HELOC and home equity loan rates today, Wednesday, August 19, 2026: Why locking in a low rate matters

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure . HELOC and home equity loan rates today, Wednesday, August 19, 2026: Why locking in a low rate matters Tim Manni · Wed, August 19, 2026 at 6:00 AM EDT 4 min read Interest rates vary between lenders, and so comparison shopping home equity loan and line of credit lenders can save you thousands over the life of your loan. For home equity loans, securing the lowest fixed rate matters since you'll be stuck with it for the life of the loan. For HELOCs, locking in the lowest possible introductory rate is key, since your interest rate is likely to fluctuate, even rise, over the loan term. HELOC and home equity loan rates: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.16% , a new 2026 low, according to real estate data analytics company Curinos. The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.35% , up slightly from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June. Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%. How do HELOC interest rates work? Most HELOCs are variable-rate products, meaning their interest rates are tied to an external interest rate. When that rate rises or falls, the rate on your HELOC generally follows suit. HELOCs are typically tied to the prime rate , the baseline rate banks currently charge…