The short answer
In our standard example ($100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage, 4% growth, settled after 7 years), Point costs 14.3% a year versus 14.7% for Unison.
Unison is cheaper below about 3.6% annual growth; Point is cheaper above it (settling after 7 years).
Point is also cheaper if you settle within 3 years or hold for 10.
Side by side
| Point | Unison | |
|---|---|---|
| What they call it | Home Equity Investment (HEI) | Equity Sharing Agreement |
| How you repay | Share of your home's gain, measured from a starting value set below your appraisal | Share of your home's change in value, up or down |
| Cash available | $30K to $600K | Up to $500K |
| Max share of home value | Not published | 15% |
| Equity you must keep | Not published | Not published |
| Fee | Up to 3.9% (minimum $2,000) | Up to 3.9% |
| Cost cap | 18% a year | None published |
| Term | Up to 30 years | Up to 30 years |
| Minimum credit score | 500 | Not published |
| Shares losses if value falls | Yes, below the starting value | Yes |
Full reviews: Point · Unison. Sources for every term.
Cost at different growth rates and timelines
Effective annual cost for $100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage. The cheaper of the two is highlighted.
| Growth | 3 years | 7 years | 10 years | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point | Unison | Point | Unison | Point | Unison | |
| 0% a year | 20.2% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 3.5% | 5.7% | 2.4% |
| 2% a year | 20.2% | 15.2% | 11.3% | 9.6% | 8.7% | 8.2% |
| 4% a year | 20.2% | 21.6% | 14.3% | 14.7% | 11.5% | 12.7% |
| 6% a year | 20.2% | 27.6% | 17.1% | 19.1% | 14.1% | 16.5% |
| 8% a year | 20.2% | 33.3% | 18.9% | 23.1% | 16.7% | 20.0% |
Ten-year agreements are shown at year 10 when you'd hold longer. Open this example in the calculator.
Key differences
- How you repay: Point: share of your home's gain, measured from a starting value set below your appraisal. Unison: share of your home's change in value, up or down.
- Cost cap: Point 18% a year; Unison publishes none.
- Starting value: Point measures from 27% below your appraisal; Unison from 5% below.
- How much you can take: Point doesn't publish a limit; Unison up to 15% of your home's value.
- Credit: Point minimum 500; Unison doesn't publish one.
Which fits you
- Your home may not appreciate much: Unison (3.5% vs 8.3% at 0% over 7 years).
- You expect strong growth: Point (18.9% vs 23.1% at 8% over 7 years).
- You might settle within 3 years: Point (20.2% vs 21.6%).
Questions
Is Point or Unison cheaper?
In our standard example ($100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage, 4% growth, 7 years), Point costs 14.3% a year versus 14.7% for Unison. Unison is cheaper below about 3.6% annual growth; Point is cheaper above it (settling after 7 years).
Which is better if I settle early, Point or Unison?
Settling after 3 years at 4% growth, Point costs 20.2% a year versus 21.6%.
More comparisons
Run your own numbers
Every figure here uses a standard example. The calculator runs your home, your mortgage, and your assumptions through every provider at once.
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