Home equity loans are a financial tool that allows homeowners to leverage the equity they’ve built in their homes for different purposes, including home improvements, debt consolidation or funding ...

Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) allow homeowners to tap into the value of their homes. A home equity loan is a fixed-rate, lump-sum loan that allows homeowners to borrow up ...

A home improvement loan refers to a way to use a loan rather than a type of loan, as you can use any number of loan types to finance the improvements. You might take out a home equity loan or line of ...

Matt Richardson is the senior managing editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com. He writes and edits content about personal finance ranging from savings to investing to insurance.