SoFi

Maybe you’ve spent a serious amount of time watching HGTV and now have visions of turning your kitchen into a chef’s paradise. Or perhaps you have an entire Pinterest board full of super-deep soaking tubs that you’re dreaming about.

Either way, the home improvement bug has bitten you, and you’re hardly alone. In the U.S. $827 billion was spent on home improvement from 2021 to 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau American Housing Survey. For a bit more context, consider that the average American spent more than $9,542 on home improvement projects in 2023 — with spending up 12% over 2022. That’s a lot more than just buying a new bathroom sink.

While your home might be begging for some updates and improvements, not all of us have close to $10,000 stashed away in a savings account. For many people, realizing their home improvement goals means borrowing money. But how exactly?

Read on to learn about some of your options, including a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), and a home improvement loan. We’ll share the situations in which home equity loans, HELOCs, and home improvement loans work best so you can figure out which home improvement loan option is right for you.

What’s the Difference Between Home Equity Loans, HELOCs, and Home Improvement Loans?

If you’ve figured out how much a home renovation will cost and now need to fund the project, the options can sound a bit confusing because they all involve the word “home.”

What’s more, you may hear the term “home equity loan” loosely applied to any funds borrowed to do home improvement work. However, there are actually different kinds of home equity loans to know about, plus one that doesn’t involve home equity at all.

So, before digging into home improvement loans vs. home improvement loans vs. HELOCs, consider the basics for each:

•   A home equity loan is a lump-sum payment that a lender gives you using the equity in your home to secure the loan. These loans often have a higher limit, lower interest rate, and longer repayment term than a home improvement loan.

•   A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is a revolving line of credit that is backed by your equity in your home. It operates similarly to a credit card in that the amount you access is not set, though you will have a limit on how much you can access.

•   A home improvement loan is a kind of lump-sum personal loan, and it is not backed by the equity you have in your home. It may have a higher interest rate and shorter repayment term than a home equity loan. What’s more, it may have a lower limit, making it well suited for smaller projects.

Worth noting: If you use your home as collateral to borrow funds, you could lose your property if you don’t make payments on time. That’s a significant risk to your financial security and one to take seriously.

Next, here’s a look at how key loan features line up for these options.

How Much Can I Borrow?

The sky isn’t the limit when borrowing funds. This is how much you will likely be able to access:

•   For a home equity loan, you can typically borrow up to 85% of your home’s value, minus what’s owed on your mortgage. So if your home’s value is $300,000, 85% of that is $255,000. If you have a mortgage for $200,000, then $255,000 minus $200,000 leaves you with a potential loan of $55,000. You can do the math quickly with a home equity loan calculator.

•   For a HELOC, you can often access up to 90% of the equity you have in your home, though some lenders may go even higher. In that case, you are likely to pay a higher interest rate. In the scenario above, with a home valued at $300,000 and a mortgage of $200,000, that means you have $100,000 equity in your home. A loan for 90% of $100,000 would be $90,000. As with other lines of credit, your credit score and employment history will likely factor into the approval decision. To figure out what payments might be on a HELOC, you can use a HELOC repayment calculator.

•   For a home improvement loan, the amount you can borrow will depend on a variety of factors, including your credit score, but the typical range is between $3,000 and $50,000 or sometimes even more.

What Can the Funds Be Used for?

Interestingly, some of these funds can be used for purposes other than home improvement costs. Here’s how they stack up:

•   For a home equity loan, you can certainly use the funds for an amazing new kitchen with a professional-grade range, but you can also use the money for, say, debt consolidation or college tuition.

•   For a HELOC, as with a home equity loan, you can use the money as you see fit. Redoing your patio? Sure. But you can also apply the cash to open a business, pay for grad school, or knock out credit card debt.

•   For a home improvement loan, there is often the requirement that you use the funds for, as the name suggests, a home improvement project, such as adding a hot tub to your property. In some cases, you may be able to use the funds for non-home purposes. Your lender can tell you more.

Recommended: How to Find a Contractor for Home Renovations & Remodeling

How Will I Receive the Funds? How Long Will It Take to Get the Money?

