insurance costs, first-time buyer programs, and closing costs differ significantly across states. See local data for your state.
California
Texas
Florida
New York
Illinois
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Georgia
North Carolina
Michigan
New Jersey
Virginia
Washington
Arizona
Colorado
Tennessee
Frequently asked questions
How is home equity calculated?+
Home equity is your home's current market value minus your remaining mortgage balance. For example, if your home is worth $400,000 and you owe $250,000, you have $150,000 in equity (37.5%). Equity grows as your home appreciates and as you pay down your mortgage.
How much equity can I borrow against?+
Most lenders allow you to borrow up to 85% of your home's value minus what you owe (the combined loan-to-value, or CLTV). So if your home is worth $400,000, you could borrow up to $340,000 total (85%) minus your current balance. This difference is your accessible equity.
Does making extra mortgage payments build equity faster?+
Yes — extra payments go directly to principal, reducing your balance and increasing equity. Early in your mortgage when the balance is high, even small extra payments meaningfully reduce future interest and build equity faster. You also avoid paying interest on those reduced balances in future months.
How does home appreciation affect equity?+
Home appreciation increases your equity dollar-for-dollar on the full home value, not just your down payment — this is leverage at work. A home you bought for $400,000 with 10% down ($40,000) that appreciates 5% gains $20,000 in equity on a $40,000 investment — a 50% return on cash invested. Over longer periods, appreciation typically drives more equity growth than mortgage paydown.
Can I lose equity in my home?+
Yes — if your home's market value drops below your mortgage balance, you have negative equity (underwater). This happened broadly during the 2008–2012 housing correction. You can also lose equity by taking out a second mortgage or HELOC. Maintaining a reasonable LTV (below 80%) provides a buffer against market downturns.
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Home Equity Calculator is built and maintained by the RealCostIQ editorial team. Cost ranges and rates are checked against published industry data and contractor quotes, and revised when the underlying figures move. Read our data methodology or more about who builds this. Every calculation runs in your browser — no account, and none of your inputs are stored.
Cost ranges and rates here are checked against contractor quotes and published industry data. If a number still looks off, email Support@RealCostIQ.com and we'll review and fix it.