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LoanDepot: Home Equity Review

This lender's digital application process makes it possible to be approved for a HELOC quickly.

LoanDepot

LoanDepot

Highlights
Products offered
HELOC
APR
Not disclosed
Min. credit score
Not disclosed
Contact info
866-790-3940

Founded in 2010, LoanDepot is one of the largest nonbank retail lenders in the US. It offers personal loans, mortgages, mortgage refinances and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)

LoanDepot doesn’t provide a traditional fixed-rate home equity loan, but it may be a good option for borrowers who want fast and flexible access to cash. LoanDepot’s application process is 100% digital, making it possible to be approved for a HELOC in days. 

However, the lender doesn’t advertise its average HELOC interest rates or specific qualifying requirements. You’ll need to start an application to find out your potential interest rate and other loan terms. 

Read more: Best Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Lenders

LoanDepot: At a glance

Products offeredHELOC
APR rangeNot disclosed
Loan amount$35,000 to $250,000
Credit score minimumNot disclosed
Repayment terms10-year draw period, 20-year repayment period (In Texas, three-year draw period, 27-year repayment period)
Average time to fundAs little as three weeks

As of July 16, 2024

Pros

  • Fast access to funds: You can be approved and close your loan in as little as three weeks. This is faster than the average lender turnaround time, which can sometimes take as long as two months.
  • Interest-only payments: During the first three years of your 10-year draw period, you’ll only have to pay interest on what you borrow. Your minimum monthly payment is $100.
  • Personalized rates without a hard credit check: LoanDepot doesn’t advertise average interest rates online. You can request a no-credit-check rate quote online without completing an application.

Cons

  • High minimum loan amount: $35,000 could be a lot for a homeowner who only needs funds for a small project. If you take out more money than you need, you’ll pay costly additional interest on those funds.
  • No fixed-rate option: LoanDepot doesn’t offer home equity loans or a fixed-rate option on their HELOC.
  • Minimum draw requirement: You must draw a minimum of 75% of your credit line at funding or 100% if your loan amount is less than $50,000.

Home equity loan options

LoanDepot offers HELOCs but not home equity loans. The HELOC has a standard 10-year draw period and a 20-year repayment period. During the draw period, you’ll make interest-only payments for the first three years. In Texas, however, borrowers have a three-year interest-only draw period followed by a 27-year repayment period. 

According to LoanDepot, your minimum payment will always be at least $100 during the draw period.

Fees

LoanDepot charges an origination fee of up to 5% of the line amount (or the maximum allowed by state law, whichever is less). Besides that, the lender says it charges no third-party fees.

How to qualify

LoanDepot doesn’t advertise its minimum credit score requirements, but the higher your score, the better your chances are of being approved for a loan with a lower APR and more favorable terms. In addition to having sufficient home equity available, most lenders prefer to see a debt-to-income ratio of 36% or less to ensure you can comfortably afford a second monthly mortgage payment. 

Property insurance is required with LoanDepot, and flood insurance is required where necessary. Although the application process is digital, you may need to be prepared to have your documents notarized in person in some cases.

Applying for a HELOC with LoanDepot

LoanDepot says its online application takes minutes to complete. But just like with a mortgage, you’ll still need to gather all of your personal and financial documentation for your lender to review. 

You’ll need to show proof of adequate income and stable employment through documents such as your Form W-2, pay stubs and tax returns, and any paperwork related to your existing mortgage to show that you’ve been making timely payments.

Customer service

You can reach customer service at 888-337-6888 ext. 6789 from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET (7 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT) or email at [email protected]. For HELOC-specific inquiries, call 866-790-3940.

Founded in 2010, LoanDepot is one of the largest nonbank retail lenders in the US. It offers personal loans, mortgages, mortgage refinances and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)

LoanDepot doesn’t provide a traditional fixed-rate home equity loan, but it may be a good option for borrowers who want fast and flexible access to cash. LoanDepot’s application process is 100% digital, making it possible to be approved for a HELOC in days. 

However, the lender doesn’t advertise its average HELOC interest rates or specific qualifying requirements. You’ll need to start an application to find out your potential interest rate and other loan terms. 

Read more: Best Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Lenders

LoanDepot: At a glance

Products offeredHELOC
APR rangeNot disclosed
Loan amount$35,000 to $250,000
Credit score minimumNot disclosed
Repayment terms10-year draw period, 20-year repayment period (In Texas, three-year draw period, 27-year repayment period)
Average time to fundAs little as three weeks

As of July 16, 2024

Pros

  • Fast access to funds: You can be approved and close your loan in as little as three weeks. This is faster than the average lender turnaround time, which can sometimes take as long as two months.
  • Interest-only payments: During the first three years of your 10-year draw period, you’ll only have to pay interest on what you borrow. Your minimum monthly payment is $100.
  • Personalized rates without a hard credit check: LoanDepot doesn’t advertise average interest rates online. You can request a no-credit-check rate quote online without completing an application.

Cons

  • High minimum loan amount: $35,000 could be a lot for a homeowner who only needs funds for a small project. If you take out more money than you need, you’ll pay costly additional interest on those funds.
  • No fixed-rate option: LoanDepot doesn’t offer home equity loans or a fixed-rate option on their HELOC.
  • Minimum draw requirement: You must draw a minimum of 75% of your credit line at funding or 100% if your loan amount is less than $50,000.

Home equity loan options

LoanDepot offers HELOCs but not home equity loans. The HELOC has a standard 10-year draw period and a 20-year repayment period. During the draw period, you’ll make interest-only payments for the first three years. In Texas, however, borrowers have a three-year interest-only draw period followed by a 27-year repayment period. 

According to LoanDepot, your minimum payment will always be at least $100 during the draw period.

Fees

LoanDepot charges an origination fee of up to 5% of the line amount (or the maximum allowed by state law, whichever is less). Besides that, the lender says it charges no third-party fees.

How to qualify

LoanDepot doesn’t advertise its minimum credit score requirements, but the higher your score, the better your chances are of being approved for a loan with a lower APR and more favorable terms. In addition to having sufficient home equity available, most lenders prefer to see a debt-to-income ratio of 36% or less to ensure you can comfortably afford a second monthly mortgage payment. 

Property insurance is required with LoanDepot, and flood insurance is required where necessary. Although the application process is digital, you may need to be prepared to have your documents notarized in person in some cases.

Applying for a HELOC with LoanDepot

LoanDepot says its online application takes minutes to complete. But just like with a mortgage, you’ll still need to gather all of your personal and financial documentation for your lender to review. 

You’ll need to show proof of adequate income and stable employment through documents such as your Form W-2, pay stubs and tax returns, and any paperwork related to your existing mortgage to show that you’ve been making timely payments.

Customer service

You can reach customer service at 888-337-6888 ext. 6789 from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET (7 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT) or email at [email protected]. For HELOC-specific inquiries, call 866-790-3940.

Alix is a former CNET Money staff writer. She also previously reported on retirement and investing for Money.com and was a staff writer at Time magazine. Her work has also appeared in various publications, such as Fortune, InStyle and Travel + Leisure, and she worked in social media and digital production at NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and NY1. She graduated from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and Villanova University. When not checking Twitter, Alix likes to hike, play tennis and watch her neighbors' dogs. Now based in Los Angeles, Alix doesn't miss the New York City subway one bit.
Katherine Watt is a CNET Money writer focusing on mortgages, home equity and banking. She previously wrote about personal finance for NextAdvisor. Based in New York, Katherine graduated summa cum laude from Colgate University with a bachelor's degree in English literature.
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