Current HELOC guidelines, updated from one source.
This snapshot carries the primary-residence tier, with the second-home and investment floors beside it: the leverage ceiling, the credit floor, the line range, and the draw and repayment periods, each read from Lendmire’s guideline source and refreshed when the programs move.
Of the home’s value, first mortgage included
Up to 90% combined loan-to-value is the primary-residence ceiling at the top tier; the tier ladder below shows how the ceiling and the line cap step down with the credit profile.
Credit score to start
Eligibility on a primary residence starts at a 600 credit profile, where the ceiling and the line cap are at their smallest; the tiers above it open more leverage, a larger cap, or both, and never less.
Automated valuation on lines to $500,000
$25,000 to $750,000 is the primary-residence line range; an automated valuation ordinarily serves lines to $500,000, and a full appraisal, a higher floor, and a reduced ceiling apply above it.
Interest-only, then 17–25 years of repayment
The draw period is 3–5 years of interest-only payments, followed by 17–25 years of repayment; which structure applies depends on the program that offers the stronger cell at your tier.
| Credit profile | Max combined LTV | Max line | Valuation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 720+ | 90% | $500,000 | Automated valuation |
| 720+ | 75% | $750,000 | Full appraisal; primary residence only |
| 700+ | 85% | $500,000 | Automated valuation |
| 700+ | 75% | $750,000 | Full appraisal; primary residence only |
| 680+ | 85% | $500,000 | Automated valuation |
| 660+ | 85% | $500,000 | Automated valuation |
| 640+ | 80% | $500,000 | Automated valuation |
| 620+ | 70% | $400,000 | Automated valuation |
| 600+ | 60% | $400,000 | Automated valuation |
The 90% combined loan-to-value ceiling requires a 720 credit profile; lower tiers carry lower ceilings or smaller line caps, as the table shows. Second homes start at a 640 profile; investment property requires 700 and caps at 70% combined loan-to-value. Lines above the automated-valuation range: $750,000 at 75% with a full appraisal (700+ credit profile).
Current HELOC snapshot · updated August 31, 2026 · seven credit tiers on a primary residence · variable rate through the draw and repayment periods · at least 75% of the line drawn at closing · first or second lien position · no prepayment penalty · no entity vesting.
For informational purposes only. This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit, an offer, or a quote. Program parameters shown are wholesale lender guidelines, are subject to change without notice, and every figure depends on the borrower, the property, the occupancy, the selected program, and full underwriting. Where wholesale programs differ, each figure applies only within its own program’s terms. The rate, the payment, and any costs for a specific line are provided in writing by a licensed loan officer. Licensed in sixteen states for consumer mortgages. Lendmire, LLC, NMLS #2371349. Equal Housing Opportunity.
What a home equity line of credit is — and how the line is sized.
A home equity line of credit is a revolving lien, usually in second position: the home secures it, the line is sized from the equity, and the balance moves as you draw and repay. The pieces that decide the line in Stonecrest are the value, the balance already on the home, the credit tier, and the occupancy.
For the program overview, see Lendmire’s home equity line of credit program, or the statewide guide at HELOC in Georgia.
A line you draw on, not a lump sum
Unlike a closed-end loan, the line stays open through the draw period: draw for a Stonecrest renovation this year and a tuition bill next year, pay interest only on the drawn balance, and repay over the years after the draw period ends.
Equity and the combined loan-to-value ceiling
Combined loan-to-value is the whole math: value times the ceiling for the tier, minus the first mortgage, equals the line, up to the program cap. On a Stonecrest home the value comes from an automated valuation on most lines and an appraisal on the largest.
Your credit tier sets the ceiling and the cap
Two wholesale programs feed the ladder, and the file lands on whichever offers the stronger cell at your tier: more leverage with a shorter runway, or less leverage with a longer one. The score comes from a single-bureau model keyed to the primary wage earner.
Valuation, verification, and closing
Most Stonecrest lines are valued by an automated model, with a secondary valuation at higher leverage and a full appraisal above the program’s threshold. Income is verified electronically first, through payroll-database matches or borrower-permissioned account connections, with documents as the fallback.
Every input is yours to change in the calculator below: the Stonecrest home’s value, the balance already secured by it, the credit tier, and the occupancy. The ceiling and the cap come from the program tables for that tier; the line is what fits underneath.
Stonecrest’s equity in figures — and how a line fits it.
