Unlock

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Overall Rating3.8 out of 5
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About Unlock

Established in 2020, Unlock Technologies offers home equity agreements (HEAs), which are an alternative to HELOCs and home equity loans. Requirements for an HEA with Unlock are a minimum 500 FICO score and at least 30% equity in your home. Depending on your home’s current value, you can receive up to $500,000 in cash.

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Low credit score minimum
    • No interest or monthly charges
    • No income requirement

    Cons

    • Only available in 15 states
    • 4.9% origination fee and other fees

    Bottom Line

    Unlock is a real estate investment company that specializes in HEAs. You can trade a percentage of your home's future value for cash today. Terms are typically for 10 years or when you sell your home -- whichever comes first.

    Featured Reviews

    Verified
    Kent, WA

    It was a really good experience with Unlock. It was pretty quick. I had an email exchange with the agent, he sent me documents, then we had the underwriter at our place all in les...

    Read full review
    Verified
    South Pasadena, FL

    My experience has been so positive. Compared to getting a regular home equity loan, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being difficult, 2. That's how easy and transparent it was. When ...

    Read full review

    Rates

    With Unlock, each homeowner has a different set of terms based on their creditworthiness and home value. Unlike purchasing a new home or refinancing, you will not have a mortgage rate to worry about. An HEA does not change your existing interest rate or monthly payments.

    Your unique terms and conditions will be presented to you before you sign the application. It is important to look those over — preferably with your financial advisor. A typical agreement might have Unlock providing you 10% of your home value today in cash in exchange for 18.5% of your home value in the future. This does not include the 4.9% origination fee and third-party costs you will pay upfront.

    Application process

    The process to receive an HEA is different from the traditional mortgage process. Basically you exchange a percentage of your future home value for cash based on your home’s value today.

    It takes about a minute to create an account with Unlock and see preliminary terms. If you choose to move forward with the process, it should take another five to 10 minutes to submit documents digitally. Depending on how long the appraisal and inspection take, you could have your cash in as little as 30 days.

    Kanah, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Utah, said about working with Unlock: “[The rep] was very helpful, respectful, professional, and I appreciated his assistance. We communicated first through emails. Then he had a phone call with me that gave me an overview of what the services were. He then sent me information in writing in regards to when I reviewed it, got clear about what the numbers were and the expectations.”

    Loan types

    Unlock offers only one type of financial product: HEAs. This product allows you to tap into your home equity without needing a strong credit score. In exchange for cash, Unlock will own the right to a percentage of your home’s future value.

    You are free to do whatever you want with the money received as part of your HEA. In some cases, Unlock will require you to pay off some debts when your Unlock agreement is originated.

    Refinancing

    Similar to refinancing, an HEA through Unlock allows you to tap into your home’s equity and use the cash for almost any need. However, unlike a mortgage refinance, an HEA does not replace your existing mortgage. A refinance loan might have stricter credit score and income requirements, but it could also cost less in the long run.

    Requirements

    The requirements for an HEA from Unlock are different from a mortgage loan. Applicants need to have a minimum FICO score of 500 and at least 30% equity in their property.

    For individuals with credit scores between 500 and 550, other limitations apply. Applicants with a score under 550 cannot have had a bankruptcy, short sale or deed in lieu in the past five years. They must also not have a 90-day delinquency on any mortgage in the past 24 months.

    If you feel like you have more house than you can afford and need help affording the monthly payments, an HEA might not be the right financial move for you.

    Cost and fees

    Choosing an HEA will not cost you interest or change your monthly mortgage payment. However, the process isn’t free, and there are some charges that resemble closing costs on a mortgage. Unlock charges an upfront origination fee of 4.9%, and there are other third-party fees. Unlock then shares a percentage of the future value of your home. Signing up for an HEA is a decision that will cost you money when you sell.

    It is important to consider these upfront and future costs before signing the agreement. Weigh these costs against other options that might allow you to access home equity, like a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC).

    FAQ

    What is Unlock?

    Unlock is a real estate investor that allows homeowners to tap into their equity without having to make monthly payments. In exchange, Unlock owns a right to share in the proceeds when you sell your home in the future.

    Is Unlock legit?

    Unlock is a legitimate company that offers home equity agreements in select states. It is based in New York.

    Where is Unlock available?

    Unlock is available in 15 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

    Unlock Reviews

    ConsumerAffairs has collected 25 reviews and 30 ratings.

