HESA in action
From consolidating debt to funding important expenses or simply creating more financial flexibility, see how Ontario homeowners can put the equity they have built to work.
Unlock endless possibilities
Home equity can be a powerful financial resource. A HESA gives homeowners a way to access that value while continuing to own and live in their home.
Learn more about the HESA
A Home Equity Sharing Agreement, or HESA, is a different way to access the value you have built in your home without taking on debt, monthly payments, or an interest rate. HEQ provides you with funds today (your Initial Payment) in exchange for a share of your home's future change in value, whether it goes up or down, until you sell, refinance, or your agreement reaches the end of its 10-year term. Once the HESA is signed, you receive the funds to use however you choose and remain the sole owner of your home the whole time.
HEQ can provide an Initial Payment to you between $50,000 and $500,000, typically representing 5.0% to 17.5% of your home's current appraised value (your Investment Percentage).
The easiest way to find out how much you may be eligible to access is to use our “Get an estimate” function. Simply enter a few simple details about your home to receive an instant estimate.
HEQ's share depends on which direction your home's value moves from the start date of your HESA.
If your home's value increases, HEQ shares in four times your Investment Percentage — this is called your HEQ Percentage. For example, if your Initial Payment equals 10% of your home's value, HEQ's share of any increase is 40%. If your home's value decreases, HEQ's share is equal to your Investment Percentage. So, in that same example, HEQ would share in 10% of any decrease.
You remain the sole owner of your home. A HESA does not make HEQ a co-owner, and you continue to enjoy all the benefits of homeownership, including living in your home, making decisions about it, and maintaining eligibility for applicable principal residence tax benefits and exemptions.
HEQ works with owner-occupied, single-family homes, semi-detached homes, and freehold townhomes where you live for at least 180 days a year (i.e. your principal residence).
Condominiums and rental properties don't currently qualify. You will also need at least a 30% equity position in your home and a minimum credit score of 500.
Yes. A HESA can be a good fit for homeowners with significant home equity who don't fit the traditional lending mold, and HEQ looks at your overall financial picture rather than income alone.
Yes. However, all registered owners of the property need to sign the HESA, and if you have a spouse who isn't on title, their consent will typically be required as well.
No. HEQ only shares in the change in your home's value set at the beginning of your HESA. Any equity you build by paying down your mortgage over time belongs entirely to you, as it should!