Mortgage Products

Credit score requirements for a HELOC

Couple taking out a heloc with a great credit score

Please note: Discover® Home Loans offers a home equity loan product, but does not offer HELOCs.

If you are considering applying for a home equity line of credit (HELOC)—which is a revolving credit account that lets you borrow money against the value of your home—meeting the minimum credit score for HELOC approval is one of the most important factors to drive success. Having the right credit score can help you qualify for a HELOC with a lower interest rate and possibly more favorable terms on your line of credit.

While Discover Home Loans offers home equity loans and mortgage refinance, we do not provide HELOCs. But assessing your qualifications for a HELOC can help you understand your eligibility for similar home equity loans: allowing you to select the home equity product that best suits your needs.

To stay one step ahead of the game, make sure you understand the credit score requirements for a HELOC before you apply. Here's what you need to know:

Understanding why your credit score matters

Different lenders will have different requirements for what credit score is needed for a HELOC. But in general, a credit score of 700 or higher is preferred. (For a Discover Home Loans fixed-rate home equity loan—where you get your money in a lump sum—a minimum score of 620 needed.)

Your credit score is not the only part of your financial life that matters when getting approved for a HELOC, but it's one of the key requirements. Having a good credit score shows lenders that you are a responsible borrower who is likely to make payments on time and to pay off your debt. When you have a good credit score, it may help you qualify for a lower interest rate because lenders believe that you are a “better risk" for them to lend money to; they want to get repaid, and your credit score helps reassure lenders.

Getting a HELOC with a lower credit score

What if you have less than the minimum credit score for HELOC approval? Even if you have a credit score below 700, you may still be able to get approved for a HELOC. But the other details of your application, such as your amount of home equity, your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio—which is your existing debt payments, as well as the projected payment for your new home equity loan compared to your total pre-tax income—and your combined loan-to-value (CLTV) ratio need to be strong.

The CLTV ratio is calculated by looking at your existing home mortgage balance (how much you already owe on your home), plus the amount of money you are seeking to borrow with a HELOC, divided by your home value:

CLTV = (HELOC amount that you want to borrow + Existing Mortgage Balance) / Assessed Value of Home

Sometimes, a borrower can borrow less than 90% of the home’s CLTV. So for example, if your home is worth $200,000 and you still owe $120,000 on your mortgage, you could potentially qualify for a home equity loan of less than $60,000 (depending on your credit score). (Discover Home Loans—which offers low, fixed-rate home equity loans—offers loans for less than 90% CLTV.)

If you have a lower credit score than the requirements suggest, you may still qualify for a HELOC if you have enough equity in your home, and if your overall debt levels are low enough as a percentage of your income. However, you might need to be prepared to pay a higher interest rate or accept a lower borrowing limit than you could qualify for with a higher credit score because you would be considered a “riskier" borrower. Lenders may charge a higher interest rate or offer a lower loan amount to minimize the risk of nonpayment on the loan.

If you are concerned about your credit score, you might consider applying for a lower HELOC amount so that your CLTV ratio is well below 90%, to improve the chances of being approved.

Couple checking their credit score before applying for a heloc

Length of credit history or “credit age" is another key factor in your credit score

Reviewing your HELOC credit score

Building credit and contributing to your credit score doesn't happen overnight, but with a few adjustments to your personal finances, you can make steady progress and hopefully qualify for a lower interest rate or better terms on your next loan or line of credit.

Here are some quick tips for maximizing your credit score:

1. Make sure your credit reports are accurate

Whether or not you're applying for a HELOC, everyone should check your credit reports each year. You can get a free credit report from each of the three major consumer credit reporting companies at AnnualCreditReport.com—which is the official government-approved site. Check your credit report for errors, such as accounts fraudulently opened in your name, or payments that were incorrectly reported as late. If there are errors, you can contact the credit reporting company and ask to have the records removed.

2. Avoid late payments

Payment history makes up a big part of your credit score, so it's important to pay your bills on time. Even if money is tight and you cannot afford to pay more than the minimum on a credit card, make sure to pay the minimum amount on time.

3. Build your credit age

Length of credit history or “credit age" is another key factor in your credit score. If you have had a few credit accounts open for several years, don't cancel them or allow them to lapse; keep those accounts active so you have a longer track record in your credit history.

4. Pay down your debts

Your credit utilization ratio—the money you owe as a percentage of your available credit limits—is another factor in your credit score. As a general goal, try to have a credit utilization level of less than 30%. This means that if you have a credit card with a borrowing limit of $10,000, you should try to keep your balance under $3,000.

Discover Home Loans offers home equity loans for amounts ranging from $35,000 to $300,000 and payment plans of 10 to 30 years, with fixed payment amounts, fixed interest rates, and zero cash required at closing. For example, if you borrowed $60,000 for a 20 year term at 8.99% APR, your fixed monthly payments would be $539.45.

To find out more about how you can get started with a home equity loan from Discover Home Loans, including possible borrowing amounts, interest rates, payment options and terms, apply online now with some basic information to see if you qualify, or contact a Personal Banker at 1-855-361-3435.