Home equity calculator

Finder's simple equity calculator lets you quickly work out how much wealth you have in your home and what you can do with it.

To use Finder's simple equity calculator just enter an estimate of your property's current market value and how much is left on your home loan.

Estimated property value
$
Current loan balance
$

How to calculate your equity

Calculating the equity in your home is easy. You just need to work out the difference between your property value and how much is left on your mortgage.

Property value - remaining loan amount = equity

Example: Your home is currently valued at $600,000. You have $200,000 left on your mortgage.

$600,000 minus $200,000 = $400,000 equity

Now, you won't know the exact value of your home until you actually sell it. But you can estimate the value of your home by looking at a property listing site and checking recent sales in your suburb.

Make sure you look at similar properties to yours to get a clearer estimate. A real estate agent can often give you a free appraisal too.

How to find your loan balance

You can check your current loan balance on your most recent home loan statement or by logging onto your lender's app or online banking platform.

Must read

Finder's equity calculator gives you 2 numbers: your total equity and your useable equity.

Useable equity is how much of your home's equity a lender will let you borrow. This matters if you're trying to borrow some extra money with a home loan top up or line of credit.

Most lenders typically let you borrow around 80% of your home's equity instead of the full amount. But some lenders may be more conservative with this, restricting you to 70% of your total equity.

Example: Calculating your current home equity

  • You bought a $900,000 home 4 years ago with a 20% deposit.
  • Your loan amount was $720,000.
  • Your home is now worth $950,000 and you've repaid $20,000 of your loan principal.
  • This means your remaining loan balance is $700,000.
  • Your current equity is $250,000, or $950,000 minus $700,000.
  • Your usable equity (80%) is $200,000.

How to access your equity

Here are 3 simple ways via which you can access your home equity:

  • Redraw. The simplest way to build your home equity is to make payments above your minimum monthly repayments. You can then access a portion of this equity by redrawing the extra funds. Redraw restrictions may apply depending on your lender.
  • Refinancing. If you refinance your home loan to a new one you can apply for a credit increase with your bank. When the new loan is approved, the extra money is added to your loan balance.
  • Home equity loan/line of credit loan. A line of credit is a loan which extends you a set credit limit based on your equity. These loans allow you to withdraw small amounts or the whole balance whenever you like. You only pay interest on the money you withdraw.

What can I use my home equity for?

  • Finance home renovations. You can use your home equity to fund some renovations to improve your place. You may also use the equity to apply for an additional loan and use the funds to purchase a new car or other investments.
  • Fund a purchase or holiday. You can use your equity for any purpose, such as buying a car or taking a holiday.
  • Building wealth. Unlocking the equity in your home can help you improve your lifestyle by enabling you to invest in property. Equity in your home can be used as security to buy a second property, enabling you to accumulate wealth.

Using your equity means paying interest and growing your debt

When calculating how much home equity you can access there are a few factors you should take into consideration:

  • Increase in monthly interest. Accessing your home equity to get an additional loan or credit increase will increase the amount you owe. This will most likely end up increasing the amount you pay in monthly interest.
  • Increase in monthly payments. Using your equity can increase your outstanding mortgage amount without increasing your loan repayment term. This will mean that your minimum monthly repayments can rise, so proper budgeting is required so as to avoid financial difficulties.
  • Increase in your loan to value ratio (LVR). If your property value hasn’t increased significantly when you get a redraw or credit increase, your LVR may increase, forcing you to take out lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) that will further increase your loan amount.

What if I don't have much equity?

If you've just started making repayments on your loan you probably don't have much equity. As you repay the loan over time you'll build this equity.

Borrowers with low deposit home loans have the least equity. When you start a home loan, the deposit is the total amount of the property you actually own. So if you had a 10% deposit then you'd only have 10% equity at the start.

You can build equity by making extra repayments or putting extra money in an offset account. Over time, if property prices grow, this will also increase your equity. This is because while your home loan should shrink over time, any increase in the value of the home is entirely your money.

