LendingTree Home Equity Review: What Happens After You Submit the Form
LendingTree does not lend money for home equity loans or HELOCs. It describes itself as "a Marketing Lead Generator and ... a Duly Licensed Mortgage Broker," and its home equity form passes your details to lenders in its network, who then contact you with offers. That model gives you several quotes from one form, and it also means several companies get your phone number. This review sets out how the process works, what it costs, what the complaint and regulatory record shows, and when another route fits better. Every LendingTree statement below was checked on its own site between October 1 and October 26, 2026.
Partner disclosure. Loans Generator may be paid through an affiliate network when you click or submit a request; this does not change what we report. LendingTree is one of those affiliate offers, and the review below applies the same checks we use for every home equity provider. Reviews are not for sale; see how we make money.
Key takeaways
- LendingTree matches you with "up to five lenders from our network of 300+ lenders who will call to compete for your business." Expect calls.
- It charges you no fee for matching. A lender you choose can charge its own application, appraisal and closing costs.
- LendingTree says it uses a soft credit inquiry that "does not impact your credit score." Its FAQ adds that lenders handle their own checks differently: some "may pull your credit before they make you a loan offer; others may pull your credit after you have accepted their offer."
- Any home equity loan or HELOC you get through it is secured by your home. The CFPB: "If you fall behind or can't repay the loan on schedule, you could lose your home."
- BBB.org lists 162 complaints about LendingTree, LLC in the last three years and 47 in the last 12 months (checked October 26, 2026), alongside an A+ rating.
This review is part of our guide to home equity loans, HELOCs and refinancing.
LendingTree home equity at a glance
| Item | What LendingTree publishes (October 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| What it is | "a Marketing Lead Generator and ... a Duly Licensed Mortgage Broker," NMLS #1136, Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Products you can request | Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), plus mortgages and refinancing |
| How many lenders | "up to five lenders from our network of 300+ lenders" |
| How they reach you | Lenders "will call to compete for your business"; offers also arrive by email |
| Fee to you for matching | "LendingTree does not charge any kind of fee for the service of matching borrowers with lenders" |
| Lender fees | "you may be obligated to pay a fee to the lender ... should you choose to apply for a loan with that lender" |
| Credit check | Soft inquiry that "does not impact your credit score"; "In all cases, LendingTree pulls your credit report when you complete a loan request" |
| How LendingTree is paid | "LendingTree is compensated by companies whose listings appear on this site" |
| Minimum credit score, equity or income | General guidance only: on October 26, 2026 its home equity page said most lenders require a credit score of at least 620, typically allow a debt-to-income ratio of up to 43%, and cap the loan-to-value ratio at 85%. Each lender sets its own |
Sources: LendingTree home equity page, accessed October 1 and October 26, 2026; HELOC page, FAQ and site footer, accessed October 26, 2026.
LendingTree's home equity pages also show "as low as" rates drawn from offers made to other customers. We do not repeat them here: they are not an offer to you, and your rate depends on your credit, your equity and the lender.
How does LendingTree's home equity process work?
LendingTree's own description has three steps: "Take two minutes to tell us about yourself, your home and when you need the money. If you qualify, we'll send you offers from up to five lenders from the nation's largest lender network." You then "choose the lender that fits your budget and needs and send in a formal application."
In practice that means:
- You fill in one form. It asks about the home, its value, your mortgage balance, the amount you want and your contact details.
- LendingTree checks your credit with a soft inquiry and searches its lender database for "up to five lenders who most closely match your needs."
- Matched lenders contact you. LendingTree's FAQ says you are notified "either through emails or over the phone," and its home equity page says the lenders "will call to compete for your business."
- You apply with one lender. The offer at this stage is not a loan approval. The lender you choose runs its own application, appraisal or home value check, hard credit inquiry and underwriting.
- You close, then have three business days to cancel. For a HELOC or home equity loan on your principal home, federal law generally gives you a right to rescind; the CFPB booklet says the lender must return the fees you paid if you cancel in that window.
The CFPB's warning applies to whichever lender you pick: a HELOC is secured by your home, and if you cannot repay it on schedule, you could lose the home.
What does using LendingTree cost?
Using the marketplace is free; the loan is not. LendingTree's FAQ says no matched lender will ask for upfront fees to "guarantee" or "insure" a loan, and that LendingTree and its lenders will not ask for a copy of your driver's license or Social Security card before you have submitted an application with a loan officer. Treat any caller who does as a red flag.
The costs come from the lender you choose. For a HELOC, the CFPB lists application fees, appraisal fees, closing costs and, on some lines, annual or transaction fees. Ask each matched lender for the same list in writing so you can compare them side by side. Our page on HELOC closing costs and fees explains which fees some "no closing cost" offers take back if you close the line early.
Before you request offers, check how large a line your equity can support with the HELOC borrowing calculator, and read what lenders publish on credit score, equity and debt-to-income in HELOC requirements. If you do not yet know whether you want a fixed lump sum or a line you draw over time, start with home equity loan vs HELOC.
Complaints and regulatory record
BBB. LendingTree, LLC has an A+ rating and has been BBB-accredited since November 6, 2019. BBB.org lists 162 complaints in the last three years and 47 in the last 12 months (checked October 26, 2026). A BBB rating reflects how a business responds to complaints; it is not a regulator's finding.
Figure: BBB complaint categories for LendingTree, LLC, last three years, as shown on BBB.org on October 26, 2026. Bars are to scale. The categories cover all LendingTree products, not only home equity.