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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 5
    Verified purchase
    StaffLoan ProcessRates

    Reviewed March 23, 2023

    We're both on Social Security so we don't qualify for a home equity loan. But getting the equity agreement through Unlock was very simple. We could get the approval without payments and interest. There was no hassle. We were trying to determine what amount of money we wanted to pull out of equity based on a number of projects we wanted to do at the house. That caused a delay. They were rushing me but I wasn't ready yet. But they were flexible and they finally said, “Okay. Let us know when you're ready.” That was good. My rep Allison was very friendly and easygoing. I felt very comfortable throughout the process. All the questions they asked were answered and they didn't drag their feet.

    Unlock has a great program if you can accept the 10-year limit. You have up to 10 years to keep the money without paying it back. If you haven't paid it back at the end of 10 years, you have to sell the house and then give them their percentage. At our age, we can do that. You don't pay any payments or interest, just the lump sum. It's a very easily structured program. When you're talking about that kind of money, you really ought to do your homework.

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    Response from Unlock

    David,

    Thanks so much for taking the time to submit a review. We appreciate you recognizing Allison for providing strong customer support and our team for keeping you engaged and informed throughout the process. We're glad to hear that an Unlock home equity agreement helped you achieve the outcome you desired.

    Thank you,

    The Unlock Team

    Verified purchase
    Customer ServiceStaffLoan ProcessTransparency

    Reviewed March 14, 2023

    The communication was good. It was either through text or a phone call or email. And Unlock walks us through step-by-step every phase of the loan application. I put in my information. I was connected with the representative for the loan, and it was the same person. That was nice. And he handled everything up through getting the appraisal schedules.

    The appraiser called me and scheduled when would be a good time. The first guy stayed in contact constantly with me to make sure that if I had any questions or make sure that I understood what the process was. And the last part of it was the mobile notary. He did his thing. He was good too. And the original guy from Unlock that I've been working with reached back out and wrapped everything up. It was seamless. Everything was exactly how we were told and what we expected. I was very pleased with the company.

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    Response from Unlock
    Shelly,

    Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review. We appreciate you recognizing out team and partners for their strong customer support and communication. Thank you for the trust you've placed in Unlock.

    Sincerely,

    The Unlock Team

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      Verified purchase
      StaffLoan ProcessTransparency

      Reviewed March 14, 2023

      We wanted to keep the house, and Unlock was the only company that guaranteed would be able to do that. Once we had the appraisal, the process was quick. It took a week before we were ready to close. Our rep was very responsive. Whenever he had updates, he was very proactive in reaching out. It was a smooth experience. It was easy to deal with Unlock. They were very transparent about the whole process.

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      Response from Unlock

      Brie,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience working with Unlock. We're so glad the process was positive and provided you with the outcome you desired. We also appreciate you recognizing the customer support you received from our team.

      Sincerely,

      The Unlock Team

      Verified purchase

      Reviewed March 3, 2023

      Working with the rep was fine until I needed to jump through a few more hoops to get the payment approved. I needed a signed letter from a judge and the payment had to be sent to my husband's lawyer's office as opposed to being given to me directly. That delayed things. My husband didn't have to move out until 30 days after he got the money then they gave me some funds, but they didn't want to give the majority of the funds to me to pay him out. That was a little frustrating.

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      Response from Unlock

      Maggie,

      We're sorry that you experienced delays during the funding process. We appreciate you sharing your feedback, so we can improve our practices in the future.

      Thank you,

      The Unlock Team

      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceOnline & AppStaffLoan ProcessTransparency

      Reviewed March 1, 2023

      The application process was simple and easy. The rep was really helpful and she explained it thoroughly to me. She returned calls the day after I would email or text her. It was a pleasant experience. Working with them has helped. If you need some capital and you don't have any other way of going about it conventional banking-wise, Unlock a good way to get some equity out of a property with a lot less hassle. I don't recall doing any bank statements or the regular banking hurdles they require you to get over to refinance or take equity out. That was pleasing. I had the equity and it's easy to get access to it.

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      Response from Unlock

      Kohr,

      Thanks for sharing your experience working with Unlock. Our to goal is to make sure our customers feel supported throughout the entire home equity agreement process. We're glad to hear you found the process easy and hassle-free. We appreciate your recommendation.

