Best Roof Financing Options in 2025
What is your best roof financing option?
Your best choice for new roof financing depends on factors such as the cost of your roofing project, how soon you need the money, your credit and whether you have equity in your home. Here we cover the different types of roof financing — which may be in the form of a home equity loan or line of credit, personal loan, cash-out mortgage refinancing, roofing company financing or government-insured loan.
To help you determine the best type of roof financing for you, we cover the advantages and disadvantages of each along with our top picks for lenders that provide roof loans.
Home equity loans
A home equity loan is a second mortgage on your home. It has a fixed interest rate. You receive a lump sum of money, using your home as collateral. You pay the loan back in fixed monthly payments over a period of time, usually five to 30 years. Home equity loan interest rates tend to be lower than some other options, such as personal loans, because your home secures the loan.
Using your home as collateral can put it at risk if you get behind on the loan. But, if you don’t foresee problems with staying current on payments, and you want to pay for the roof without needing ongoing access to funds for other home improvements, a home equity loan may be a good choice.
Here’s what you can expect if you use a home equity loan to pay for a roof:
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Maximum loan amount: Typically 80% to 90% of your home’s value, minus what you owe on the mortgage. Some lenders will go to 100%.
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Repayment term: Up to 30 years.
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APRs: Vary depending on the lender.
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Costs: Typically requires payment for appraisal and closing costs, unless the lender waives these expenses.
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Timeframe: Approval and funding will take longer than a personal loan if an appraisal is needed.
Best for no closing costs

Better: NMLS#330511
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Min. Credit Score
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National / regional
Better home equity loans stand out for having high borrowing limits and a convenient digital application.
Better home equity loans stand out for having high borrowing limits and a convenient digital application.
Best for high borrowing limit

Rate: NMLS#2611
5.0
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NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
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National / regional
Rate home equity loans have higher borrowing limits than many competitors, but borrowers will have to contact the lender to get any information about the product.
Rate home equity loans have higher borrowing limits than many competitors, but borrowers will have to contact the lender to get any information about the product.
Best for military borrowers

Navy Federal Credit Union’s home equity loans allow service members and their families to borrow up to 100% of their equity.
Navy Federal Credit Union’s home equity loans allow service members and their families to borrow up to 100% of their equity.
Home equity lines of credit (HELOC)
A HELOC is an open credit line that you can draw on as needed for a period of time (usually 10 years); then you repay the borrowed amount plus interest. HELOC interest rates typically are variable, meaning your monthly payment could rise or fall over time. Most lenders have an option to pay only interest (and not principal) during the draw period, and interest is based on the line of credit amount that you use. Usually, you’ll be required to draw a minimum amount to open the HELOC.
Like home equity loans, a HELOC uses your home as collateral, meaning your home could be at risk if you get behind on payments. If you don’t anticipate that being a problem, and you want a flexible financing option, a HELOC may be a good solution. Because HELOC funds are available as you need them, you can pay for a roof as well as future home improvements.
Here’s what you can expect if you use a HELOC to pay for a roof:
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Maximum loan amount: 80% to 90% of your home’s value, minus what you owe on the mortgage. Some lenders will go to 100%.
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Repayment term: A 10-year draw period followed by a 20-year repayment period is common.
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APRs: Vary depending on the lender.
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Costs: Typically requires payment for appraisal and closing costs, unless the lender waives these expenses.
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Timeframe: Approval and funding will take longer than a personal loan if an appraisal is needed.
Best for no closing costs

National / regional
Max LTV
Min. Credit Score
FourLeaf HELOC borrowers don’t pay closing costs (as long as the line is open for more than three years) and can get an introductory rate below the prime rate.
FourLeaf HELOC borrowers don’t pay closing costs (as long as the line is open for more than three years) and can get an introductory rate below the prime rate.
Best for fast closing

Figure: NMLS#1717824
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Figure is a large HELOC lender and stands out for offering funding in as fast as five days. However, borrowers have to draw their full line amount at closing, and will pay an origination fee.
Figure is a large HELOC lender and stands out for offering funding in as fast as five days. However, borrowers have to draw their full line amount at closing, and will pay an origination fee.
Best for fixed-rate borrowers

U.S. Bank: NMLS#402761
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U.S. Bank’s HELOC offers a rate discount for existing customers and an option to convert to a fixed rate. However, the lender charges an annual fee and early repayment penalty.
U.S. Bank’s HELOC offers a rate discount for existing customers and an option to convert to a fixed rate. However, the lender charges an annual fee and early repayment penalty.
Personal loans
A personal loan is a type of unsecured loan offered by banks, credit unions or online lenders. It allows you to borrow a fixed amount of money and repay it over time through monthly installments, usually with a fixed interest rate.
Personal loans don’t require collateral, such as your home. Instead, lenders rely heavily on information like your credit score, income and other debts, to decide whether you qualify and at what annual percentage rate. Each lender has its own borrower criteria and loan features. Personal loans do tend to have higher interest rates than home equity options, so they may be a better fit for borrowers who want to finance a lower amount, such as a roof repair.
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Maximum loan amount: Depending on the lender, can be $1,000 to $100,000.
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Repayment term: Two to seven years.
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APRs: 6% to 36%, and the lowest rates often go to borrowers with good or excellent credit (scores of 690 or higher).
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Timeframe: Because there is no appraisal, loan funding is typically faster than with a home equity loan or HELOC.
Best for credit-building tools

Upgrade
5.0
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Upgrade accepts lower credit scores than similar lenders, and it offers multiple rate discounts for its personal loans.
Upgrade accepts lower credit scores than similar lenders, and it offers multiple rate discounts for its personal loans.
Best for long repayment terms

LightStream
4.5
NerdWallet rating
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
Est. APR
6.49-24.89%
Loan amount
$5,000-$100,000
LightStream is a solid option for good- and excellent-credit borrowers, with no fees and a promise to beat competitors’ rates.
LightStream is a solid option for good- and excellent-credit borrowers, with no fees and a promise to beat competitors’ rates.
Best for joint loans
SoFi Personal Loan
4.5
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Min. credit score
Est. APR
8.99-35.49%
Loan amount
SoFi offers large online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.
SoFi offers large online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.
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