Wait a second. What in the world is a home equity investment?

Your house has gone up in value. Your checking account hasn’t. Now a company is offering you cash from your home equity—with no monthly payments.

Home Equity Investments promise access to housing wealth without another monthly bill. But what do you surrender in exchange, and where will the money come from when it’s time to settle up? Pete, Dame, and Kristen examine how these agreements work, what the numbers can look like, and whether turning home equity into spending money solves a financial problem or delays it.