The Census figures below are the Stonecrest backdrop for a home equity line: ownership, value, and income. They are context for sizing, not inputs to a credit decision, which rests on the valuation and the file.
Citywide figures provide general market context, not an appraisal or an income calculation. Household income matters for the debt-to-income ratio, value for the ceiling, and the balance for the gap underneath it; the Census tells you the market, the file tells you the line.
Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year (2024) housing and population estimates, including tenure, home values, gross rents, and household income.
Distinct Stonecrest neighborhoods, distinct equity pictures.
Within Stonecrest, a HELOC on a condominium, a decades-old family home, and a newer subdivision house are three different files: different valuation paths, different association questions, different equity depth.
Modest values and the minimum line
The minimum line is a real constraint in Stonecrest: a modest value times the ceiling, minus the balance, has to clear the program floor on line size. The calculator on this page shows where that happens for your figures. About 44% of Stonecrest’s households rent — roughly 9,185 renter households on the latest Census estimate.
Rural-edge and acreage properties
Homes on larger lots around Stonecrest are eligible when the parcel is residential; agricultural zoning is outside the program. The automated model has fewer sales to read on these parcels, so a secondary valuation or an appraisal is more common. Median household income in Stonecrest sits near $64,591 on the latest Census estimate.
Multi-unit conversions
Stonecrest’s converted two- and three-unit houses are eligible with a higher credit floor than a single-family home. The owner who lives in one unit is a primary-residence file; the fully rented building is investment property with its own column. Stonecrest is home to about 61K people.
In-town neighborhoods with long tenures
Long tenure defines the Stonecrest line: a paid-down or absent first mortgage leaves the whole ceiling available, and the home value, not the equity, usually decides the size of the line. On a one-unit principal residence at Stonecrest’s median value, the primary-residence ceiling puts total liens near $219,150 — the line is what remains after the first mortgage balance; a second home starts at a higher credit floor and matches the primary column at the top tier, and a rental caps lower at every tier.
Mixed-use and commercial streets
Stonecrest’s commercial corridors are one of the few places the program does not reach: mixed-use and commercial properties are excluded outright, along with agricultural parcels and manufactured homes. Roughly 11,810 Stonecrest households own their homes on the latest Census estimate — 56% of all households, the pool a home equity line is written for.
Newer subdivisions on the bypass
The newer Stonecrest subdivisions out by the bypass carry the thinnest equity: recent purchases with balances near the value leave little room under the ceiling, and the top tiers are where a worthwhile line first appears. The median owner-occupied home value in Stonecrest runs near $243,500 on the latest Census estimate.
Whatever the neighborhood, the program rules are the same: the value is confirmed by the lender’s valuation, the balance by the payoff, the tier by the credit report, and the property type by the program’s eligibility list. Condominiums and multi-unit homes have their own conditions; entity-vested homes are not eligible.
Four ways Stonecrest homeowners put a home equity line to work.
Stonecrest owners open home equity lines for a handful of reasons that repeat: the renovation, the higher-cost debt worth consolidating, the next property, and the large expense that arrives on its own schedule.
Consolidate higher-cost debt
A HELOC can gather several balances into one secured line. For a Stonecrest household the question is not only cost but structure: the line is secured by the home, repays over a set period, and should not simply refill the balances it cleared.
Repay and draw again as needs change
The line revolves through the draw period: a Stonecrest owner takes the closing draw, pays the balance down, and draws again when the next repair, income gap, or opportunity arrives, up to the limit. The program requires most of the line drawn at closing; the remainder waits.
Bridge the move between homes
Buying before selling is easier with a line on the current Stonecrest home: the down payment on the new house comes from equity, and the line is paid down when the old home sells. The higher-leverage program does not accept a home already listed for sale, so the line is opened first.
Renovate and repair without a refinance
Repairs rarely come in one bill. A Stonecrest owner takes the minimum draw at closing, per the snapshot on this page, then draws the rest as roof or HVAC needs arise, paying interest only on the balance outstanding during the draw period.
Estimate your Stonecrest home’s available credit line before requesting a quote.
Size the line before you ask for a quote: the Stonecrest value, the balance, the tier, and the occupancy are the only inputs, and the ceiling and cap come from the same guideline source as the snapshot above. The result is an estimate of the credit line, not a decision, and it does not show a rate or a payment.
Stonecrest available-equity calculator
The defaults are Stonecrest context, not your file: enter the real value, the real balance, and the tier you expect.
