HELOC and home equity loan rates Saturday, June 13, 2026: Fed meets next week - don't wait for HELOC rates to rise

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If you're thinking about getting a HELOC but have decided to hold off until rates move lower, you could find that what you've waited for all along is higher interest rates. According to the CME Group's FedWatch tool, the probability that the Fed will raise rates grows with each meeting throughout this year. The probability of a June increase is 0%. But look ahead two meetings: the probability rises to 26.5% in September and finally to 41.6% by December.

Find out how HELOC and home equity loan interest rates work and what you can expect to pay .

The average HELOC rate is 7.25% , according to real estate analytics firm Curinos. HELOCs first hit a 2026 low of 7.19% in mid-January, then again in March, and again in May. The national average rate on a home equity loan is 7.86% , far from its 2026 low of 7.36%, which we first saw in mid-March, then again at the end of April, and in mid-May.

Rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

With mortgage rates remaining around 6%, homeowners with home equity and a low primary mortgage rate may feel frustrated about not being able to access the growing value in their home. A second mortgage in the form of a HELOC or HEL can be a workable solution.

What can you use a HELOC for? 7 ways homeowners use the funds.

Home equity interest rates are calculated differently than primary mortgage rates. Second mortgage rates are based on an index rate plus a margin. That index is usually the prime rate , which is currently 6.75%. If a lender added 0.75% as a margin, the HELOC would have a rate of 7.50%.