EquityWise turns home-equity math into clear answers. This page explains how our calculators work and where our information comes from.
How the calculators work
Our tools use standard lending math. Home equity is your property value minus what you owe; borrowing power is your lender's combined loan-to-value (CLTV) cap applied to the home value, minus your current balance. Payment tools use the standard amortization formula, and HELOC tools split interest-only draw periods from principal-and-interest repayment. Results assume the figures and caps you enter.
What the estimates cannot know
They cannot know a specific lender's underwriting, your exact rate, an appraiser's valuation, or closing costs. Treat outputs as educational estimates, not loan offers.
Where our information comes from
Our guides draw on authoritative, publicly available sources, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the IRS (for interest-deductibility rules), and widely documented mortgage-lending practices. Rules and rates change over time.
Accuracy
Content is dated and reviewed periodically. Spot an error? Tell us. See our editorial policy.