In a Nutshell
pros
- Lower mortgage payments
- No monthly payments or interest
- Investment in primary, secondary, and vacation homes
cons
- Better for people who already have equity
- 10-year term
Haus at a Glance
| Direct lender or marketplace? | Direct lender |
| Loan types: | Home equity |
| Featured loans: | HEI, shared equity investment |
| Repayment terms: | 10 years |
| Minimum down payment: | 10% |
| Minimum credit score: | N/A |
| Best for: | Access to equity for low monthly payments |
Overview
Haus departs from typical home equity loans by offering you a way to co-invest in your home. When you need access to your equity, whether you’ve paid your house off or not, Haus shares in your home’s value.
Haus doesn’t lend to you. Instead, it lets you use your equity now and pay lower monthly payments than you would with a traditional loan. With a shared equity investment from Haus, the company invests by matching part of your down payment.
With a co-investment, you get more flexible terms than a mortgage loan. Haus also shares in the risks associated with owning a home, including appreciation and depreciation.
Best For?
Haus works best for homeowners who need quick access to their equity but want to keep their monthly payments low. If you need to pay off other debt or you want to renovate your home, Haus makes it possible by allowing you access to funds through equity. Homeowners with a lot of equity can benefit from working with Haus, as it has more funds at its disposal.
Types of Loans/Products
Haus offers an alternative to home equity loans and HELOCs with its shared equity agreement. While this is the only product it offers, it will tailor its investment to your situation.
With Haus’s investment, you decide how much equity you want to buy, which then determines what percentage of your equity Haus owns. Haus also offers low monthly payments so that you can get out of debt faster.
Here’s what you can get with Haus:
- 3.5% down payment required
- 10-year term
- Shared risk and benefit in your home’s value
- Acceptance of low credit scores
- Acceptance of agreements on primary, secondary, and vacation homes as well as investment properties
The Application Process
You can apply for a shared equity agreement from Haus with its online application. It only takes a few minutes to fill it out with some basic information that will help the company decide whether you qualify for its product.
Use these steps to apply and get access to your equity:
- Fill out the online application with information including your address, credit score, estimated property value, and remaining mortgage balance.
- Get an estimate from Haus, telling you how much it can invest in your home.
- If you get approved, Haus will match a certain amount of equity that you put into your home so that you can have lower mortgage payments.
Rates and Fees– The Bare Basics
Rates with Haus vary from one partner to the next. The company considers how much equity you already have and invests according to what you’ve put into your home’s equity. You can use its online calculator to determine how much it will invest in your home.
Since Haus doesn’t lend like a regular mortgage lender, it doesn’t charge the same rates or fees. You don’t have any interest or monthly payments with this company, either.
Haus doesn’t disclose any of the fees that come with its home appraisals once you submit your application. Similar companies like Hometap can cost up to $2,600 in fees alone, but with Haus, this number depends on Haus’s investment.
Haus also does not say how long it takes to get approved, or the average percentage it invests in homes.
Repayment Terms
Haus has simple repayment terms in that you don’t pay the company anything until you sell your home or settle the investment. Haus offers repayment terms of up to ten years, and you can settle at any point before then.
Because Haus is a co-investor in your home, it gets paid based on your home’s worth. When you sell your home, its value at the time of sale will determine the return. For example, if your home’s value goes up, Haus shares in that. If it goes down, Haus takes a loss.
According to Haus, when you sell your home, they’ll help you list it. Once it’s sold, you get your portion of the equity, and Haus gets the rest.
Help & Support
You can contact Haus by phone or email when you have questions. The company also have an online resource center with articles, data, and information about how to buy and sell a home. You can subscribe to its newsletter to get further tips on how to get the most out of your equity.
Phone: (415) 741-5023
Email: info@haus.com
Qualification
Haus doesn’t have as many eligibility requirements as many similar companies, like Hometap or Discover. The only concrete qualifications are that you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Own property in the United States
Haus has much more lenient credit requirements, too. The online information doesn’t specify an exact minimum, but its online application form gives a 529 and below option.
Haus has less available information for homeowners who want to work with this company, which makes it difficult to make a full comparison. However, Haus will help you purchase a home in addition to letting you access your equity. It makes a cash offer for its portion of the equity alongside your minimum 10% down payment.
Summary
Haus partners with you to invest in your home, whether you’re a new buyer or your home is completely paid off. It offers competitive options for accessing your equity without monthly payments. Haus gives you all the resources you need to understand how its process works, and its flexibility allows you to pay off other debt without worrying about creating more with a conventional loan.
FAQ
When Haus invests in my home, do I still own it?
Yes. While Haus is a co-investor, it doesn’t own your home. Your name still stays on the title while Haus keeps a Deed of Trust to prove its investment.
How does Haus’s investment differ from a home equity loan or HELOC?
A home equity loan and home equity line of credit (HELOC) both require you to pay monthly to access your equity. Instead of risking foreclosure, with Haus, it loses if you lose. Plus, you can buy more equity when you need it, and Haus offers more flexibility with payments.
Does Haus contribute to property taxes, insurance, or other costs?
As a co-investor, Haus does not pay property taxes, insurance, or any other costs associated with your home. You maintain responsibility for those as the owner.
Can I pay off my home early or cash out?
As long as you maintain a minimum ownership percentage, you can exchange equity for cash. Your payment terms might change, but Haus communicates that to you before you take out more money. When paying your home off early, you must buy the remaining equity from Haus according to your agreement.
Physical Address
660 4th Street, Suite 418
San Francisco, CA 94107
