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), CHEIFS costs 13.7% a year versus 14.7% for Unison.
Unison is cheaper below about 3.7% annual growth; CHEIFS is cheaper above it (settling after 7 years).
Settle within 3 years and CHEIFS is cheaper; hold for 10 and Unison is.
Side by side
| Unison | CHEIFS | |
|---|---|---|
| What they call it | Equity Sharing Agreement | Home equity investment agreement |
| How you repay | Share of your home's change in value, up or down | Share of your home's future value, up to 2.25× the share you received |
| Multiplier | 4× of the gain | 2.25× of total value |
| Cash available | Up to $500K | $70K to $2M |
| Max share of home value | 15% | Not published |
| Equity you must keep | Not published | 35% or 50% after funding, by program |
| Fee | Up to 3.9% | 1.99% or 2.99%, by program |
| Cost cap | None published | 12.99% a year or 14.99%, by program |
| Term | Up to 30 years | No scheduled end date |
| Minimum credit score | Not published | 680 |
| Shares losses if value falls | Yes | Yes, you owe a share of a lower value |
Full reviews: Unison · CHEIFS. 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unison | CHEIFS | Unison | CHEIFS | Unison | CHEIFS | |
| 0% a year | 8.3% | 14.7% | 3.5% | 13.0% | 2.4% | 8.9% |
| 2% a year | 15.2% | 14.7% | 9.6% | 13.7% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 4% a year | 21.6% | 14.7% | 14.7% | 13.7% | 12.7% | 13.3% |
| 6% a year | 27.6% | 14.7% | 19.1% | 13.7% | 16.5% | 13.5% |
| 8% a year | 33.3% | 14.7% | 23.1% | 13.7% | 20.0% | 13.5% |
Ten-year agreements are shown at year 10 when you'd hold longer. Open this example in the calculator, or see every provider on one chart in the 2026 cost study.
Key differences
- How you repay: Unison: share of your home's change in value, up or down. CHEIFS: share of your home's future value, up to 2.25× the share you received.
- Time to settle: Unison up to 30 years; CHEIFS no scheduled end date.
- Cost cap: Unison publishes none; CHEIFS 12.99% a year or 14.99%, by program.
- Starting value: Unison measures gain from 5% below your appraisal.
- How much you can take: Unison up to 15% of your home's value; CHEIFS doesn't publish a limit.
- Credit: Unison doesn't publish one; CHEIFS minimum 680.
Which fits you
- Your home may not appreciate much: Unison (3.5% vs 13.0% at 0% over 7 years).
- You expect strong growth: CHEIFS (13.7% vs 23.1% at 8% over 7 years).
- You might settle within 3 years: CHEIFS (14.7% vs 21.6%).
- You need more than 10 years: Unison, which allows up to 30 years.
Questions
Is Unison or CHEIFS cheaper?
In our standard example ($100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage, 4% growth, 7 years), CHEIFS costs 13.7% a year versus 14.7% for Unison. Unison is cheaper below about 3.7% annual growth; CHEIFS is cheaper above it (settling after 7 years).
Which is better if I settle early, Unison or CHEIFS?
Settling after 3 years at 4% growth, CHEIFS costs 14.7% a year versus 21.6%.
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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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