Illustrative starting assumptions: a $245,000 home value near Stonecrest’s median owner-occupied home value and a $120,000 modeled remaining first-mortgage balance (U.S. Census Bureau). Combined loan-to-value ceilings and line caps follow the current program tables for the occupancy and credit tier selected and update from Lendmire’s centralized guideline source on the live page. Every field is editable.
Illustrative estimate only — not a credit decision, approval, quote, or commitment to lend. The actual line amount, combined loan-to-value, and eligibility depend on the automated valuation or appraisal, the credit profile, occupancy, documentation, and full underwriting by the selected wholesale lender; the rate, the payment, and any costs are provided in writing by a licensed loan officer. Minimum score, line-size, and draw requirements follow the current program snapshot shown on this page. Licensed in sixteen states for consumer mortgages.
Same equity, four very different ways to use it.
A Stonecrest owner choosing between a HELOC, a cash-out refinance, a closed-end second mortgage, and unsecured credit is choosing a structure, not just an amount. Here is how each one works and where it fits.
A line, a refinance, a closed-end second, or unsecured credit.
Open-ended by design: a credit limit secured by the home, a draw period of interest-only payments, and a repayment period after. The Stonecrest owner who wants flexibility, and who has a first mortgage worth keeping, chooses this.
A refinance resets the whole first mortgage to take cash out once. It suits the Stonecrest owner who wants a single lien and a known amount, and who is content to replace the existing mortgage rather than keep it. For the first-mortgage route, see Lendmire’s refinance program.
A second mortgage that funds once in a lump sum and amortizes from the first payment. No draw period, no revolving balance. It fits when the Stonecrest need is a single known amount, such as one contractor bid, and the owner wants a fixed schedule from day one.
Unsecured credit fits small, short needs and asks nothing of the home; it costs more and caps lower, so as the amount grows a line secured by the Stonecrest home takes over, and a refinance or a closed-end second takes a lump sum.
What to prepare for a Stonecrest scenario review.
Most verification runs through permissioned connections; have these ready for a Stonecrest review all the same.
This is a general preparation guide, not a universal checklist. The selected lender may request additional information based on the occupancy, the property, the lien position, and the income picture. Nothing here is legal or tax advice.
Local details that can change the line.
Most surprises on a Stonecrest line trace back to one of these: a tier that landed differently than expected, a valuation under the owner’s estimate, a vesting issue, or a state rule.
Use these checks to keep the Stonecrest file clean and fundable.
The checklist is short because the program is specific: the tier, the valuation, and the property rules decide most Stonecrest files before income is even reviewed.
- Confirm the tier: a self-pulled score can land a tier away from the one the program uses.
- Know the valuation: the model’s value, not the owner’s estimate, is what the ceiling applies to.
- Mind the ratio: deep equity does not override a thin ratio.
The credit tier decides the ceiling and the cap
Leverage steps with the tier. A Stonecrest owner just under a tier boundary sees a lower ceiling and a smaller cap than the owner just above it; the two wholesale programs are compared at each tier and the stronger cell is quoted.
Automated valuation on most lines, appraisal on the largest
The valuation path follows the line size. Up to the threshold a Stonecrest home is valued automatically, which is faster and depends on the model’s view of comparable sales; above it an appraiser visits. A home with unusual features can value differently than the owner expects.
The debt-to-income ratio on the full draw
The line qualifies on the interest-only payment at the maximum draw, added to every other obligation and divided by verified income. The ratio ceiling is reduced at the lower credit tiers, so a Stonecrest owner near the floor has less room for debt.
The minimum draw at closing and the draw mechanics
Both programs require a large share of the line to be drawn at closing, so a Stonecrest owner who wants a mostly undrawn reserve should size the line to the amount they are willing to take at funding. Later draws carry their own minimums on one program.
Title must sit with the individual, not an entity
The program does not accept a home vested in a limited liability company, a corporation, a partnership, or an irrevocable, blind, or land trust. A Stonecrest rental already deeded to an entity needs a vesting change before closing, or a different product entirely.
From a Stonecrest prequalification to a funded line.
Four steps, most of them electronic: the scenario, the prequalification, the verification and valuation, and the closing. Here is the Stonecrest path.
Scenario review
Start with the value, the balance, the tier, and the occupancy. A Lendmire loan officer sizes the Stonecrest line against the two programs, explains the structure that fits, and provides the terms in writing.
Prequalification
Nothing is committed at prequalification: the lender confirms the Stonecrest property, the identity, the tier, and the valuation, then presents an offer. Accepting it is what triggers the hard credit pull.
