Matt Richardson is the senior managing editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com. He writes and edits content about personal finance ranging from savings to investing to insurance.

Learn how to effectively use a home equity loan, turning the equity in your home into a powerful financial tool for improvement projects, debt consolidation, and more.

A first-lien HELOC is a revolving line of credit that replaces your primary mortgage. The loan combines a checking account, mortgage and line of credit. First-lien HELOCs are best suited for ...

If you’re starting to think about buying your first place but don’t know the difference between home equity and Homer Simpson, don’t worry. You’re not alone. The home-buying industry works differently ...

Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing ...

Falling rates make tapping into home equity tempting. Here’s when a HELOC or home equity loan makes the smarter play.

$11.6 trillion. That's how much home equity was available for homeowners to borrow entering the third quarter of 2025, according to a report released in August. Around 48 million homeowners have ...

We might earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of the links. The McClatchy Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content. You have a home equity ...