Hometap expands home equity investment product in 6 new states. Published September 30, 2026, 6:20 p.m. EDT Home equity investment platform Hometap is looking to capitalize on home equity to offset surging mortgage rates by expanding to six new states. The fintech launched its home equity investment product in Alabama, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Wisconsin, bringing Hometap's availability to 27 states, the company announced Wednesday. Home equity lending accounted for 17.5% of all mortgage transactions last year, while the number of mortgage loans originated fell by 50% from 2021 to 2025. Hometap joins Better, FirstClose and Nada in looking to expand its market share. Hometap maintains that its product is not a mortgage loan. It provides homeowners with cash in exchange for a share of their home's future value, with no monthly payments during the investment term. Homeowners have up to 10 years to settle the investment through a home sale, refinance or buyout, and can use the funds for a range of financial goals. It also allows homeowners to keep the terms they already have. "Every expansion decision we make starts with homeowner need, and these six states sent us a clear signal," CEO Jeffrey Glass said in the release. "Nearly 5,000 homeowners here reached out over the past few years looking for a flexible alternative to traditional financing. Their situations look different from one state to the next, but the common thread is the same: they've built real equity, and they want a way to use it that doesn't add to their monthly budget." All six of the new states have seen notable increases in home equity over the past few years. Alabama homeowners have seen equity more than double since 2020 but struggle with rising insurance bills, as do households in Kentucky, Nebraska and New Mexico, according to the release. How rising housing costs are reshaping consumer risk and financial capacity. This compounds with mortgage rates that now hover above 7%, and the lock-in effect has kept many homeowners from refinancing to access equity. Additionally, 35% of traditional equity-extraction mortgage applications were denied in 2024, mostly due to credit score or debt-to-income ratio requirements, according to the Urban Institute. Hometap has now added 12 states this year, following the inclusions of Georgia, Montana, Tennessee, Idaho and Delaware in June. "This is what thoughtful growth looks like to us," Glass said. "We expand where homeowners actually need another option. That means doing the legal, regulatory, operational and homeowner demand due diligence in every state before we ever launch. Most of the homeowners we talk to are looking for access to their own equity, on their own terms." Legal troubles. In the midst of its expansion, Hometap has faced a wave of class action lawsuits over its shared-appreciation contract product that litigants described as "predatory and abusive." Consumers accused the company of violating the Truth in Lending Act for failing to treat their product as a mortgage loan. Hometap has argued that its product is not a mortgage loan. These suits came after a state regulatory sued Hometap for allegedly violating consumer protection laws by using deceptive marketing that targeted vulnerable households and put them at future risk of foreclosure. Colin McNamara is a reporter for National Mortgage News. He recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and minor in general business... Read full bio

Home equity investment now available to nearly half of U.S. Homeowners as hometap expands to six more states. Sep 30, 2026, 09:00 ET Alabama, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wisconsin join the map as homeowners with growing equity look for ways to use it without adding a monthly bill throughout the life of the investment BOSTON, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Homeowners across the U.S. have something in common: many families are sitting on more wealth in their homes than ever before while facing a growing list of expenses that make day-to-day finances feel tighter. Their homes have gained real value, but rising costs, elevated borrowing rates, tight lending standards, and existing low-rate mortgages they have no desire to give up, have made it harder to put that value to work. That's why today, Hometap, the Boston-based financial technology company pioneering home equity financing solutions, is launching its home equity investment (HEI) product in six new states: Alabama, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. The expansion brings Hometap to 27 states, making its home equity investment now available to nearly half of U.S. homeowners. "Every expansion decision we make starts with homeowner need, and these six states sent us a clear signal," said Jeffrey Glass, CEO of Hometap. "Nearly 5,000 homeowners here reached out over the past few years looking for a flexible alternative to traditional financing. Their situations look different from one state to the next, but the common thread is the same: they've built real equity, and they want a way to use it that doesn't add to their monthly budget." The timing matters. Mortgage and HELOC rates remain elevated, and the lock-in effect is keeping many homeowners from refinancing to access their equity. Traditional financing also turns away many applicants: according to the Urban Institute, 35% of traditional equity-extraction mortgage applications were denied in 2024, most commonly because of credit score or debt-to-income ratio requirements. In Alabama, homeowners have seen their equity more than double since 2020, but many are also facing insurance bills that now exceed their annual property taxes. In Kentucky, homeowners gained some of the largest equity increases in the country, yet rising insurance costs are taking a bigger bite out of household budgets. Nebraska families may be watching their home values grow, but they also contend with some of the nation's highest insurance premiums alongside above-average property taxes. In New Hampshire, longtime residents have benefited from soaring home values, while many younger families face a widening gap between home prices and local incomes. In New Mexico, homeowners have built substantial equity, even as insurance availability and affordability have become growing concerns. And in Wisconsin, many households are equity-rich on paper, but rising property taxes, winter energy costs, and the loss of certain federal energy incentives continue to put pressure on monthly budgets. Hometap's HEI provides homeowners with cash in exchange for a share of their home's future value, with no monthly payments during the investment term. Homeowners have up to 10 years to settle the investment through a home sale, refinance, or buyout and can use the funds for a range of financial goals. Because Hometap doesn't require homeowners to refinance or change the rate or term on their existing mortgage, they keep the terms they already have. Hometap has now added 12 states in 2026 across two expansions and has tripled its state footprint since 2019. This marks the company's second state expansion this year, following the addition of Georgia, Montana, Tennessee, Idaho, and Delaware in June. "This is what thoughtful growth looks like to us," Glass added. "We expand where homeowners actually need another option. That means doing the legal, regulatory, operational and homeowner demand due diligence in every state before we ever launch. Most of the homeowners we talk to are looking for access to their own equity, on their own terms. We're glad to be able to offer that in six more states." About Hometap Founded in 2017, Hometap is a Boston-based fintech company on a mission to make homeownership less stressful and more accessible. Starting with its industry-leading home equity investment product, the company has helped nearly 30,000 homeowners across the U.S. access their home equity without having to take on additional monthly payments or sell their home. Hometap expanded its suite of innovative financial products and services in 2022 and introduced a centralized dashboard that allows homeowners to easily track their home equity, receive guidance and support from experts, and protect and grow the value of their home. Learn more at hometap.com. SOURCE Hometap