Verification and valuation
Income is verified electronically first, through payroll-database matches or permissioned account connections, with documents as the fallback. The automated valuation stands on most lines; an appraisal applies where the size requires it.
Closing and funding
Closing happens where you are: a remote online notarization where the state allows it, or a mobile notary at the Stonecrest kitchen table. The line funds by electronic transfer or check, with the closing draw included.
A brokerage that matches the line to the equity.
A brokerage sees both programs; a single lender sees one. For a Stonecrest owner that difference shows up in the ceiling, the cap, and the runway quoted at your tier, because Lendmire quotes the stronger cell and explains the trade.
Two programs, the stronger cell quoted
A single program is a single answer; two programs are a choice. The Stonecrest owner at a given tier sees the higher-leverage cell and the longer-runway cell side by side, and the review quotes the one that serves the use.
Structure matched to the use
A staged renovation, a consolidation, a down payment on the next property, and a reserve are four different uses, and the size of the line, the closing draw, and the runway should follow the use. A Stonecrest scenario review starts there.
Licensed, consumer-purpose, in writing
Lendmire holds the license in the state where the Stonecrest home sits, the disclosures that a consumer line requires are provided, and nothing on this page replaces the written terms a loan officer provides.
Trusted by homeowners & families alike.
Stonecrest HELOC FAQs
Plain answers to the questions Stonecrest homeowners ask most about a home equity line of credit, in the order they usually ask them.
What is a HELOC, and how is it different from a home equity loan?
A home equity line of credit is revolving credit secured by your home: a credit limit you draw against during a draw period, paying interest only on the balance outstanding, followed by a repayment period in which the balance amortizes. A home equity loan is closed-end: one lump sum, funded at closing, repaid on a fixed schedule from the start.
How much can I borrow on a HELOC in Stonecrest?
As much as sits under the ceiling for your tier, up to the cap. On a primary residence the ceiling is highest at the top tier and steps down with the credit profile; a second home starts at a higher floor with less leverage at the lower tiers and matches the primary column at the top, and a rental caps lower at every tier.
What credit score do I need for a HELOC?
The floor is in the snapshot above. More useful than the floor is the ladder: find the tier your report lands in and read the ceiling and the cap beside it, because that is the line the program supports.
Do I need an appraisal for a HELOC?
It depends on the size of the line. Up to the automated-valuation threshold the model’s value stands, sometimes with a secondary valuation at higher leverage; above it an appraiser values the Stonecrest home and that figure governs.
How do the draw period and the repayment period work?
Draw, then repay. In the first phase a Stonecrest owner can borrow, repay, and borrow again up to the limit, paying interest only on the balance; in the second phase no new draws are allowed and the balance pays down on schedule. The rate is variable through both.
My rental is in an LLC. Can it get a HELOC?
Not as vested. The program accepts individuals and revocable living trusts only, so the rental would need to be re-vested before closing or financed through an investor product that permits entity ownership.
Can I pay a HELOC off early?
Early payoff is allowed without a penalty. Many Stonecrest owners keep the line open after paying it down, using it as a standing reserve through the rest of the draw period.
How does a HELOC close, and when do I get the money?
Remotely, in most cases: an online notarization where the state allows it, or a mobile notary at your Stonecrest home. The line funds electronically to a connected account, or by check, once any cancellation period has run.
Can I open a HELOC and not use it right away?
A reserve is a common use, with one caveat: the minimum closing draw funds whether or not you need it yet. Size the line to the closing draw you are willing to take, and hold the remainder for later.
Is there a minimum line amount or a minimum draw?
Yes: there is a minimum line and a minimum draw, and both figures sit in the snapshot on this page. The closing-draw rule is the one that surprises Stonecrest owners planning a reserve: the required initial draw, most of the line, funds at closing whether the project is ready or not.
From the Stonecrest equity picture to a funded line.
Ready when you are: a Stonecrest review sizes the line, settles the structure, and delivers the written terms. Nothing on this page is a commitment to lend.
This guide covers Stonecrest — for the statewide ceilings, tiers, and state rules, see HELOC in Georgia, part of Lendmire’s home equity line of credit program.
Nearby markets in Georgia: Brookhaven · Atlanta · Dunwoody · Sandy Springs · Johns Creek · Smyrna · South Fulton · Mableton
Related programs: Refinance Loans · Investment Property HELOC · Bank Statement HELOC