Secured vs. unsecured
Credit cards and personal loans are usually unsecured. Moving them into a mortgage secures them with your home, raising the stakes if you cannot pay.
Total interest
A longer term can lower the monthly payment but increase total interest paid on the consolidated debt.
How to evaluate using home equity to pay off other debts, including total cost and risk.
Behavior risk
If card balances return after consolidation, you may end up with more debt overall. Consider closing or limiting cards.
Alternatives
Nonprofit credit counseling, a debt management plan or a smaller home equity loan might cost less.
Taxes
Interest on home equity debt used for purposes other than buying, building or improving the home is generally not deductible under current federal law.
Compare
Use the calculator to see proceeds, then compare total cost over the period you expect to carry the debt.
A worked approach without numbers
List each debt with its balance, rate and remaining term. Add up what you pay each month and what you would pay in total if you kept paying as scheduled. Then compare with the new mortgage payment attributable to the consolidated amount and the total over the new term. If the total cost is higher, decide whether the lower monthly payment is worth it. A plan to repay the consolidated portion faster, by paying extra principal each month, can capture lower monthly risk without stretching the debt over decades.
Sources
Sources checked 10/23/2026. General education only; confirm current rules with official sources and a licensed lender.