Compare line of credit home loans

Name Finder Score Interest Rate p.a. Comparison Rate p.a. Fees Monthly Payment
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$1M+
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$1M+
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.09%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.32%
Minimum Loan Amount$750,000
Maximum Loan Amount $1,000,000
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.09%
Comparison Rate
6.32%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$909
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$1M+
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$1M+
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.14%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.35%
Minimum Loan Amount$100,000
Maximum Loan Amount $249,999
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.14%
Comparison Rate
6.35%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$914
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only40% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$500k+
AMP Bank logo
Interest only40% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$500k+
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.14%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.37%
Minimum Loan Amount$500,000
Maximum Loan Amount N/A
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 60%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.14%
Comparison Rate
6.37%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$914
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$500k+
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$500k+
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.19%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.42%
Minimum Loan Amount$500,000
Maximum Loan Amount N/A
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.19%
Comparison Rate
6.42%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$919
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only40% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$1M+
AMP Bank logo
Interest only40% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$1M+
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.09%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.25%
Minimum Loan Amount$100,000
Maximum Loan Amount N/A
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 60%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.09%
Comparison Rate
6.25%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$909
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only10% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$1M+
AMP Bank logo
Interest only10% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$1M+
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.14%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.29%
Minimum Loan Amount$100,000
Maximum Loan Amount N/A
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 90%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.14%
Comparison Rate
6.29%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$914
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$500k+
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$500k+
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.19%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.35%
Minimum Loan Amount$500,000
Maximum Loan Amount N/A
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.19%
Comparison Rate
6.35%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$919
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only40% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$100K to
AMP Bank logo
Interest only40% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$100K to
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.59%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.85%
Minimum Loan Amount$100,000
Maximum Loan Amount $499,999
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 60%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.59%
Comparison Rate
6.85%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$958
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$100K to
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestmentOffset account$100K to
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.64%
Comp. Rate p.a.6.90%
Minimum Loan Amount$100,000
Maximum Loan Amount $499,999
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.64%
Comparison Rate
6.90%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$963
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only40% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$100K to
AMP Bank logo
Interest only40% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$100K to
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.84%
Comp. Rate p.a.7.02%
Minimum Loan Amount$100,000
Maximum Loan Amount $499,999
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 60%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.84%
Comparison Rate
7.02%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$983
Enquire now
Compare product selection
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$100K to
AMP Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset account$100K to
Product NameAMP Bank Professional Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.6.89%
Comp. Rate p.a.7.07%
Minimum Loan Amount$100,000
Maximum Loan Amount $499,999
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
6.89%
Comparison Rate
7.07%
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $349 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$988
Enquire now
Compare product selection
BCU Bank logo
Principal & Interest21% min. depositOwner-occupier
BCU Bank logo
Principal & Interest21% min. depositOwner-occupier
Product NameBCU Bank All-In-One Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.7.24%
Comp. Rate p.a.
Maximum Loan Term
Maximum LVR 79%
Loan Redraw FacilityNo
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
7.24%
Comparison Rate
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$1,024
Compare product selection
BCU Bank logo
Principal & Interest21% min. depositInvestment
BCU Bank logo
Principal & Interest21% min. depositInvestment
Product NameBCU Bank All-In-One Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.7.40%
Comp. Rate p.a.
Maximum Loan Term
Maximum LVR 79%
Loan Redraw FacilityNo
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
7.40%
Comparison Rate
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$1,040
Compare product selection
AusWide Bank logo
Interest only10% min. depositOwner-occupier
AusWide Bank logo
Interest only10% min. depositOwner-occupier
Product NameAuswide Bank Freedom Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.7.26%
Comp. Rate p.a.
Maximum Loan Term
Maximum LVR 90%
Loan Redraw FacilityNo
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
7.26%
Comparison Rate
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $395 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$1,026
Compare product selection
Greater Bank logo
Principal & Interest10% min. depositOwner-occupierNSW, QLD & ACT only
Greater Bank logo
Principal & Interest10% min. depositOwner-occupierNSW, QLD & ACT only
Product NameGreater Bank Ultimate Line of Credit Home Loan
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.7.60%
Comp. Rate p.a.
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 90%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
7.60%
Comparison Rate
Fees
Application: $500
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$1,060
Compare product selection
AusWide Bank logo
Interest only10% min. depositInvestment
AusWide Bank logo
Interest only10% min. depositInvestment
Product NameAuswide Bank Fixed Home Loan Plus
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.7.78%
Comp. Rate p.a.
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 90%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionYes
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
7.78%
Comparison Rate
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $395 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$1,079
Compare product selection
Greater Bank logo
Principal & Interest10% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset accountNSW, QLD & ACT only
Greater Bank logo
Principal & Interest10% min. depositOwner-occupierOffset accountNSW, QLD & ACT only
Product NameGreater Bank Line of Credit Home Loan
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.8.30%
Comp. Rate p.a.
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 90%
Loan Redraw FacilityYes
Offset AccountYes
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
8.30%
Comparison Rate
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$1,133
Compare product selection
Queensland Country Bank logo
Principal & Interest20% min. deposit
Product NameQueensland Country Bank Ultimate Home Loan Package Line of Credit
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Principal & Interest
Interest Rate p.a.8.19%
Comp. Rate p.a.
Maximum Loan Term30 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityNo
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityNo
Fixed Interest OptionNo
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
8.19%
Comparison Rate
Fees
Application: $0
Ongoing: $395 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$1,122
Compare product selection
Hume Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestment
Hume Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositInvestment
Product NameHume Bank Line of Credit Loan
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.9%
Comp. Rate p.a.
Maximum Loan Term25 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityNo
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionYes
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
9%
Comparison Rate
Fees
Application: $600
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$1,208
Compare product selection
Hume Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositOwner-occupier
Hume Bank logo
Interest only20% min. depositOwner-occupier
Product NameHume Bank Line of Credit Loan
Interest Rate Type
Repayment Type Interest Only
Interest Rate p.a.8.75%
Comp. Rate p.a.
Maximum Loan Term25 years
Maximum LVR 80%
Loan Redraw FacilityNo
Offset AccountNo
Split Loan FacilityYes
Fixed Interest OptionYes
Loan Portable
Extra Repayments Yes
Finder score
Interest Rate
8.75%
Comparison Rate
Fees
Application: $600
Ongoing: $0 p.a.
Monthly Payment
$1,181
Compare product selection
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What is Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 7,000 home loans across 120+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best home loans for cashback, you can see how each home loan stacks up against other home loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type. We also take into consideration the amount of cashback offered when calculating the Score so you can tell if it's really worth it.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

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Money Editor

Richard Whitten is Finder’s Money Editor, with over seven years of experience in home loans, property and personal finance. His insights appear in top media outlets like Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine, and the Herald Sun, and he frequently offers expert commentary on television and radio, helping Australians navigate mortgages and property ownership. Richard holds multiple industry certifications, including a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking (RG 206) and Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146), as well as a Graduate Certificate in Communications from Deakin University. See full bio

Richard's expertise
Richard has written 637 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Home loans
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