: While they successfully finish the kitchen, Sarah and Mark are now "fully leveraged." If the housing market dips even 5%, they will owe more than the house is worth (being "underwater").

: They find a credit union offering a 100% LTV home equity loan. This allows them to "tap" every dollar of their home's current market value. Home Value : $300,000 Current Mortgage : $220,000

: Most banks tell them they can only borrow up to 80% of their home's value. After subtracting their existing mortgage, that only leaves them with $20,000—not enough for a full remodel.

Imagine Sarah and Mark, who bought a fixer-upper years ago. They’ve paid off a chunk of their mortgage, and thanks to a booming local market, they now have substantial equity—but very little in their savings account.

A "100% equity" home loan generally refers to a loan, which allows you to borrow the entire remaining value of your home without leaving a "safety cushion" of equity.

While rare, some lenders like Navy Federal Credit Union or AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union offer these products, though most traditional banks limit borrowing to 80% or 90% of the home's value. The Story of the "House-Rich, Cash-Poor" Renovation

: Using the funds, they complete the renovation, which ultimately boosts their home's appraisal value to $375,000, creating a new "safety net" of equity they built through the project. Home Equity Loans | Navy Federal Credit Union