CFPB complaint database. On October 26, 2026 the database's company list did not include LendingTree, LLC among companies with two or more complaints. That does not mean nobody has complained: a borrower unhappy with a call or an offer will often file against the lender, not the marketplace that passed on the lead.
Enforcement. A search of the CFPB's enforcement actions for "LendingTree" on October 26, 2026 returned no results. One state action did turn up. On December 7, 2021 the Massachusetts Division of Banks issued a consent order alleging that LendingTree "facilitated small loans through an unlicensed entity" and facilitated small loans above the state's rate limit during a 2018 to 2020 review period. LendingTree agreed to a $34,000 penalty and to stronger checks that its partners are licensed, without admitting the allegations. The order was terminated on April 29, 2025. The order concerns personal loans of $6,000 or less, not home equity lending. Our search does not cover every state regulator or court.
How we assessed LendingTree
We do not apply the six personal-loan checks to home equity marketplaces. Our methodology compares these five points for every home equity or refinance provider, using only what the company and the record show.
| What we compare | What we found |
|---|---|
| Published fees | No fee to you for matching. Lender fees are set by each lender and not listed by LendingTree. |
| Eligibility | General guidance only (most lenders: 620 score, DTI up to 43%, LTV capped at 85%); each lender decides. |
| State availability | Offered nationally; which lenders match depends on your state and profile. |
| Regulatory and complaint record | No CFPB enforcement action found; one 2021 Massachusetts consent order on small personal loans, terminated in 2025; 162 BBB complaints in three years. |
| Accreditation | BBB-accredited with an A+ rating. The BBB is not a regulator. |
Who LendingTree fits, and who should skip it
It may fit you if:
- you want several home equity quotes without filling in several applications
- you are ready to take calls and compare offers within a few days
- you already know roughly how much equity you have and how large a line you need
Skip it, or go direct, if:
- you do not want sales calls. Up to five lenders may call. If that is a deal breaker, ask your own bank or credit union for a quote instead.
- you want a specific local credit union. It may not be in LendingTree's network.
- your equity is thin. If the borrowing calculator shows little or no room under an 80% or 85% combined loan-to-value limit, no form will create it.
- the money is for card debt and your income is unstable. Turning unsecured debt into debt secured by your home raises the stakes; read using a HELOC to pay off credit cards first.
- you need a fixed-rate loan for one defined project and want to keep your home out of it. An unsecured loan may fit better; see home improvement loan vs HELOC.
Alternatives to LendingTree for home equity
- Your own bank or credit union. One quote, no lead sharing, and existing customers sometimes get relationship pricing.
- Another matching service. QuickenLoans.com works the same way as a lead generator. SuperMoney lists lenders on a comparison page, and MoneyAtlas passes your request to its partners. All of them are paid by the companies they show.
- Apply to two or three lenders directly. More work, but you control who has your details. How matching sites route requests in general is covered in how loan matching sites work.
Before you submit. LendingTree's form is a request for quotes, not a loan application. Loans Generator may be paid through an affiliate network if you use the link below; this does not change what we report. A home equity loan or HELOC is secured by your home: if you cannot repay it, you could lose your home. No lender has to make you an offer, and no rate, line size or approval is promised.
Common questions
Is LendingTree a lender for home equity loans?
No. LendingTree describes itself as a marketing lead generator and licensed mortgage broker. It passes your request to lenders in its network, and you apply with the one you choose.
Does LendingTree hurt your credit for a HELOC?
LendingTree says its own check is a soft inquiry that does not affect your credit score. Its FAQ also says some lenders "may pull your credit before they make you a loan offer; others may pull your credit after you have accepted their offer," so a lender's own check can come before or after you choose it.
How many lenders will contact me?
LendingTree says it matches you with up to five lenders, who "will call to compete for your business." Offers also arrive by email.
Does LendingTree charge a fee?
LendingTree says it charges no fee for matching. The lender you choose can charge application, appraisal and closing costs, which you should get in writing before you commit.
Can I lose my home with a HELOC from a LendingTree lender?
Yes. Any HELOC or home equity loan is secured by your home, whichever lender makes it. The CFPB warns that if you fall behind or cannot repay on schedule, you could lose your home.
Sources
- LendingTree, "Home Equity Loan Rates and Lenders," accessed October 1 and October 26, 2026.
- LendingTree, HELOC rates page, accessed October 26, 2026.
- LendingTree, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed October 26, 2026.
- LendingTree, homepage footer licensing statement, accessed October 26, 2026.
- Better Business Bureau, LendingTree, LLC profile and complaints, accessed October 26, 2026.
- Massachusetts Division of Banks, LendingTree, LLC Consent Order, December 7, 2021, accessed October 26, 2026.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Enforcement actions, searched October 26, 2026.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer Complaint Database, queried October 26, 2026.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "What is a home equity line of credit (HELOC)?", accessed October 26, 2026.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "What you should know about home equity lines of credit" booklet, accessed October 26, 2026.
- LendingTree, “Best HELOC Rates (home equity line of credit page)”
- Better Business Bureau, “LendingTree, LLC business profile and complaints”
- Massachusetts Division of Banks, “LendingTree, LLC Consent Order (December 7, 2021)”
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “Enforcement actions (search: LendingTree)”
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “What you should know about home equity lines of credit (booklet)”
Loans Generator is not a lender or mortgage broker and does not make credit decisions. Links on this page lead to third-party sites with their own terms and privacy policies. We cannot guarantee approval, rates or terms. A home equity loan or HELOC is secured by your home, and you could lose your home if you do not repay. LendingTree terms cited here were checked between October 1 and October 26, 2026 and change without notice. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.