      Sincerely,

      The Unlock Team

      Customer ServiceTransparency

      Reviewed Sept. 7, 2023

      We got denied and our rating is above 600. "Homeowners must have a minimum FICO score of 500." This was on the site. You didn't ask for our total income either. I sent email for explanation but have not gotten a response yet.

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      Response from Unlock

      Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. Credit score is not the only factor considered for an Unlock Investment. After carefully reviewing your file, we found that we are unable to qualify you for a home equity agreement at this time. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at 1-844-314-1435.

      Sincerely,

      The Unlock Team

      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingStaff

      Reviewed June 6, 2023

      I applied for a loan through Unlock.com today. I received a message from a person named Hozefa ** stating that they must talk to me via phone in order to proceed. I explained that I am deaf and need ADA accommodations as speaking on the phone is very difficult for me, and I have been harmed in the past when I am not able to hear clearly and persons have attempted to scam me. Hozefa stated there are no accommodations and when I pointed out this was illegal, I received an "LOL whatever" message in return. He then asked if someone could "help me" as if I am a child, and not a professional grown adult. As someone who is very hard of hearing, this is not only embarrassing, but is horrifying to be treated this way when I am attempting to seek financial assistance.

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      Response from Unlock

      Amelia,

      We apologize for the problems you encountered during the application process and any miscommunication regarding accommodations. We can accommodate you and it is our understanding that one of our managers has reached out to you to address the situation and provide support.

      Please feel free to contact us if you have concerns.

      Thank you,

      The Unlock Team

      Verified purchase
      Loan Process

      Reviewed March 14, 2023

      Unlock is good. I like the availability for them to communicate. It'd be better if they ask for all documents upfront though. The process took a little longer than normal because of that.

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      Response from Unlock

      Richard,

      Thanks for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the process took longer than expected. We'll use your input to improve our practices in the future.

      Thank you,

      The Unlock Team

      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedOnline & AppStaffLoan Process

      Reviewed March 4, 2023

      The initial person I spoke with was very informative, patient and he answered all my questions. But the follow up was not as smooth because I was unfamiliar with the new person coming on. She didn't think to know everything that was going on. The application process took almost 2 months. Because I was familiar with DocuSign and a lot of the other application things they did, that part wasn't as stressful. But when I had a questions, the response wasn't immediate. The length of time that it took could have been a lot shorter. The transitioning made me a little uncomfortable. But the overall goal was a success.

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      Response from Unlock

      Lawanda,

      Thanks for sharing your experience working with Unlock. We’re sorry to hear that you experienced communication delays during the funding process. We aim to keep our customers informed and engaged and it’s clear we fell short. We are glad to hear that you achieved your desired outcome and we’ll use your feedback to improve our process in the future.

      Sincerely,

      The Unlock Team

      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceStaffLoan Process

      Reviewed March 2, 2023

      The process to get equity was smooth. It was simple as long as you have the access to convert your documents to a PDF. All they needed was mortgage statements. They got the appraisal done and the money was in my account when they said it would be. The only thing is to take out 80 and owe 170 is bogus. But I'll deal with that when the time comes. 10 years doesn't warrant 110%. Other than that, my rep was a sweetheart and she was very helpful. I was impressed by the questions she was asking. She asked me questions about what mattered right then and she was on top of things. When I reached out to her, she was very quick to respond. So, in general, it was a good experience.

      But I would never recommend my friends to give up their equity like I did because I don't even know if my house is gonna be worth what I owe them in 10 years. So, I wouldn't ever put any of my friends or anybody that I care about in that type of jeopardy. But it's an awesome service for anybody who's a homeowner. I suggest that they be more reasonable when it comes to their equity payback.

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      Response from Unlock

      Kanahnee,

      Thank you for taking the time to share your experience working with Unlock. We appreciate hearing about your concerns regarding our pricing model. Please keep in mind that if your house depreciates at the end of your agreement, the share you owe Unlock will also decline. Your agreement also includes an annualized cost limit that caps the cost of your home equity agreement. Whenever Unlock’s rate of return exceeds this limit (which is specified in your Investment Closing Statement), Unlock’s share of your equity is automatically reduced.

      A member of our Customer Success team reached out to you to answer any questions you have. If you’d like to discuss your agreement and any pricing questions in more detail, please feel free to contact our team at 800-560-3450, option 2.

      Thanks,

      The Unlock Team

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        Unlock Company Information

        Company Name:
        Unlock
        Website:
        www.unlock.com