Unlock Your Texas Home’s Hidden Value
Your home equity is one of your most powerful financial tools. Adam Bartling & Team help Texas homeowners access their equity with competitive rates, clear guidance, and a streamlined process — no surprises, no pressure.
How Much Home Equity Can You Access in Texas?
Texas law caps total borrowing at 80% of your home’s appraised value — including your existing mortgage. The remaining 20% must stay as equity in your home. Here’s exactly how that works with real numbers.
Your Home’s Value Breakdown
Example: $400,000 home with a $250,000 mortgage
The Formula: (Home Value × 80%) − Current Mortgage Balance = Maximum Equity You Can Access
Amounts based on appraised value. A current appraisal is required. Contact us for your personalized estimate.
HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan — Which Is Right for You?
Both tap your equity — but they work very differently. Here’s how to know which one fits your situation.
HELOC
A revolving line of credit secured by your home. Draw what you need, when you need it — pay interest only on what you use.
💡 Best For:
Ongoing home improvements, emergency reserve, projects where the final cost is uncertain, or when you want to borrow in stages.
Home Equity Loan
A second mortgage with a fixed rate and term. Receive your full amount upfront with predictable monthly payments from day one.
💡 Best For:
Debt consolidation, major renovations with known costs, large one-time expenses, or when payment predictability matters most.
Smart Ways Texas Homeowners Use Their Equity
Your equity is a powerful financial tool. Here are the most common — and most strategic — ways Texas homeowners put it to work.
Home Renovations
Upgrade your kitchen, add a bathroom, or build an addition. Well-chosen improvements may help increase your home’s value over time. For ground-up builds, consider a construction loan instead.
Renovation FundingDebt Consolidation
Replace high-interest credit card debt with a home equity loan that typically carries a much lower rate. One simplified payment, with a clear payoff date instead of revolving balances.
Simplify PaymentsInvestment Property Down Payment
Use equity from your primary home to fund the down payment on a rental property. Combined with a DSCR investor loan, this is a proven Texas wealth-building strategy.
Build a PortfolioEmergency Reserve
A HELOC gives you a safety net for unexpected expenses. With a HELOC, you only pay interest on funds you actually draw — so the unused portion sits ready without ongoing interest charges.
Built-In Safety NetEducation Expenses
Some families use home equity to help cover college tuition or private school. Compare the home equity option carefully against federal student loans, which offer borrower protections that secured loans don’t.
Education FundingMedical Expenses
Cover unexpected medical bills or planned procedures with a structured loan and predictable payments — an alternative to credit cards or short-term medical financing.
Predictable PaymentsImportant Texas Home Equity Rules
Texas has stronger homestead protections than almost any other state. These rules protect you — but you need to know them before you plan.
As a Texas equity specialist, Adam navigates these rules with every client — so you’re never caught off guard and can plan your timeline accordingly.
How to Get a HELOC or Home Equity Loan in Texas
Six straightforward steps — from first conversation to funded. Here’s exactly what to expect when working with Adam & Team.
Free Strategy Consultation — No Credit Pull
We start with a conversation about your goals, your home value estimate, and your existing mortgage balance. We determine whether a HELOC or home equity loan is the right fit — and run the Texas 80% math to show you exactly how much you can access. No credit check yet.
Application & Document Collection
Once you’re ready to move forward, we complete the formal application. You’ll provide income documentation (pay stubs, W-2s, or tax returns if self-employed), mortgage statements, and your property information. Our dedicated processor guides you through every document.
Home Appraisal
A licensed appraiser determines your home’s current market value. This is the number that drives the 80% LTV calculation. In strong Texas markets, appraisals often come in higher than expected — increasing the equity available to you.
Underwriting & Texas 12-Day Wait Period
Your file goes through underwriting while the mandatory 12-business-day Texas waiting period runs simultaneously. This is required by law and cannot be waived — but we time everything so you’re not waiting any longer than necessary.
Closing
Closing must take place at an attorney’s office, lender’s office, or title company — not your home or a third-party location, per Texas law. You’ll review and sign your final loan documents. You then have a 3-business-day right of rescission before funds are released.
Funded — Access Your Equity
After the rescission period, funds are disbursed. Home equity loan proceeds are sent in a lump sum. HELOC credit lines become available to draw against as needed. Total timeline from application to funding: typically 21–30 days in Texas.
Not Sure Which Equity Option Is Right for You?
We’ll run both scenarios for your home — HELOC vs. home equity loan — so you can compare real numbers before deciding. No upfront credit check required.
LET’S TALKWhy Texas Homeowners Choose Adam & Team for Equity Loans
We don’t work for a bank — we work for you. That means shopping for competitive equity rates, explaining Texas’s unique rules clearly, and staying with you through every step.
Multiple Lenders Compete
We shop your equity loan across multiple lenders — so you get the best rate available, not just what one institution can offer.
Texas Equity Experts
We know Texas homestead rules inside and out — 80% LTV cap, 12-day wait, 1-per-year limit. No surprises at closing.
Veteran-Owned
Retired Army Captain. The integrity and mission focus from 22 years of military service applied to every loan we process.
Education-First
We explain HELOC vs. equity loan pros and cons for your specific situation — so you make the right choice, not just a quick one.
No Upfront Credit Check
We evaluate your equity potential and options before pulling credit — protecting your score while giving you a realistic picture.
Fast Closings
We close as fast as Texas law allows — typically 21 days from application. Same team from start to funded, no department handoffs.
What Texas Homeowners Are Saying
“We had significant credit card debt at high interest. Adam helped us get a home equity loan and consolidated everything. Monthly payments dropped meaningfully and we’ll be debt-free years sooner. Life-changing.”
“I wanted flexibility for a kitchen remodel. Adam recommended a HELOC so I could draw funds as the project grew. The credit line gave me peace of mind throughout — and I only paid interest on what I used.”
“Adam explained Texas equity rules clearly, no surprises. Used the HELOC as a down payment on a rental property — now building real wealth. I appreciated his straightforward military approach.”
Texas Home Equity FAQs
Common questions Texas homeowners ask about HELOCs, equity loans, and how they compare to cash-out refinancing. Ask us anything →
Adam Bartling
Loan Officer · NMLS# 2213358 · Serving Texas & 30+ States
Adam is a retired U.S. Army Captain with 22 years of military service who now applies that same discipline to helping Texas homeowners navigate equity loans, HELOCs, and the full range of home financing options. He has guided hundreds of borrowers through Texas’s unique homestead equity rules — from the 80% LTV cap to the mandatory 12-day waiting period — ensuring clients are never surprised at the closing table.
Adam’s education-first approach means he compares every option — HELOC, home equity loan, and cash-out refinance — with each client before recommending a path. As a direct lender, Adam & Team shop multiple lenders to deliver competitive rates across Texas and 30+ states.
Explore Other Texas Loan Programs
We offer a full range of home financing options across Texas and 30+ states.
