At a glance
| How you repay | Share of your home's gain, measured from a starting value set below your appraisal |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | 14.3% a year |
| Cost cap | 18% a year |
| Term | Up to 30 years |
See every Point termMultiplier, cash available, limits, fees, and credit
| What they call it | Home Equity Investment (HEI) |
|---|---|
| How you repay | Share of your home's gain, measured from a starting value set below your appraisal |
| Multiplier | 2.4× of the gain |
| Cash available | $30K to $600K |
| Max share of home value | Not published |
| Equity you must keep | More than 20% after funding Not published; our assumption |
| Fee | Up to 3.9% (minimum $2,000) |
| Cost cap | 18% a year |
| Term | Up to 30 years |
| Minimum credit score | 500 |
| Shares losses if value falls | Yes, below the starting value |
How Point's agreement works
You receive a lump sum and later repay the original investment plus Point's share of your home's gain.
Point measures that gain from an "appreciation starting value" set below your appraisal, 27% below in Point's published examples. Because the starting line sits under your home's real value, Point shares in some value even if your home never rises.
Point sets its share per offer. In its published example, a 10% investment carried a 24% share of the gain, which we model as 2.4 times the percentage invested.
A Homeowner Protection Cap limits Point's annual return (we model it at 18% a year), which matters most if your home appreciates quickly or you settle early. If your home falls below the starting value, Point shares the loss.
What Point costs
In our standard example ($100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage, 4% growth, settled after 7 years), you would net $94,600 after fees and settle for $240,624: an effective cost of 14.3% a year.
These numbers use a typical example. Your offer's numbers will differ.
See the cost at every growth rate and hold periodEffective annual cost from 0% to 8% growth, settled after 3 to 10 years
Effective annual cost for $100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage. Rows are yearly home appreciation; columns are when you settle.
| Growth | 3 years | 5 years | 7 years | 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% a year | 20.2% | 11.7% | 8.3% | 5.7% |
| 2% a year | 20.2% | 14.9% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| 4% a year | 20.2% | 18.0% | 14.3% | 11.5% |
| 6% a year | 20.2% | 19.3% | 17.1% | 14.1% |
| 8% a year | 20.2% | 19.3% | 18.9% | 16.7% |
Yearly cost is measured on the cash you actually receive, after the provider's fee and about $1,500 of closing costs. Measured on the full investment instead, it's lower: in our standard example ($100,000 on a $750,000 home, 4% yearly growth, 7 years), Hometap is 13.1% a year instead of 14.1%.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Up to 30 years before you have to settle
- Accepts credit scores from 500
- A cost cap limits what you pay in a hot market or an early settlement
- Shares losses below the starting value
Cons
- The discounted starting value means real cost even with no appreciation
- Processing fee up to 3.9%, with a $2,000 minimum
- The share is set per offer, so you need a quote to know your exact cost
What Point customers say
CFPB complaints: 55 filed against Point in the federal complaint database (30 since 2025). Most common: applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage (19); trouble during payment process (16); closing on a mortgage (12). Point answered 55 of 55 on time.
Customer reviews: read what Point customers say on Trustpilot and BBB.
How to read reviews of any HEI company. Star ratings tend to reflect the application and funding experience. The costly part comes years later, at settlement: across the six providers, "trouble during the payment process" accounts for 37 of 131 CFPB complaints, and the CFPB has reported consumers surprised by what they had to repay. Read the oldest reviews and the complaints, not just the star rating.
Who Point fits
Worth a look if: You want a long runway before settling and expect moderate appreciation.
Look elsewhere if: Your home is unlikely to appreciate. Point's discounted starting value still costs you in a flat market.
Where Point is available
31 states and Washington, DC, according to its own availability page. Availability can vary by county.
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Source: Point help center: In what states is Point available now?.
Regulatory record
We haven't found a state enforcement action or court case involving Point in our review of primary sources.
Alternatives to Point
Effective annual cost for $100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage. Highlighted: cheaper than Point in that scenario.
| Provider | Typical: 4% growth, 7 years | Flat prices: 0%, 7 years | Fast growth: 8%, 7 years | Early sale: 4%, 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point | 14.3% | 8.3% | 18.9% | 20.2% |
| CHEIFS | 13.7% | 13.0% | 13.7% | 14.7% |
| Hometap | 14.1% | 9.7% | 18.5% | 22.7% |
| Unison | 14.7% | 3.5% | 23.1% | 21.6% |
| Unlock | 15.9% | 11.5% | 20.4% | 22.6% |
| Splitero | 15.9% | 11.5% | 20.4% | 22.3% |
Computed from each provider's published terms.
Yearly cost is measured on the cash you actually receive, after the provider's fee and about $1,500 of closing costs. Measured on the full investment instead, it's lower: in our standard example ($100,000 on a $750,000 home, 4% yearly growth, 7 years), Hometap is 13.1% a year instead of 14.1%.
In the typical case, the lowest-cost alternative is CHEIFS at 13.7% a year, versus 14.3% for Point. If your home grows fast or you sell early, the ranking can change.
When to pick an alternative instead
- CHEIFS: costs less in the typical case (13.7% vs 14.3% a year); costs less if your home grows fast (13.7% vs 18.9% a year); costs less if you sell within 3 years (14.7% vs 20.2% a year); gives you more time to settle (no end date vs 30); funds larger amounts (up to $2M vs $600K). Point vs CHEIFS
- Hometap: costs less if your home grows fast (18.5% vs 18.9% a year). Point vs Hometap
- Unison: costs less if prices stay flat (3.5% vs 8.3% a year). Point vs Unison
- Unlock: no clear advantage over Point on these measures. Point vs Unlock
- Splitero: no clear advantage over Point on these measures. Point vs Splitero
A HELOC, home equity loan, cash-out refinance, or reverse mortgage can also cost less if you qualify. See every option compared.
More on Point: Is Point legit?
Sources
Point: how the HEI works · Point: worked example · LendEDU: provider comparison
Offer reviews
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