Hometap vs. Point vs. Beeline Equity Now: Fees, Terms, and What You Settle Later
Hometap, Point, and Beeline Equity Now all give you cash for a share of your home without a monthly payment — but the resemblance ends there. The real question isn’t who hands you money today; it’s what you hand back later, and when. Hometap and Point are home equity investments (HEIs): contracts secured by a lien, settled by a deadline, using a formula. Beeline Equity Now is equity co-ownership: a true sale of a fixed slice, recorded on the deed, with no deadline and no formula. This guide compares three of the things that change what you pay — pricing, term, and the math at exit.
Quick Answer
Hometap and Point are home equity investments: you get cash now, they record a lien, and you settle a share of your home’s value by a deadline — Hometap on a firm 10-year term, Point on a term up to 30 years. Both use a formula (a multiplier or a cap) to set what you settle. Beeline Equity Now is different in kind: you sell a fixed percentage of equity, Beeline is recorded on the deed as a co-owner, and you settle that same percentage whenever you sell — no term, no formula, no multiplier.
The three at a glance
Specific terms vary by provider and change over time — confirm current details with each company before deciding.
| Hometap | Point | Beeline Equity Now | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | HEI | HEI | Equity co-ownership |
| On title as | Lienholder | Lienholder | Co-owner on the deed |
| Term | Firm 10 years | Up to 30 years | No term |
| Exit math | Rising multiplier, with a cap | Value share, with a protection cap | Same fixed % you sold |
| Upfront fee | ~4.5% + costs | Up to ~3.9% + costs | 8.5% + costs |
| Cash | Up to ~$600,000 | Up to ~$600,000 | $50,000–$200,000 |
| Credit check | Typically yes | Typically yes | No |
| Reach | ~19 states + DC | ~26 states + DC | Select ZIPs, home value $900,000+ |
What each one actually is
Hometap (HEI). A contract in which Hometap gives you a lump sum and, in exchange, is owed a share of your home’s value at settlement, secured by a lien. Its 2026 pricing sets that share with a multiplier that rises the longer you hold — heavier after year five — subject to an overall cap. The term is a firm 10 years, so a settlement is due by then whether you sell, refinance, or buy Hometap out.
Point (HEI). Also a lien-secured contract, but with a longer runway — the term can extend up to 30 years — and a Homeowner Protection Cap that limits how much Point’s share can grow if your home appreciates sharply. Point is frequently cited as one of the more homeowner-friendly HEI structures in the market, largely because of that longer horizon and the cap.
Beeline Equity Now (equity co-ownership). Not an HEI. You sell a small, fixed percentage of your equity, and Beeline is recorded on the deed as a minority co-owner rather than a lienholder behind you. There’s no loan, no monthly payment, no interest, and no maturity date. When you sell the home, Beeline receives the same percentage it bought — no multiplier, no cap, no formula.
Key terms, defined
Home equity investment (HEI): a contract that provides cash now in exchange for a share of a home’s future value, secured by a lien on title and settled by a deadline.
Equity co-ownership: a true real estate sale of a fixed slice of equity, with the buyer recorded on the deed as a minority co-owner — not a lender, not a lienholder.
Appreciation multiplier: a factor an HEI applies to your home’s gain to calculate its settlement — the higher the multiplier, the larger its share.
Homeowner protection cap: a ceiling that limits how much an HEI’s settlement can grow, no matter how much the home appreciates.
Consensus Fair Market Value (CFMV): the home value Beeline uses, derived from several independent automated valuations rather than a single appraisal.
The part that decides your cost: what you settle later
Every one of these gives you cash today. What separates them is the exit.
With Hometap, the longer you hold, the larger the multiplier applied at settlement — so time works against you within the 10-year window, up to the cap. With Point, the protection cap works the other way, putting a ceiling on its share if your home’s value climbs. With Beeline Equity Now, there’s no formula at all: sell 10% and it’s 10% at the end, whether you settle in year two or year twenty or year 50. The risk is shared both ways, so if the market falls— if your home’s value falls, Beeline’s result falls too.
