Compare the structures first
The table summarizes public materials checked October 30, 2026. It is not a personalized quote, and each signed agreement controls state-specific terms, limits, and exceptions.
| Feature | Hometap | Unison | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published general term | Up to 10 years | Up to 30 years | Up to 10 years |
| Core settlement description | Agreed share of future total home value | Original investment plus or minus share of value change, subject to agreement | Agreed share of future total home value |
| Published upfront charge | 4.5%, capped at $20,000 | 3.9% transaction fee | Typically 4.9%, subject to state limits |
| Other costs | Appraisal and closing costs | Closing costs | Third-party costs; settlement costs may apply |
| Important extra comparison | Offer's percentage and settlement rules | Starting-value adjustment and gain/loss conditions | Annual-cost limit and settlement provisions |
Sources: Hometap FAQ, Unison agreement, Unison process, and Unlock FAQ.
The fee row is only one part of cost. A lower upfront fee can be outweighed by a larger future value share or less favorable valuation treatment.
Hometap: focus on the total-value share and ten-year exit
Hometap's description centers on a percentage of the home's future sale price or appraised value and settlement within the term. The amount offered and percentage are linked through the actual proposal.
For a homeowner considering this structure, the first task is to obtain scenarios at several exit dates. A ten-year deadline can arrive while you still want to live in the home. Savings, a new loan, or refinancing may fund a buyout, but future financing is not guaranteed.
Our Hometap review explains how to build that exit plan and separate gross funding from the net deposit.
Unison: the starting benchmark matters
Unison's published description uses the original investment plus a share of the home's change in value. Its current page also describes a 5% adjustment to the starting appraised value. That adjustment can affect the measured change even if the property's market value remains flat.
The longer published term may provide more time before mandatory settlement, but more time also allows a larger value change. Ask how early buyout, depreciation sharing, maintenance, and renovation adjustments work under the exact agreement.
Do not assume “shares appreciation” means the provider receives nothing if your home's market price stays unchanged. The contract's starting benchmark and other adjustments can change that conclusion.
Unlock: include the cost limit and settlement charges
Unlock describes a future total-value share, an upfront origination charge, and a published annual-cost limit that is typically 19.9% non-compounding, subject to state limitations. Its FAQ also lists settlement-related charges.
A cap is useful information, but it is not a statement that every customer pays that percentage annually or that the agreement is cheap. Ask which cash amount the cap uses, how time is counted, which fees are included, and how it interacts with the value-sharing formula.
Request the lower-of calculations in dollars at each potential exit date. A marketing calculator is a useful start; the signed agreement and personalized disclosures are the comparison.
Why the percentages cannot be compared directly
Consider two fictional contracts that are not quotes from these providers. Each advances $50,000 gross against a home initially worth $400,000.
Contract A requires 20% of the future total home value. Contract B requires $50,000 plus 40% of the increase from a $400,000 starting benchmark. Ignore all fees, caps, floors, and adjustments solely to isolate the formulas.
| Future home value | Fictional A: 20% total value | Fictional B: investment plus 40% of increase |
|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | $80,000 | $50,000 |
| $500,000 | $100,000 | $90,000 |
| $600,000 | $120,000 | $130,000 |
A 20% share can therefore cost more or less than a 40% share depending on what the percentage multiplies and how the home changes in value. Real contracts add important conditions, so this illustration must not be used to estimate any provider's actual offer.
Compare net proceeds at the same funding amount
Ask each provider to show gross funding, upfront fees, third-party charges, any liens paid from proceeds, and net cash available for your intended expense. Request the same net cash where possible.
If one offer provides $80,000 gross and another provides $80,000 after fees, they do not solve the same funding need. Likewise, a larger advance can require a larger future share. Compare the complete cash-and-settlement package rather than one favorable number.
For home repairs, keep a contingency outside the contract comparison. For debt payoff, obtain current balances and avoid assuming the new cash automatically settles every account.
Stress-test the home and household, not just appreciation
Model a flat home value, a decline, and significant appreciation. Also model an early move, a death in the household, a desire to refinance, and a period when maintenance or tax bills become difficult.
The CFPB's home-equity contract report explains the importance of future lump sums and continuing ownership obligations. No monthly payment to the provider does not remove the first mortgage, property taxes, insurance, or repairs.
Ask how the agreement treats renting, ownership transfers, additional liens, and property damage. Ask what happens if settlement cannot be funded by the deadline. The consequences should be understood before accepting the initial cash.
Compare conventional alternatives as well
A HELOC or home-equity loan may require monthly payments but can offer a more familiar payoff calculation. A cash-out refinance changes the first mortgage, which matters if its current rate is favorable. A smaller project or sale may be more sustainable than a complex agreement.
Our home-equity access guide covers those choices. A housing counselor and independent attorney can help evaluate the documents without relying solely on a provider's sales explanation.
Frequently asked questions
Which provider is cheapest?
There is no universal answer from the upfront fee alone. Compare personalized net proceeds and settlement amounts at the same dates and home values.
Is a thirty-year term automatically better?
It gives more time, but cost and flexibility still depend on the formula and triggers. Your intended time in the home and realistic settlement route matter.
Do these agreements remove my mortgage?
Usually they are a separate transaction; any existing mortgage and property obligations must be handled under the agreement. Confirm whether proceeds must pay any existing lien.
Can I use home improvements to reduce the settlement?
Providers can have specific adjustment rules, notice requirements, documentation, and timing conditions. Ask before starting work and do not equate renovation spending with appraised value added.
Can I rely on refinancing to buy the provider out?
Future approval is uncertain. Build a backup plan that accounts for rates, credit, income, property value, and the agreement's lien requirements.
Sources and method
This article uses published regulator and provider information, checked October 30, 2026. It is a research-based assessment; no loan application, borrowing, or customer-service test is claimed. Examples identified as hypothetical are editorial calculations, not offers.