Equity is the portion of your home you own outright, and you might need to know how to calculate it if you want to borrow money, sell your house or refinance the mortgage. The equation is simple: ...

Your home equity — the amount of your house that you own outright — can be a valuable resource. You can use your equity to renovate some rooms, pay off credit cards, cover college tuition, start your ...

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.

Mary Beth Eastman is a contributor to Buy Side and finance expert, specializing in loans, mortgages and insurance. Staff Personal Finance Editor, Buy Side Valerie Morris is a staff editor at Buy Side ...

Home equity is the portion of a house that the homeowner holds outright — the difference between the house's value and the total amount they owe on the home. As their equity increases, homeowners can ...

Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer who enjoys diving into the details to help readers make savvy financial decisions. She lives in Florida with her husband and dogs. When she’s not writing, ...

To calculate your home's equity, subtract the balance on all debts secured by your home – including your primary mortgage and any secondary loans – from your property's current appraised value. The ...

Vice President of Growth & Engagement at CBS News and Stations Jennifer Earl is the Vice President of Growth & Engagement at CBS News and Stations. Jennifer has previously written for outlets ...

With home prices near all-time highs, many homeowners have built up large amounts of equity. According to an analysis from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), homeowners "build a net worth ...

When you own a home, understanding your home equity is crucial, as it contributes to your net worth and borrowing ability. Simply put, home equity is the value of your home minus your mortgage debt.