Can you get a HELOC on an investment property?
Yes. Home equity lines are available on investment properties and second homes as well as primary residences, with a published minimum credit score of 680 on investment property against 640 in most states for a home. The line is sized at typically up to about 85% combined loan-to-value less existing liens, within $15,000 to $750,000, and the property must be owned by individuals or a revocable trust rather than an LLC. Income is verified from your personal accounts, so the line is underwritten on you as well as on the property.
THE NUMBERS
| Line amount | $15,000 – $750,000 (program’s range; your maximum depends on value, liens, credit and verified income) |
|---|---|
| Valuation | Automated valuation for eligible lines under $400,000 · appraisal above $400,000; confirm the exact threshold with the lender |
| Rate type | Fixed; variable where this program offers it (not in every state) |
| Terms | 5, 10, 15 or 30 years |
| Draw structure | 100% drawn at origination · repaid principal can be redrawn for 2–5 years, each redraw priced on its own date |
| Funding time | As few as 5 business days, on eligible lines, with remote online notary on lines under $400,000 |
| Origination fee | 0% – 4.99% of the initial draw, on eligible lines |
| Property use | Primary residence, second home and investment property; the lender confirms property-type eligibility |
| Combined LTV | Varies; 85% used only for illustrative equity arithmetic |
| Credit | Soft pull to see an offer · minimum generally 640, 680 on investment property |
| Ownership | Owners on title individually, jointly or in a revocable trust — not an LLC |
| Availability | Varies by state |
PROGRAM FACTS AS OF OCTOBER 2026 — not a quote, an offer or a commitment to lend. Rates, terms and eligibility are set by the lender and change.
Why are investment-property HELOCs harder to find?
Because most home equity lending is built around owner-occupied homes. Banks and credit unions treat the borrower's own house as the strongest collateral there is — people protect the roof over their heads first — and many simply do not offer lines on rentals, or cap them at low leverage. Lenders that do lend on investment property price for the extra risk: a higher credit floor, a lower maximum combined LTV on some files, and a rate that reflects occupancy. An investment-property line can be useful to an investor with substantial equity in a rental bought years ago at a low first-mortgage rate.
What are the eligibility rules on a rental?
The minimum credit score is 680 for investment property and duplexes; primary, second-home and investment-property uses are supported. Ownership must be individual or revocable trust, not an LLC, and the lender verifies personal income. Hazard insurance is required, with flood cover in zones A and V. Confirm property-type eligibility with the lender.
Can my LLC take the line?
No. This program is available to individuals whose properties are held solely or jointly, or by a revocable trust, and your name must appear on county records as owner. That rules out the many rentals held in LLCs for liability reasons. Moving a property out of an entity to borrow, and back afterwards, raises title, insurance and due-on-sale questions that belong with an attorney, and can trigger the 90-day title-change rule. For an entity-held rental the natural route is a DSCR cash-out refinance, which closes in the LLC and is underwritten on the rent rather than your personal income.
How is income checked on an investment line?
Eligibility includes verification of personal income and does not count business income or business bank accounts. Its final income and debt-to-income requirements are part of the lender’s eligibility review; do not treat the equity illustration as qualification.
What does a rental HELOC cost?
The rate depends on credit score, debt-to-income, lien position, occupancy and property value, and investment property generally prices above a primary residence. The line’s origination charge is an origination fee of 0% to 4.99% of the initial draw, set by credit profile and state, plus third-party costs where they apply: valuation if no automated value is available, an appraisal on lines above $400,000, manual notarisation where the county does not allow e-notary, and recording fees and taxes. Because the full line is drawn at closing, interest runs on the whole amount from day one — size it to the use you have.
How does a second home differ from a rental?
A second home sits between the two. The program treats a secondary residence as eligible in its own right, and lenders generally view a home you use yourself for part of the year as stronger collateral than a tenant-occupied rental, which can show up in the rate and the line offered. The occupancy you declare has to be true: a property rented out full-time is an investment property, whatever you call it, and misstating occupancy on a loan application is a serious problem. If a vacation home earns short-term rental income, say so — the lender decides how to classify it. And if the plan is to pull equity from a second home to buy rentals, the same discipline applies as with a primary residence: size the line to the purchase, and know how it gets repaid.
Worked example — $500,000 rental, $200,000 first mortgage
| 85% combined LTV ceiling | $425,000 |
|---|---|
| Less first mortgage | −$200,000 |
| Line available | $225,000 |
| Valuation | Automated (under $400,000) |
| Credit floor on investment property (investment property) | 680 |
ILLUSTRATIVE — 85% is an illustrative assumption, not a confirmed program cap; the lender may offer less on an investment property depending on credit and value. No interest-rate quote is provided.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- ID and SSN — for every owner on title.
- Mortgage statement — every existing lien on the rental.
- Lease — documenting the rental use of the property.
- Personal income — connected personal accounts, pay stubs or returns.
- Insurance — a landlord (dwelling fire) policy declarations page.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
- What credit score do I need for an investment-property HELOC?
- The minimum is 680 for investment property. Pricing and the line offered improve with a higher score.
- Can I get a HELOC on a duplex?
- A 680 minimum credit score applies for duplexes; confirm all remaining property and income requirements.
- Does rental income count?
- Eligibility includes verification of personal income from your accounts; how a given rent deposit is treated is the lender's decision. Business income does not count.
- Is there an alternative if the rental is in an LLC?
- Yes — a DSCR cash-out refinance, which closes in the LLC and is qualified on the property's rent.
RELATED
PART OF SILT ACADEMY → COURSE 10: USING HOME EQUITY · LESSON 10.3
Reviewed October 2026 · Home equity lines are offered through a lending partner; Silt Capital does not originate HELOCs. Terms and eligibility are set by the lender.