Learn how to effectively use a home equity loan, turning the equity in your home into a powerful financial tool for improvement projects, debt consolidation, and more.

Do you need a home appraisal to qualify for a HELOC or home equity loan? While you've been focused on everything else life throws at you, your property has been working behind the scenes. Most people ...

A home improvement loan refers to a way to use a loan rather than a type of loan, as you can use any number of loan types to finance the improvements. You might take out a home equity loan or line of ...

Matt Richardson is the senior managing editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com. He writes and edits content about personal finance ranging from savings to investing to insurance.

Home equity is at historic highs. If you've faithfully paid your mortgage over the years, you've likely built up quite a bit of it yourself. According to the Federal Reserve, American homeowners are ...

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a financial tool that allows homeowners to leverage the equity in their home.

While you've been focused on everything else life throws at you, your property has been working behind the scenes. Most people build equity as they pay down their mortgage and property values rise.