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A Home Equity Investment is an arrangement where StayFrank pays you a lump sum of cash today in exchange for a share of your home's future value. It's not a loan — there's no interest, no monthly payment, and no repayment schedule. You retain ownership and continue living in the home. When you eventually sell, refinance, or buy us out, we receive our agreed-upon share of the home's value at that time.

No. Loans require monthly payments, charge interest, and add a balance to your credit report. An HEI is structured as an investment in your home — a contract where StayFrank participates in the home's future value alongside you. Because there's no debt service, an HEI doesn't show up on your credit report the way a HELOC or home-equity loan does.

A HELOC or home-equity loan is borrowed money. You repay it monthly, with interest, on a fixed schedule. If you miss payments, you risk foreclosure. An HEI gives you cash with no monthly bill and no interest. The trade-off: instead of paying interest, you share a portion of your home's future value with us when you settle. HEIs tend to make sense for homeowners who don't want — or can't qualify for — another monthly payment.

Three things stand out: a long flexible term (up to 30 years), no minimum credit score, and the ability to settle anytime without prepayment penalties. We also share in downside risk — if your home loses value, our share decreases too.

Most homeowners can access between 10% and 25% of their home's current value, with a minimum amount that varies by market. Your specific offer depends on your home's value, your existing mortgage balance, the property's condition, and a few other factors. Submit your address and we'll generate an estimate in under a minute.

When you settle, you pay back the original investment amount plus an agreed-upon percentage of your home's appreciation (or, in some cases, a percentage of the final home value). The exact share is fixed at the start of your agreement, so there are no moving targets — you'll know your potential settlement scenarios before you sign.

Yes. Every StayFrank HEI includes a maximum return cap that limits how much you can owe even if your home appreciates rapidly. The cap is disclosed in your offer, and it protects you in strong-appreciation markets. If your home grows faster than expected, you keep the upside above the cap.

Up to 30 years. You can settle at any time before the term ends, with no prepayment penalties.

Standard third-party costs apply: appraisal, title insurance, escrow, recording fees, and a one-time origination fee. These costs are deducted from your funding amount, so you don't pay anything out of pocket. The exact figures are itemized in your offer before you sign.

Once you sign your closing documents and the legal recording is complete, funds are wired to you — usually within a few business days.

Yes, completely. You stay on title, you keep the deed, and you make every decision about the property — when to renovate, when to sell, who to insure with, everything. StayFrank simply records a lien to protect our investment, similar to how a mortgage lender does.

No. Zero. There is no monthly payment, no interest accrual, and no required payment schedule. You owe nothing until you decide to settle, sell, or reach the end of the term.

You are. As the owner, you continue to pay property taxes, maintain homeowners insurance (at the level we agree to in your contract), and handle ongoing maintenance. We don't pay any of these expenses — and we don't share in any of those costs.

Absolutely. Substantial renovations may qualify for an "improvement adjustment" — meaning the value you add through documented improvements is excluded from our share at settlement. If you're planning a meaningful project (kitchens, additions, major systems), let us know in advance so we can document it properly.

We'll conduct a one-time appraisal and inspection during underwriting. After that, no random or surprise inspections — we trust you to maintain the home, and we may request an updated appraisal only when you're ready to settle.

In most cases, yes, but we ask that you notify us first. Converting the property to a rental or second home may affect your agreement, so reach out before you list it.

Possibly. If your home has appreciated and you have additional accessible equity, you may qualify for an "investment increase" or a second HEI down the road. Each request goes through underwriting like the first one.

Three options: (1) sell the home and pay our share from the proceeds; (2) refinance and use the new loan to buy us out; or (3) use savings or other funds to repurchase our share. You choose the method and the timing.

If your home's value declines, our share goes down with it. Unlike a loan — where you owe the full balance regardless of market conditions — we share in the downside as well as the upside. This is one of the key reasons HEIs make sense in uncertain markets.

You can. There are no prepayment penalties. Many homeowners settle within the first 5–10 years, often by refinancing once their credit or financial situation has improved.

If you reach the end of your term, you'll need to settle — either by buying out our share, refinancing, or selling the home. We'll work with you on a settlement plan well before the term expires, and we'll never force a sale without giving you reasonable time and clear options.

The HEI continues with your estate. Your heirs have the same options you would have had: sell the home and pay our share from proceeds, refinance to buy us out, or use other funds. They can keep the home as long as the investment is settled within the agreement's terms.

This is what your homeowners insurance is for. As long as you've maintained adequate coverage (which is required under your agreement), your insurance proceeds rebuild the home and the agreement continues. We can walk through specific scenarios in your contract.

Yes, for documented qualified improvements. The "improvement adjustment" mechanism excludes the value you've added through renovations from our share, so you keep what you build. Save your receipts and major-project documentation.

Yes — but the HEI must be settled at some point. Your heirs can either keep the home (by buying out our share) or sell it (and pay our share from the proceeds). We'll work directly with your estate to make the process straightforward.