This is why the lowest upfront fee doesn’t always mean the lowest total cost. An HEI’s real cost depends on how much your home appreciates and on the formula applied at exit; co-ownership’s cost is simply the fixed percentage you agreed to. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Issue Spotlight on home equity contracts flags exactly this — that these products can be hard to compare because the true cost often isn’t clear until you exit. The practical takeaway: compare the exit, not just the entry.
Where Hometap or Point may be the better fit
Honest comparison matters, so here’s the plain version. If your home is worth less than $900,000, or you’re outside Beeline’s current ZIP codes, Hometap or Point may simply be available when Beeline Equity Now isn’t.. If you need more than $200,000, their higher ceilings can matter. And Beeline’s 8.5% transaction fee is higher upfront than the ~3.9%–4.5% these HEIs typically charge, so for a homeowner confident they’ll settle quickly, that gap is worth running the numbers on.
Between the two HEIs: Point may suit a homeowner who wants a long runway and a cap on the provider’s upside, while Hometap may suit one who prefers a firm, defined term and is confident about exiting inside 10 years.
Where Beeline Equity Now is structurally different
Four features set equity co-ownership apart from an HEI:
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No lien on title. Beeline is on the deed as a minority co-owner, not behind you as a lienholder.
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No fixed term. No maturity date forces a settlement. You can buy your share back any time after year one, with no exit fee.
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No balloon settlement. When you sell, Beeline receives a pro-rata share of the proceeds — the same percentage sold upfront.
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No multiplier or cap. What’s agreed at the start is what applies at the end, in both directions.
The trade-off is honest: the upfront fee is higher, the cash range is narrower, and it’s available on fewer homes today. In exchange, there’s no deadline and no formula deciding what you settle later.
Choosing between them
Reach and cash amount come first: if you need availability in more states, a figure above $200,000, or the lowest entry fee — and you’re comfortable with a lien and a deadline — an HEI may be the practical route. Then weigh the exit: Point for a long horizon and a capped upside, Hometap for a firm 10-year term. If a fixed slice with no deadline,no formula and no risk of foreclosure matters more to you — and your home clears $900,000 in an eligible ZIP — equity co-ownership may be worth a closer look. Read each provider’s own disclosures, and talk it through with someone you trust before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beeline Equity Now a home equity investment (HEI)? No. Hometap and Point are HEIs — lien-secured contracts with a settlement deadline and a formula that sets what you owe. Beeline Equity Now is equity co-ownership: a true sale of a fixed slice, with Beeline recorded on the deed as a minority co-owner. There’s no loan, no lien, and no fixed term.
What’s the difference between Hometap and Point? Both are HEIs, but the terms differ. Hometap uses a firm 10-year term and a settlement multiplier that rises over time, capped at an overall limit. Point’s term can run up to 30 years and applies a homeowner protection cap that limits its share if your home appreciates sharply. Point is often cited as one of the more homeowner-friendly HEI structures; confirm current details with each company.
Which one costs the least? Upfront, Point (up to ~3.9%) and Hometap (~4.5%) typically charge less than Beeline’s 8.5% one-time fee. But the entry fee isn’t the whole cost — an HEI’s total depends on your home’s appreciation and its multiplier or cap, while co-ownership settles at the same fixed percentage that is known upfront. Compare the exit math, not just the upfront fee; specific terms vary by provider.
What happens if my home loses value? With Beeline Equity Now, the share moves both ways: if your home’s value falls, the co-owner’s slice falls in the same proportion. HEIs vary — some share downside, some apply floors or other terms — so check each provider’s disclosures for how a decline is handled.
Do any of them require a credit check? Hometap and Point typically review credit as part of qualifying. Beeline Equity Now doesn’t check credit or income — eligibility is based on the property, occupancy, and title. Requirements can change, so confirm current criteria with each provider.
Can I use any of these if my home is worth under $900,000? Beeline Equity Now currently sets a $900,000 minimum and operates in select ZIP codes, so it may not be available for lower-value homes. Hometap and Point have their own criteria and operate in more states, so they may be available where Beeline isn’t. Check each provider’s eligibility directly.
This article is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Provider terms change and vary by situation — confirm current details with each company and consult a qualified professional before making a decision.