HELOC and home equity loan rates Sunday, May 31, 2026: Besides great rates, what is a HELOC lender considered the best?

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure .

Truist was named the best HELOC lender by Yahoo Finance. But why? According to our research, Truist offers home equity credit lines up to $1 million, allows borrowers to select interest-only or revolving payments during the draw period, offers a fixed-rate HELOC option with five terms to choose from, and much more.

Learn more: The best HELOC lenders, according to Yahoo Finance

According to real estate analytics firm Curinos, the average HELOC rate is 7.21% . We first saw the 2026-HELOC low of 7.19% in mid-January and then again in March. The national average rate on a home equity loan is 7.36% , which matches the 2026 low observed in mid-March.

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%.

As primary home mortgage rates hold near 6%, homeowners with equity and a low primary mortgage rate may not be able to access the increasing value of their home with a refinance. For those who are unwilling to give up their low home loan rate, a home equity line of credit or home equity loan can be an excellent solution.

Home equity interest rates are different from primary mortgage rates. Second mortgage rates are based on an index rate plus a margin. That index is often 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%.

Lenders have flexibility with pricing on a second mortgage product, such as a HELOC or home equity loan, so it pays to shop around. Your rate will depend on your credit score, the amount of debt you carry, and the amount of your credit line compared to the value of your home.