HELOC 和房屋净值贷款利率今日（2026 年 4 月 28 日）：为何房屋净值利率与购买或再融资利率不同

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If you’re shopping for the lowest home equity rates, you have probably realized that they’re higher than purchase and refinance rates. The reason is that home equity interest rates are “built” differently. Second mortgage rates are calculated by adding a margin to the index rate. Below, we explain what the latest home equity loan and HELOC rates are and how lenders determine the rates they charge.

HELOC and home equity loan rates Tuesday, April 28, 2026

According to real estate analytics firm Curinos, the average adjustable rate HELOC is 7.24%, up four basis points from one month ago. The 52-week HELOC low was 7.19% in mid-March. The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.37%, down 10 basis points from last month. The low was 7.36%, also in mid-March.

Rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

HELOC or home equity loan: How to decide

Choosing between a HELOC and a HEL is easy when you consider what you're using it for. A HELOC allows you to draw cash from your approved line of credit, pay it off, then tap it again. A home equity loan gives you a lump sum.

With mortgage rates still above 6%, homeowners with home equity and a favorable primary mortgage rate well below that may feel frustrated by not being able to access the growing value in their home. For those who are unwilling to give up their low home loan rate, a second mortgage in the form of a HELOC or HEL can be an appealing solution.

HELOC and home equity loan interest rates: What to look for

Home equity interest rates work differently than primary mortgage rates. Second mortgage rates are based on an index rate plus a margin. That index is often the prime rate, which today is down to 6.75%. If a lender added 0.75% as a margin, the HELOC would have a variable rate beginning at 7.50%.

A home equity loan may have a different margin because it is a fixed-interest product.

Lenders have flexibility with pricing on second mortgage products, such as HELOCs or home equity loans, so it pays to shop around. Your rate will depend on your credit score, the amount of debt you carry, and the amount of your credit you're drawing compared to the value of your home.

Most importantly, HELOC rates can include below-market "introductory" rates that may only last for six months or one year. After that, your interest rate will become adjustable, likely beginning at a substantially higher rate.

Again, because a home equity loan has a fixed rate, it's unlikely to have an introductory "teaser" rate.

How to find the best home equity lender

The best HELOC lenders offer:

- Low fees

- A fixed-rate option

- And generous credit lines

A HELOC allows you to easily use your home equity in any way and in any amount you choose, up to your credit line limit. Pull some out; pay it back. Repeat.

You should also find and consider a lender offering a below-market introductory rate. For example, FourLeaf Credit Union is currently offering a HELOC APR of 5.99% for 12 months on lines up to $500,000. That introductory rate will convert to a variable rate as low as 6.75% in one year, with a “prime rate for life” thereafter.