Home Equity Investment Now Available to Nearly Half of U.S. Homeowners as Hometap Expands to Six More States

Alabama, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wisconsin join the map as homeowners with growing equity look for ways to use it without adding a monthly bill throughout the life of the investment

BOSTON, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Homeowners across the U.S. have something in common: many families are sitting on more wealth in their homes than ever before while facing a growing list of expenses that make day-to-day finances feel tighter. Their homes have gained real value, but rising costs, elevated borrowing rates, tight lending standards, and existing low-rate mortgages they have no desire to give up, have made it harder to put that value to work.

That's why today, Hometap, the Boston-based financial technology company pioneering home equity financing solutions, is launching its home equity investment (HEI) product in six new states: Alabama, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. The expansion brings Hometap to 27 states, making its home equity investment now available to nearly half of U.S. homeowners.

"Every expansion decision we make starts with homeowner need, and these six states sent us a clear signal," said Jeffrey Glass, CEO of Hometap. "Nearly 5,000 homeowners here reached out over the past few years looking for a flexible alternative to traditional financing. Their situations look different from one state to the next, but the common thread is the same: they've built real equity, and they want a way to use it that doesn't add to their monthly budget."

The timing matters. Mortgage and HELOC rates remain elevated, and the lock-in effect is keeping many homeowners from refinancing to access their equity. Traditional financing also turns away many applicants: according to the Urban Institute, 35% of traditional equity-extraction mortgage applications were denied in 2024, most commonly because of credit score or debt-to-income ratio requirements.

In Alabama, homeowners have seen their equity more than double since 2020, but many are also facing insurance bills that now exceed their annual property taxes.

In Kentucky, homeowners gained some of the largest equity increases in the country, yet rising insurance costs are taking a bigger bite out of household budgets.

Nebraska families may be watching their home values grow, but they also contend with some of the nation's highest insurance premiums alongside above-average property taxes.

In New Hampshire, longtime residents have benefited from soaring home values, while many younger families face a widening gap between home prices and local incomes.

In New Mexico, homeowners have built substantial equity, even as insurance availability and affordability have become growing concerns.

And in Wisconsin, many households are equity-rich on paper, but rising property taxes, winter energy costs, and the loss of certain federal energy incentives continue to put pressure on monthly budgets.

Hometap's HEI provides homeowners with cash in exchange for a share of their home's future value, with no monthly payments during the investment term. Homeowners have up to 10 years to settle the investment through a home sale, refinance, or buyout and can use the funds for a range of financial goals.  Because Hometap doesn't require homeowners to refinance or change the rate or term on their existing mortgage, they keep the terms they already have.

Hometap has now added 12 states in 2026 across two expansions and has tripled its state footprint since 2019. This marks the company's second state expansion this year, following the addition of Georgia, Montana, Tennessee, Idaho, and Delaware in June.

"This is what thoughtful growth looks like to us," Glass added. "We expand where homeowners actually need another option. That means doing the legal, regulatory, operational and homeowner demand due diligence in every state before we ever launch. Most of the homeowners we talk to are looking for access to their own equity, on their own terms. We're glad to be able to offer that in six more states."

Homeowners can learn more and get an estimate at hometap.com.

About Hometap

Founded in 2017, Hometap is a Boston-based fintech company on a mission to make homeownership less stressful and more accessible. Starting with its industry-leading home equity investment product, the company has helped nearly 30,000 homeowners across the U.S. access their home equity without having to take on additional monthly payments or sell their home. Hometap expanded its suite of innovative financial products and services in 2022 and introduced a centralized dashboard that allows homeowners to easily track their home equity, receive guidance and support from experts, and protect and grow the value of their home. Learn more at hometap.com.

SOURCE Hometap