Consider the different ways and timing you may encounter when getting money from these loan options:

•   With a home equity loan, you receive a lump sum payment of the funds borrowed. The timeline for getting your funds can be anywhere from two weeks to two months, depending on a variety of factors, including the lender’s pace.

•   With a HELOC, you open a line of credit, similar to a credit card. For what is known as the draw period (typically 10 years), you can withdraw funds via a special credit card or checkbook up to your limit. It typically takes between two and six weeks to get the initial approval, but some lenders may be faster.

•   With a home improvement personal loan, you receive a lump sum of cash. These tend to be the quickest way to get cash: It may only take a day or so after approval to have the funds available.

How Much Interest Will I Pay?

How much you pay to access funds for your project will vary. Take a closer look:

•   For a home equity loan, you typically get a lower interest rate than some other loan types, since you are using your home equity as collateral. These are typically fixed-rate loans, so you’ll know how much you are paying every month. At the end of 2024, the average rate of a fixed, 15-year home equity loan was 8.49%.

•   For a HELOC, the line of credit will typically have a rate that varies with the prime rate, though some lenders offer fixed-rate options. HELOCs may have lower interest rates than personal and home equity loans, but you will need a high credit score to snag the lowest possible rate.

•   For home improvement loans, which are a kind of personal loan, rates vary widely. Currently, you might find anything from 6.99% to 36% depending on the lender and your qualifications, such as your credit score. These loans are typically fixed rate.

How Long Will I Have to Repay the Funds?

Repayment terms differ among these three options:

•   For home equity loans, you will agree to a term with your lender. Terms typically range from five to 20 years, but 30 years may be available as well.

•   With a HELOC, you usually have a draw period of 10 years, during which you may pay interest only. Then, you may no longer withdraw funds, and move into the principal-plus-interest repayment period, which is often 20 years.

•   With a home improvement personal loan, your repayment terms are typically shorter than with the other options and will vary with the lender. You may find terms of anywhere from one to seven years or possibly longer.

Here’s how these features compare in chart form:

Which Home Improvement Loan Option Is Better?

Now that you’ve learned about the features of these loan options, here’s some guidance on which one is likely to be best for your needs.

When Home Equity Loans Make Sense

Here are some scenarios in which a home equity loan may be a good choice:

•   If you have significant home equity and are looking to borrow a large amount, a home equity loan could be the right move to access a lump sum of cash.

•   If you want to have a long repayment period, the possibility of a 30-year term could be a good fit.

•   When you are seeking to keep costs as low as possible, these loans may offer lower interest rates.

•   A home equity loan can be a wise move when you need cash for other purposes, such as debt consolidation or educational expenses.

•   Some interest payments may be tax-deductible, depending on how you use the funds, which could be a benefit of this kind of loan.

When HELOCs Make Sense

A HELOC may be your best bet in the following situations:

•   You aren’t sure how much money you need and like the flexibility of a line of credit.

•   You want to keep your payments as low as possible in the near future. HELOCs can usually be an interest-only loan during the first 10-year draw period of the arrangement.

•   A HELOC can be a good fit for people who are doing a renovation in stages, and want to draw funds as needed versus all upfront.

•   You need cash for something other than just home renovation, such as to pay down credit card debt or fund tuition.

•   Depending on what you put the money toward, interest payments may be tax-deductible to a degree.

When Home Improvement Personal Loans Make Sense

Consider these upsides:

•   These personal loans tend to have a straightforward, fast application process, and often have fewer fees, such as no origination fees.

•   Home improvement loans are usually approved more quickly than other kinds of home loans.

•   These loans can be a good way to borrow a small sum, such as $3,000 or $5,000 for a project you need to complete quickly (say, a bathroom without a functional shower).

•   Home improvement loans can be a good option for new homeowners, who haven’t yet built up much equity in their home but need funds for renovation.

•   For those who are uncomfortable using their home as collateral, this kind of loan can be a smart move.

The Takeaway

Home improvement is a popular pursuit and can not only make daily life more enjoyable, it can also boost the value of what is likely your biggest asset. If you are ready to take on a renovation (or need to pay off the bills for the reno you already did), you’ll have options in terms of how to access funds.

Depending on your needs and personal situation, you might prefer a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a home improvement personal loan. Why not start by looking into a HELOC? A line of credit is a super-flexible way to borrow.

