Your Home Equity Can Offset Affordability Challenges
Are you thinking about selling your house? If so, today’s mortgage rates may be making you wonder if that’s the right decision. Some homeowners are reluctant to sell and take on a higher mortgage rate on their next home. If you’re worried about this too, know that even though rates are high right now, so is home equity. Here’s what you need to know.
Bankrate explains exactly what equity is and how it grows:
“Home equity is the portion of your home that you’ve paid off and own outright. It’s the difference between what the home is worth and how much is still owed on your mortgage. As your home’s value increases over the long term and you pay down the principal on the mortgage, your equity stake grows.”
In other words, equity is how much your home is worth now, minus what you still owe on your home loan.
How Much Equity Do Homeowners Have Now?
Recently, your equity has been growing faster than you might think. To help contextualize just how much the average homeowner has, CoreLogic says:
“. . . the average U.S. homeowner now has about $290,000 in equity.”
That’s because, over the past few years, home prices went up significantly – and those rising prices helped your equity to accumulate faster than usual. While the market has started to normalize, there are still more people wanting to buy homes than there are homes available for sale. This high demand is causing home prices to go up again.
According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the Census, and ATTOM, a property data provider, nearly two-thirds (68.7%) of homeowners have either fully paid off their mortgages or have at least 50% equity (see chart below):
That means nearly 70% of homeowners have a tremendous amount of equity right now.
How Equity Helps with Your Affordability Concerns
With today’s affordability challenges, your equity can make a big difference when you decide to move. After you sell your house, you can use the equity you’ve built up in your home to help you buy your next one. Here’s how:
- Be an all-cash buyer: If you’ve been living in your current home for a long time, you might have enough equity to buy a new house without having to take out a loan. If that’s the case, you won’t need to borrow any money or worry about mortgage rates. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) states:
“These all-cash home buyers are happily avoiding the higher mortgage interest rates . . .”
- Make a larger down payment: Your equity could be used toward your next down payment. It might even be enough to let you put a larger amount down, so you won’t have to borrow as much money so today’s rates become less of a sticking point. Experian explains:
“Increasing your down payment lowers your principal loan amount and, consequently, your loan-to-value ratio, which could lead to a lower interest rate offer from your lender.”
Your Equity Is a Powerful Asset — Use It Wisely
Today’s mortgage rates may feel daunting, but they’re only one part of the equation. Your accumulated equity could provide flexibility, security, and options you may not realize you have.
If you’ve owned your home for several years — especially in a high-demand market — you may be in a far stronger position than you think.
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Blog Outro
At Mountain Rose Realty, we help homeowners turn uncertainty into strategy. Whether you’re considering selling now or simply exploring your options, Anne-Britt Ostlund brings decades of experience in Telluride Real Estate, delivering clear guidance, accurate valuations, and white-glove service from start to finish.
If your next chapter involves a new home, second residence, or lifestyle shift, we’re here to help you make that transition with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is home equity and how does it help me afford a new home?
- Home equity is the difference between what your home is worth and what you still owe on your mortgage. When you sell, you can use that equity as an all-cash purchase for your next home or as a larger down payment, which reduces how much you need to borrow and can help offset affordability challenges from higher mortgage rates.
- How much equity does the average U.S. homeowner have right now?
- According to CoreLogic, the average U.S. homeowner now has about $290,000 in equity. Recent data shows that nearly 68.7% of homeowners have either fully paid off their mortgages or have at least 50% equity in their homes.
- Can I use my home equity to avoid paying higher mortgage rates?
- Yes, in two ways: if you have substantial equity, you could buy your next home as an all-cash buyer and avoid mortgage rates entirely; or you could use your equity for a larger down payment, which lowers your loan-to-value ratio and may qualify you for a better interest rate from your lender.
- Why are home prices continuing to rise if the market is normalizing?
- While the market has started to normalize, demand still outpaces supply—there are more people wanting to buy homes than homes available for sale, which continues to drive prices up.