Point vs. Unison
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Quick Verdict
Choose Point if you have a credit score below 620 or want the maximum amount of cash possible. Choose Unison if you want to avoid a hard credit pull or need a renovation adjustment.
Point and Unison both offer 30-year HEIs, so term length isn't the deciding factor here. The real differences are in how much you can access, who qualifies, how each treats early exits and loss sharing, and what happens to the agreement if you pass away. The rest of this page compares them directly.
See Your Own Numbers for Both
Enter your home details to see what Point and Unison would each actually cost you — plus Hometap, Unlock, and Splitero — side by side.
Side-by-Side Specs
| Point | Unison | |
|---|---|---|
| Contract term | 30 yrs | 30 yrs |
| Min Funding | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Max Funding | $600,000 | $500,000 |
| Max Proceeds | 25% | 15% |
| Min credit score | 500 | 620 |
| Max Senior LTV | 80% | 70% |
| Max CLTV | 80% | 90% (unconf.) |
| Origination fee | 3.9% | 3.9% |
| Renovation adjustment | Not offered | Offered |
| Manufactured homes | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| LLC / trust ownership | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| Hard credit pull | Yes | No |
| Repayment on death | Not triggered | Triggered |
| State availability | 27 states + D.C. | 24 states + D.C. |
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 | Unison's Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $517,500 | $59,781 | $60,000 |
| Year 3 | $554,359 | $85,457 | $81,744 |
| Year 5 | $593,843 | $122,161 | $97,537 |
| Year 7 | $636,140 | $137,307 | $114,456 |
| Year 10 | $705,299 | $159,576 | $142,120 |
| Year 20 | $994,894 | $252,826 | $257,958 |
| Year 30 | $1,403,397 | $384,364 | $421,359 |
Observations
- Point and Unison land close together at year 1.
- Unison is noticeably cheaper from year 3 through year 10, with its edge reaching roughly $24,600 around year 5.
- That reverses further out: Point costs less starting around year 20, and the gap widens to nearly $37,000 by year 30.
- Point's pricing is more individualized than Unison's (it factors in your credit score and existing mortgage balance), so your actual quote could differ more from this example than Unison's would.
Where Each One Leads
Where Point Leads
- Lower credit score floor. 500 minimum vs. Unison's 620 — a meaningful gap for borrowers on the lower end.
- Higher funding ceiling and proceeds percentage. Up to $600,000 and 25% of your home's value, vs. Unison's $500,000 cap and 15% limit.
- Death does not trigger repayment. If you pass away, your heirs can hold the agreement until it would normally settle — Unison requires repayment within 180 days.
- No loss-sharing restrictions. Unison restricts loss sharing for the first 36 months and never shares losses if you exit through a buyout — Point doesn't have either restriction.
- Open to investment and second homes. Unison's eligibility is limited to primary residences, with limited exceptions it hasn't fully detailed.
Where Unison Leads
- No hard credit pull. Applying doesn't affect your credit score; Point requires a hard pull.
- Renovation adjustment. Eligible renovation value is excluded from Unison's appreciation share — with Point, the full appreciated value counts toward its share, including gains from your own improvements.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Point If
- Your credit score is below 620
- You want the highest funding ceiling and proceeds percentage available among the 30-year providers we track
- Your property is an investment property or second home
- You want unrestricted loss sharing, with no lockout period or buyout exclusion
Choose Unison If
- You'd rather avoid any hard credit pull during the application process
- You're planning eligible home improvements you'd rather not share appreciation on
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 Unison better?
Neither is categorically better — both offer 30-year HEIs, so the choice usually comes down to eligibility and how each treats early exits, not term length. Point accepts lower credit scores and offers a higher funding ceiling and proceeds percentage. Unison uses a soft credit pull only and offers a renovation adjustment, but restricts loss sharing and requires repayment within 180 days of your death. In our representative scenario, the two landed close together at year 1, Unison was noticeably cheaper from year 3 through year 10, and Point pulled ahead from year 20 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 Unison?
Point's minimum is 500; Unison's is 620. Point is more accessible for borrowers with lower credit scores.
Does either Point or Unison require a hard credit pull?
Point does; Unison uses a soft pull only, so applying doesn't affect your credit score.
Does Point or Unison cost less?
It depends on how long you hold the agreement and, especially for Point, on your own credit profile and financial circumstances. In the representative scenario illustrated above, the two cost about the same at year 1, Unison becomes noticeably cheaper from year 3 through year 10, and Point pulls back ahead from year 20 on. Run your own numbers for an exact comparison.
Can I use either Point or Unison for a home renovation?
You can use funds from either for anything, including renovations, but only Unison 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. Unison's adjustment has real strings attached, though: it isn't available until three years into the agreement, and you'll need to give advance notice, use licensed contractors, and document the project to qualify.
What happens to my Point or Unison agreement if I pass away?
With Point, your heirs aren't forced to settle early — they can hold the agreement until it would normally come due. With Unison, your death triggers the agreement, and your heirs have 180 days to settle it.
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 →