SoFi now partners with Spring EQ to offer flexible HELOCs. Our HELOC options allow you to access up to 90% of your home’s value, or $500,000, at competitively lower rates. And the application process is quick and convenient.

FAQ

Can a HELOC only be used for repairs or renovations?

You can use the funds you draw from a home equity line of credit (HELOC) for pretty much anything you can think of. But if you are hoping to take advantage of a tax deduction for the interest you pay on your HELOC, it will need to be used to buy, build, or substantially improve a home.

Is a HELOC a second mortgage?

Yes, if you are still paying off the mortgage on your home, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) that is secured by that property would be considered a second mortgage. The same is true of a home equity loan.

SoFi Mortgages
Terms, conditions, and state restrictions apply. Not all products are available in all states. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SOHL-Q424-132

An investment risk pyramid is an illustration used to help investors understand the risk/reward profile of various assets. The investment risk pyramid uses a base, middle, and top to rank investments by the likelihood of losing money or seeing big returns. The tool is useful when getting started with investing.

Building a portfolio is no easy task. It requires due diligence and an assessment of your risk tolerance and return goals. The investment risk pyramid may help you determine what approaches work best for you.

What Are Investment Pyramids?

Investment pyramids are practical tools for gauging how risky certain asset types are. The pyramid model has been used in many areas for a long time, and it’s useful when learning what your risk tolerance is.

An investment risk pyramid has three levels grouped by risk/return profile. The least-risky securities are found in the large base; growth and moderately risky assets are in the middle; then the most speculative strategies are at the top.

Again, this can be helpful to investors who are looking to buy and sell stocks or other securities, and also get a sense of how much associated risk they’re introducing or jettisoning from their portfolio.

How Investing Pyramids Work

There are many investing risk need-to-knows, and the pyramid of investment risk works by helping investors understand the connection between their asset allocation and their risk tolerance.

The visual should ultimately lead individuals to better grasp what percentage of their investable assets should go to which types of investments based on risk level and return potential.

Using a risk pyramid investment strategy provides a basic framework for analyzing portfolio construction. The investment risk pyramid is structured so that it suggests people hold a higher percentage of lower-risk assets, and relatively little in the way of ultra-high-risk, speculative assets.

Base of the Pyramid

Managing investment risk is among the most fundamental aspects of investing, and risk is controlled by ensuring an allocation to some safe securities. The base of the investment risk pyramid, which is the bulk of total assets, contains low-risk assets and accounts. Investments such as government bonds, money markets, savings and checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and cash are included in the base.

While these securities feature relatively low risk, you might lose out to inflation over time if you hold too much cash, for example.

Middle of the Pyramid

Let’s step up our risk game a bit by venturing into the middle of the investment risk pyramid. Here we will find medium-risk assets. In general, investments with some growth potential and a lower risk profile are in this tier. Growth and income stocks and capital appreciation funds are examples.

Other holdings might include real estate, dividend stock mutual funds, and even some higher-risk bond funds.

Top of the Pyramid

At the top of the investment risk pyramid is where you’ll find the most speculative asset types and even margin investing strategies. Options, futures, and collectibles are examples of high-risk investments.

You will notice that the top of the pyramid of investment risk is the smallest – which suggests only a small portion of your portfolio should go to this high-risk, high-reward niche.

Sample Investment Pyramid

Here’s what a sample investment risk pyramid might contain:

Top of the pyramid, high risk: Speculative growth stocks, put and call options, commodities, collectibles, cryptocurrency, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Generally, just a small percentage of an overall portfolio should be allocated to the top of the pyramid.

Middle of the pyramid, moderate risk: Dividend mutual funds, corporate bond funds, blue-chip stocks, and variable annuities. Small-cap stocks and foreign funds can be included, too. A 30-40% allocation could make sense for some investors.

Base of the pyramid, low risk: U.S. government Treasuries, checking and savings accounts, CDs, AAA-rated corporate bonds. This might comprise 40-50% of the portfolio.

Pros and Cons of Investment Pyramids

The investment risk pyramid has advantages and disadvantages. Let’s outline those to help determine the right investing strategy for you.

