Rocket Mortgage (formerly Quicken Loans) is the largest home lender in America, both in terms of dollars lent and number of mortgage originations. It offers cash-out refinancing and traditional home equity loans (HELOANs) and ranks first overall in J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study. But is it the right fit for you?
This guide will help you answer that question. Read on to find our full analysis of Rocket Mortgage home equity products, including pros and cons, offerings and factors to consider before deciding.
Best home equity loans for second homes
Rocket Mortgage offers home equity loans for primary and secondary residences. The lender’s HELOANs could be right for you if you have a vacation home or investment property with equity you want to access. If you have a credit score of 740 or higher, you may be able to borrow up to 90% of your home’s equity even if you don’t live there full-time.
Rocket Mortgage home equity loan pros and cons
- Offers home equity loans for secondary residences
- Allows you to borrow up to 90% of your home equity with high credit score
- Usually uses fixed interest rates so your payments remain consistent
- Was the second highest-ranked lender for mortgage origination satisfaction in 2023
- Has a minimum loan amount of $45,000
- Requires a FICO score of at least 680 to qualify
- Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)
Rocket Mortgage pros explained
Offers home equity loans for secondary residences
Rocket Mortgage’s home equity loans give you access to untapped equity in vacation and investment properties. This makes it possible to get the cash you’re looking for without the risk of a second mortgage on your primary residence. If the real estate market takes a downturn or you face unexpected future financial difficulties, the home you live in won’t be impacted.
Allows you to borrow up to 90% of your home equity
Rocket lets you borrow up to 90% of the equity you have built in your home. That’s 10% more than Chase and 5% more than Bank of America. If you need to borrow more, you may want to review how to build equity in a home before moving forward, as you’re unlikely to find a company that will let you borrow more than 90% of your equity.
Usually uses fixed interest rates, so your payments remain consistent
When you take out a loan through Rocket Mortgage, you will usually have a fixed rate throughout the lifespan of the lending agreement. This keeps your monthly payments consistent and predictable, which could decrease your risk of future default.
Fully online application process
Rocket recommends you consult with one of their lending experts to determine whether a HELOAN, cash-out refinance or some other loan type best fits your needs. Once you decide which you want, the lender’s application process allows you to fill out your financial information, upload documents and follow your application’s status online. You will be required to get an appraisal to determine the value of your home as part of your application.
Highest ranked lender for mortgage servicer satisfaction in 2025
J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study saw Rocket Mortgage rank first overall. It marks the eleventh time the lender has occupied the top spot in J.D. Power's survey. Over 15,000 customers were polled for the report, which measures overall customer satisfaction across the following six factors:
- Level of trust
- Ease of doing business with them
- Keeping them informed and educated
- The people
- Resolving problems or answering questions
- Digital channels
Rocket Mortgage finished with a score of 685 points out of 1,000, followed by Guild Mortgage in second place and Regions Mortgage in third. The survey's average satisfaction score for all lenders is 596.
Rocket Mortgage cons explained
Has a minimum loan amount of $45,000
One downside to Rocket Mortgage is its $45,000 minimum loan amount. That may be more than you need, and if you borrow extra, you’ll have to pay more in interest. The maximum loan amount is $350,000.
Requires a FICO score of at least 680 to qualify
Rocket's HELOANs are not a good fit if you have a low FICO score. You need a minimum credit score of 680 and a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) of 50% or less to qualify for any home equity option from this mortgage lender. Plus, the percentage of home equity that you can borrow scales with your credit score, so even if you meet the lender’s minimum threshold, you may not be able to borrow as much as you need.
These are the loan-to-value ratios (LTV), a measure lenders use to determine how much they are willing to lend, according to Rocket’s credit score requirements:
- 680 score: up to 80% of your equity
- 700 score: up to 85% of your equity
- 740 score: up to 90% of your equity
If you have a low credit score and want to tap into your home's equity, other options may be a better fit. You can read this guide covering how to get a home equity loan with bad credit to learn more. Personal loans or debt consolidation loans can be other options as well.
Doesn’t offer home equity lines of credit (HELOC)
It’s not currently possible to get a HELOC with Rocket Mortgage. You’ll need to choose another lender if you want a home equity line of credit that you can draw against and repay on an as-needed basis.
Rocket Mortgage home equity loan offerings
You have two home equity options to consider with Rocket Mortgage: home equity loans and cash-out refinancing. Both types of loans will have common features, such as a fixed interest rate and monthly loan payments, and a lump sum payout of the borrowed amount. There are differences you should be aware of, however. Here’s what each offers:
Home equity loans
HELOANs from Rocket Mortgage are second mortgages on your property, with loan terms set at either 10 or 20 years. Unlike your first mortgage, a home equity loan does not require a down payment. With this option, you’ll have two monthly mortgage payments and must pay off two separate loans to own your house outright. It also may carry a higher interest rate than a cash-out refinance, so you pay more to borrow the money you need.
However, you can keep the same interest rate on your original mortgage when you take out a home equity loan. This could be beneficial if your current rate is favorable. Another advantage is that you can borrow more of your home’s equity when you choose a HELOAN. Rocket Mortgage allows qualified homeowners to borrow up to 90% of their home’s equity with an equity loan, but only 80% with cash-out refinancing.
