Discover Home Equity Loan Review 2024

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Discover Home Equity Loan Review 2024

Discover® home equity loans have a lower-than-average minimum APR and no application, origination or appraisal fees — a standout feature among lenders, especially since closing costs can reach up to 6% of your total loan amount.

We also like that Discover approves loans for borrowers with as little as 10% equity and in nearly every state. Other home equity lenders have tighter requirements and are much more geographically limited.

But, if you’re looking for a smaller loan (or a very large one) keep in mind that Discover only approves home equity loans for between $35,000 and $300,000.

Discover® Home Equity Loan

  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

    Apply online for personalized rates

  • Loan minimum and maximum

    Minimum: 35,000; Maximum: $300,000

  • Terms available

  • Credit needed

  • Minimum equity required

Pros

  • Accepts combined loan-to-value ratio of 90%.
  • No origination fees, appraisal fees or prepayment penalty
  • Mortgage refinancing available
  • Available in most states

Cons

  • No purchase mortgages or home equity lines of credit
  • Must apply online or via phone
  • $35,000 loan minimum is higher than most
  • $300,000 loan maximum is lower than most

Discover home equity loan review

What is a home equity loan?

Discover home equity loan rates and terms

Discover home equity loan requirements  

Discover home equity loan fees   

Discover customer service

How does Discover compare to other home equity lenders?

Discover home equity loan comparison chart

Discover® TD Bank Rocket Mortgage
Minimum credit score 680 660 680
Minimum loan total $35,000 $10,000 $45,000
Maximum loan total $300,000 $500,000+ $500,000
Maximum CLTV 90% 90% 90%
Time to close 6 to 8 weeks Not disclosed Not disclosed
Availability All states except Iowa and Maryland 13 states All 50 states
Best for Low APR In-person assistance Customer service

Discover vs. TD Bank

TD Bank’s rate on a 10-year, $30,000 home equity loan starts at 8.84%. That’s more than both Discover’s 7.99% minimum APR and the industry average of 8.60%. TD charges also a $99 origination fee that Discover doesn’t.

TD Bank Home Equity Loan

  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

    Apply online for personalized rates

  • Loan minimum and maximum

    Minimum: $10,000; Maximum: $500,000 without additional requirements

  • Terms available

  • Credit needed

  • Minimum equity required

Pros

  • Higher-than-average combined loan-to-value ratio at 90%
  • Online application available
  • Many brick-and-mortar locations
  • High maximum loan total
  • Low minimum loan total

Cons

  • Several one-time and yearly fees
  • Only available in 15 states

But which lender is better for you ultimately depends on the size of your loan, where you live and whether you prefer an in-person or online experience.

Discover will only approve loans of between $35,000 and $300,000, while TD Bank will lend as little as $10,000 or as much as $500,000 (or more, under certain terms).

Discover issues loans in 48 states and Washington, D.C., while TD Bank only services 15 states and the District. TD Bank does have over 1,000 branches for face-to-face service with a mortgage loan officer, though, while you can only apply with Discover online or over the phone.

Discover vs. Rocket Mortgage

A matchup between Discover and fellow online lender Rocket Mortgage is a bit of a draw, since Rocket doesn’t disclose its minimum APR.

Rocket Mortgage Home Equity Loan

  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

    Apply online for personalized rates

  • Loan minimum and maximum

    Minimum: $45,000; Maximum: $500,000

  • Terms available

  • Credit needed

  • Minimum equity required

Pros

  • Higher-than-average combined loan-to-value ratio at 90%
  • High customer satisfaction reviews
  • Excellent online user experience
  • Minimum is relatively high

Cons

  • High minimum loan total at $45,000
  • No brick-and-mortar locations
  • Only provides two term options: 10 years and 20 years

But Discover has no lender fees or closing costs, while Rocket Mortgage charges a $99 origination fee and closing costs that it says range between 2% and 6% of the loan. Rocket also limits repayment terms to 10 or 20 years, while Discover has options for 10, 15, 20 or 30 years.

When it comes to availability, Rocket Mortgage has a slight leg up: It approves loans nationwide, while Discover lends in just 48 states.

Loan limits might be the bigger issue: Discover maxes out at $300,000 on home equity loans, while Rocket will go as high as $500,000.

Discover home equity loan pros and cons

How do I apply for a Discover home equity loan?

Is a Discover home equity loan right for me?

FAQ

What credit score do I need for a Discover home equity loan?

Discover prefers borrowers to have a FICO 680 credit score for a home equity loan.

How long does it take to get approved for a Discover home equity loan?

Initial eligibility takes about one to two weeks to confirm, according to Discover, followed by two weeks of underwriting and closing. From application to close, the entire process takes between six to eight weeks.

Does Discover offer a home equity line of credit (HELOC)?

Discover offers a home equity loan and mortgage refinancing, but not a home equity line of credit.

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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.


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