Point vs. Hometap
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Quick Verdict
Choose Point if you want a longer term (up to 30 years) or have a credit score below 585. Choose Hometap if your property is a manufactured home or you need less than $30,000.
Point and Hometap aren't really competing for the same homeowner in most cases because they're built around different term lengths (30 years vs. 10), which is usually the bigger decision than which specific provider you pick. See Choosing a Term Length if you haven't settled that question yet. If you have, the rest of this page compares them directly.
See Your Own Numbers for Both
Enter your home details to see what Point and Hometap would each actually cost you — plus Unison, Unlock, and Splitero — side by side.
Side-by-Side Specs
| Point | Hometap | |
|---|---|---|
| Contract term | 30 yrs | 10 yrs |
| Min Funding | $30,000 | $15,000 |
| Max Funding | $600,000 | $600,000 |
| Max Proceeds | 25% | 27% |
| Min credit score | 500 | 585 |
| Max Senior LTV | 80% | 75% |
| Max CLTV | 80% | 82.5% |
| Origination fee | 3.9% | 4.5% |
| Renovation adjustment | Not offered | Offered |
| Manufactured homes | Not eligible | Eligible |
| LLC / trust ownership | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| Hard credit pull | Yes | Unsure |
| Repayment on death | Not triggered | Not triggered |
| State availability | 27 states + D.C. | 21 states |
Term Length: the Real Decision Here
Point's 30-year term and Hometap's 10-year term are designed to serve different customers. For most homeowners, selecting the appropriate term length is the most important decision in selecting the right HEI provider. If you're still working out what term length fits you, see Choosing a Term Length.
Point's 30-Year Term Fits If
- You don't have a fixed date in mind for selling or refinancing
- You want your repayment deadline to be decades away, not years away
Hometap's 10-Year Term Fits If
- You already have a clear exit plan — a likely sale, refinance, or payoff within 10 years
- You're comfortable knowing that if you haven't settled by year 10, a sale or refinance may be required
Cost Comparison
HEIs don't have an interest rate, so the clearest way to compare cost is the actual dollar amount you'd owe at settlement. The table below shows both providers' payoffs under the exact same scenario, so the numbers are directly comparable. Both are estimates based on each provider's published formulas, not guaranteed payoff amounts.
Scenario assumptions
- $500K home
- 700 credit score
- $50K requested
- 10% LTV
- 3.5% annual home price growth
| Exit Year | Home Value | Point's Share | Hometap's Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $517,500 | $59,781 | $60,076 |
| Year 3 | $554,359 | $85,457 | $86,729 |
| Year 5 | $593,843 | $122,161 | $97,984 |
| Year 7 | $636,140 | $137,307 | $114,505 |
| Year 10 | $705,299 | $159,576 | $126,954 |
| Year 20 | $994,894 | $252,826 | 10-yr max term |
| Year 30 | $1,403,397 | $384,364 | 10-yr max term |
Observations
- Point and Hometap cost about the same through year 3.
- Hometap becomes the cheaper option starting around year 5, and stays cheaper through year 10 — the last year its term allows.
- Point's pricing is more individualized than Hometap's (it factors in your credit score and existing mortgage balance), so your actual quote could differ more from this example than Hometap's would.
Where Each One Leads
Where Point Leads
- Lower credit score floor. 500 minimum vs. Hometap's 585 — a meaningful gap for borrowers on the lower end.
- Longer repayment window. Up to 30 years vs. 10, with no forced decision point for two extra decades.
- Broader state footprint. 27 states plus D.C. vs. Hometap's 21.
Where Hometap Leads
- Higher maximum proceeds percentage. Up to 27% of home value vs. Point's 25%.
- Lower minimum request. $15,000 vs. Point's $30,000 — better fit for smaller requests.
- Renovation adjustment. Eligible home improvement value is excluded from Hometap's appreciation share; Point has no equivalent.
- Accepts manufactured homes. Point does not.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Point If
- You want the flexibility of a 30-year term with no near-term deadline
- Your credit score is below 585
Choose Hometap If
- You already plan to settle within 10 years
- You're planning eligible home improvements you'd rather not share appreciation on
- Your property is a manufactured home, or you're requesting a smaller amount and want the lower $15,000 minimum
In addition to the factors above, cost matters — see the cost comparison above, or run your own numbers to see what each would actually cost you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Point or Hometap better?
Neither is categorically better — they're built around different term lengths (30 years vs. 10) that fit different situations. Point accepts lower credit scores. Hometap offers a higher proceeds percentage and a renovation adjustment, but forces you to settle by year 10. In our representative scenario, the two cost about the same through year 3, and Hometap becomes cheaper from around year 5 on — but that's specific to that scenario, not a general rule, so check your own numbers before assuming either is cheaper for you.
Which has a lower credit score requirement, Point or Hometap?
Point's minimum is 500; Hometap's is 585. Point is more accessible for borrowers with lower credit scores.
Can I use either Point or Hometap for a home renovation?
You can use funds from either for anything, including renovations, but only Hometap excludes eligible renovation value from its appreciation share. With Point, the full appreciated value — including any gain from your own renovations — counts toward Point's share.
Does Point or Hometap cost less?
It depends on how long you hold the agreement and, especially for Point, on your own credit profile — its multiple varies with credit score and loan-to-value ratio. In the representative scenario illustrated above, Point and Hometap cost about the same through year 3, but Hometap becomes cheaper starting around year 5 and stays that way through year 10, the last year its term allows. Run your own numbers for an exact comparison.
Does either Point or Hometap accept manufactured homes?
Hometap does; Point does not. Hometap is the only provider in our tracked set that explicitly allows manufactured homes.
Get Real Offers From Both
Your actual numbers depend on your home's appraised value and your own details. The surest way to compare is a real offer from each.
Or compare all 5 in the cost calculator →