Homeowners use HELOANs for all kinds of purposes, from financing home improvements to consolidating high-interest credit card debt. This benefit of homeownership can help borrowers improve their personal finances.
Cash-out refinancing
Unlike home equity loans, cash-out refinancing replaces your current mortgage with a new one, usually at a lower interest rate. You only need to worry about one monthly payment with this option.
However, there are two main downsides to this borrowing option. The first change is that your loan repayment terms will be entirely different. So, if you had a favorable interest rate on your original mortgage, it would be wiped clean and replaced by the interest rate of your new cash-out refinancing agreement. Your loan term will also change, which means you may be repaying the loan for a longer period of time, increasing the total amount of interest you'll pay. Moreover, you can only borrow up to 80% of your home equity with this option, compared to 90% with a HELOAN.
Rocket Mortgage home equity loan pricing
Rocket Mortgage will base your equity loan rates on your credit score and other personal details. You can visit the company’s website and input your information into the Rocket Mortgage home equity loan calculator to see what mortgage rates you may qualify for. Your rates may also change as the Federal Reserve adjusts its prime lending rates.
Also, consider home equity loan closing costs. The company doesn’t list these publicly, but according to Rocket Mortgage’s closing cost guide, it’s common to pay between 2% and 6% of the loan amount. This covers the cost of several services, including:
- Home appraisal fees
- Credit report retrieval
- Attorney costs
- Document preparation
- Origination fees
- Notary charges
For those who wish to circumvent the appraisal process entirely, check out our list of the best no appraisal home equity loans.
Rocket Mortgage home equity loan financial stability
Rocket Mortgage’s financial stability isn’t as good as it could be. Moody’s gives the company a Ba1 rating. This is right in the middle of its scale, which ranges from Aaa to C.
Rocket Mortgage home equity loan accessibility
Availability
Rocket Mortgage’s home equity loans are available in all states. The company also has a $61,000 minimum loan amount for equity loans in Iowa and doesn’t offer its higher-priced loan options in New York, although it doesn’t specify what those options are. The loan application process is easy and can be completed online.
Contact information
You can get in touch with Rocket Mortgage via live online chat or over the phone. The company’s live chat service is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to midnight EST and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to midnight EST.
You can call for help with an in-process or closed loan at (800) 603-1955, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST. If you need to discuss a new loan, you can call (888) 452-8179, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to midnight EST, Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST.
User experience
Rocket Mortgage’s user experience is in line with what you’d expect from a company offering one of the best home equity loans of 2024. It has broad customer service hours and mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. The company’s website also has many articles to help you learn more about your home equity options.
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Rocket Mortgage home equity loan customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is a highlight for Rocket Mortgage. It’s the top-rated mortgage lender for customer satisfaction in the latest J.D. Power polls. It also has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Rocket Mortgage home equity loan FAQs
What is Rocket Mortgage?
Rocket Mortgage is a mortgage loan provider that was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Detroit. The company offers home loans and refinancing to borrowers in every state but Texas. It was originally called Quicken Loans but changed its name to Rocket Mortgage in 2021.
How does Rocket Mortgage work?
Rocket Mortgage lends money to people who want to purchase a new home, refinance an existing one or access the cash value of their home equity. It charges interest and various fees for each loan it offers, earning a profit in the process. You can submit an online application to see what your monthly payments might look like from this home equity loan lender.
Does Rocket Mortgage do HELOCs?
No, as of the time of creating this article, there are no Rocket Mortgage HELOC rates or loan terms to consider. You’ll need to go through the loan process with another provider if that’s the type of loan you want.
What credit score does Rocket Mortgage use?
Rocket Mortgage uses your personal credit score to evaluate your reliability as a borrower. Its minimum credit score requirement is 680, but if you want to access the best rates and terms on your mortgage loan, you'll need a score of 760 or higher.
How we evaluated Rocket Mortgage home equity loans
Our methodology for this Rocket Mortgage home equity loan review included consideration of each of the following factors:
- Eligibility criteria: We considered how easy it would be for borrowers with different credit profiles to procure HELOANs from Rocket Mortgage.
- Home equity loan options: We examined the provider's number of equity loan options and the flexibility of each.
- Ratings from independent third-party organizations: We looked at ratings from trusted third-party organizations such as Moody’s and J.D. Power to look objectively at the company and its loan products.
- Loan amounts and availability: We considered the range of equity loan amounts offered and their availability across the U.S.
These factors may not be all that matters to you as you search for the right home equity loan provider. If you have other considerations in mind, you may need to conduct further research to make your decision.
Summary of Money’s Rocket Mortgage home equity loan review
Rocket Mortgage (NMLS #3030) home equity loans are highly rated for customer satisfaction and are available for investment and vacation properties in addition to primary residences. Rocket Mortgage doesn’t offer home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and its eligibility criteria make it unsuitable for those with a low credit score. However, it may be the right lender if you’re looking for a large HELOAN or cash-out refinance.