Pros

The investment risk pyramid is useful as a quick introduction to asset allocation and bucketing. Another upside is that it is a direct way to differentiate asset types by risk.

Cons

While the investment risk pyramid is helpful for beginners, as you build wealth, you might need more elaborate strategies beyond the pyramid’s simplicity. Moreover, in the end, you determine what securities to own – the pyramid is just a suggestion.

Examples of Low-Risk Investments

Let’s describe some low-risk investments in more detail since these are including the investment risk pyramid’s biggest tier.

Bonds

Bonds are essentially a loan you make to the government or other entity for a set amount of time. In return for lending your money, the debtor promises to pay you back at maturity along with periodic coupon payments, like interest.

Lower-risk bonds include short-term Treasury bills while riskier bonds are issued by speculative companies at a higher yield.

Cash

Cash feels like a low-risk asset, but ideally you would store it in an interest-bearing savings account in order to keep up with inflation.

Also consider that holding too much cash can expose you to inflation risk, which is when cash loses value relative to the cost of living.

Bank Accounts

You can earn a rate of return through a bank account with FDIC insurance. Keeping an emergency fund in a checking account can be a prudent move so you can pay expenses without having to sell assets like stocks and bonds or take on debt.

Examples of High-Risk Investments

At the top of the pyramid, you will find assets and strategies that may generate large returns, but also expose you to serious potential losses. Margin trading is a method often employed by some investors to try and increase their returns.

Margin Trading

Margin trading is using borrowed funds in an attempt to amplify returns. A cash account vs. margin account has key differences to consider before you go about trading. Trading with leverage offers investors the possibility of large short-term gains as well as the potential for outsize losses, so it is perhaps best suited for sophisticated investors.

Options

Options on stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are popular these days. Options, through calls and puts, are derivative instruments that offer holders the right but not the obligation to buy shares at a specific price at a predetermined time. These are risky since you can lose your entire premium if the option contract strategy does not work out for the holder.

Collectibles

Collectibles, such as artwork or wine, are alternative investment types that may provide some of the benefits of diversification, but it’s hard to know what various items are worth since they are not valued frequently. Consider that stocks and many bonds are priced at least daily.

Collectibles might also go through fad periods and booms and bust cycles, which can add to the risk factors in this category.

Discovering Your Risk Tolerance

The investment risk pyramid is all about helping you figure out your ability and willingness to accept risk. It is a fundamental piece of being an investor. You should consider doing more research and even speaking with a financial advisor for a more detailed risk assessment along with an analysis of what your long-term financial goals are.

The Takeaway

Using an investment risk pyramid can make sense for many investors. It’s an easy, visual way to decide which asset classes you might want to hold in your portfolio, so that the percentage of each (i.e. your asset allocation) is aligned with your risk tolerance.

The other helpful aspect of the investment risk pyramid is that it presumes a bigger foundation in lower-risk investments (the bottom tier), with gradually smaller allocations to moderate risk and higher-risk assets, as you move up the pyramid. This can be helpful for a long-term strategy. In a nutshell, the investment risk pyramid helps you figure out how to allocate investments based on your risk tolerance and return objectives.

If you’re an experienced trader and have the risk tolerance to try out trading on margin, consider enabling a SoFi margin account. With a SoFi margin account, experienced investors can take advantage of more investment opportunities, and potentially increase returns. That said, margin trading is a high-risk endeavor, and using margin loans can amplify losses as well as gains.

FAQ

What are the levels of an investment pyramid?

The levels of an investment risk pyramid are low-risk at the base, moderate-risk in the middle, and high-risk at the top. The risk/return investment pyramid helps investors understand how to think about various assets they may want to own.

What does investment risk refer to?

Investment risk can be thought of as the variance in return, or how great the chance is that an investment will experience sharp losses. While the risk investment pyramid helps you build a portfolio, you should also recognize that a diversified stock portfolio performs well over time, while cash generally loses out due to the risk of inflation.

What are some examples of high-risk investments?

High-risk investments include speculative assets like options, trading securities on margin, and even some collectibles that might be hard to accurately value since they are based on what someone might be willing to pay for them. The low-risk to high-risk investments pyramid can include virtually any asset.

Photo credit: iStock/MicroStockHub

SoFi Invest®