Equity in your St. Augustine South home can be a source of cash for a slow season, a piece of equipment or a large personal expense. If you work for yourself, a bank statement equity line or closed-end second may let you reach it without handing over full tax-return documentation. Your house secures the debt, though, so the decision deserves the same care you would give any major business commitment.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about bank statement HELOCs & home equity loans in St. Augustine South. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Home equity and self-employment in St. Augustine South
1,605 HELOCs were originated on homes in St. Johns County in 2024. In St. Augustine South, 9.4% of owner-occupied homes already carry a home equity loan or second mortgage. With 16.2% of households earning self-employment income and a median home value of $347,400, plenty of local owners have equity but tax returns that understate what they earn.
Line of credit, lump-sum second or cash-out refinance
A self-employed owner tapping equity usually chooses among three structures. A HELOC is a revolving line: you draw only what you need during the draw period, pay interest on what you use and then repay the balance during a repayment phase. A closed-end second pays one lump sum and follows a set repayment schedule from the start.
A cash-out refinance is different in kind. It pays off your first mortgage and replaces it with a larger loan, handing you the difference. If you like the terms on your existing first loan, either second-lien option leaves it alone. If you were planning to refinance anyway, folding everything into one loan may be simpler. Ask a loan officer to price each path so you can compare full costs side by side.
Start your application in a few minutes. A licensed loan officer reviews it and follows up with your options.
- Takes a few minutes
- Reviewed by a licensed loan officer
- No obligation to proceed
Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 508-8976. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
Using home equity to fund your business
Many owners borrow against their home to buy equipment, carry receivables or get through a seasonal dip. That can work, but it moves business risk onto the place your family lives. If the venture the money supports slows down, the payment on the second lien is still due, and the lender can look to the house if it goes unpaid.
Before you draw, write down what the money is for, how it will produce the cash to repay it and what you would do if it does not. Some lenders ask about intended use, and some programs treat business-purpose borrowing differently. For questions about whether interest is deductible or how this affects your business books, talk to a tax professional.
Who this tends to fit
- You have one known expense that suits a lump-sum second
- You have uneven, recurring needs that suit a revolving line
- Your deposits are steady but write-offs shrink your taxable income
- You keep business and personal money in separate accounts
- You need cash for business equipment, inventory or a seasonal gap
Local offices and Florida rules to know
- Property assessment: St. Johns County Property Appraiser's Office.
- Deed and mortgage recording: St. Johns County Clerk of Court and Comptroller - Recording Division. Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.
Lenders often confirm that your business is active. In Florida, business entity records are searchable through the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. If a CPA prepares your expense letter or P&L, the lender may check the license with the Florida Board of Accountancy / Division of Certified Public Accounting.
How lenders size an equity line for a self-employed owner
Expect the review to cover both you and the house. On the income side, the underwriter reads your statements for steady deposits, excludes transfers between your own accounts and asks about anything irregular. On the property side, the lender orders a valuation and checks title for other liens, judgments or an existing line that would need to be closed.
The amount you may be eligible for depends on how much room sits between your current mortgage balance and the home's value, within the program's limits, and on whether your income supports payments on both liens. A recent late payment on your first mortgage or a drop in deposits across the review window can shrink what is available. All loans are subject to credit approval.
Before you call
- Proof that you own the business, such as a license or CPA letter
- Personal or business statements covering the program's review window
- Your decision on a revolving line versus a lump-sum second
- A written purpose for the funds and how you will repay them
- Homeowners insurance declarations page for the property
Questions St. Augustine South borrowers ask about bank statement HELOCs & home equity loans
How much equity can I tap as a self-employed homeowner?
It depends on your home's value, what you still owe on the first mortgage and the combined limit the program sets, along with your credit and the income your statements support. The lender orders a valuation to confirm equity. There is no single answer, since programs vary by borrower, property and investor, and any line or loan is subject to credit approval.
Can I sell or refinance my home with a HELOC open?
Yes, but the line must be dealt with. When you sell, the HELOC balance is paid from the proceeds along with your first mortgage. When you refinance the first loan, the HELOC lender may need to agree to stay in second position, or the line may need to be paid off. Ask how this works before you open the line.
Is it risky to use my house to fund my business?
It can be. Your home secures the second lien, so if business income falls and you miss payments, the house is at risk, not only your credit. Borrow for a specific purpose with a realistic payback, keep personal reserves separate from the business and avoid using the line to cover ongoing losses. Ask a tax professional how business-purpose borrowing affects your taxes.
Will a bank statement HELOC change my existing first mortgage?
No. A HELOC or closed-end home equity loan is a second lien that sits behind your current mortgage. Your first loan keeps its balance, rate and terms, and you keep paying it as before. You add a second payment for the equity line or loan. That is the main reason owners with a first mortgage they like choose a second lien over a cash-out refinance.
Get answers about bank statement HELOCs & home equity loans for a home in or around St. Augustine South. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other non-QM options for St. Augustine South borrowers
Bank statement loans in St. Augustine SouthNon-QM lenders in St. Augustine SouthSelf-employed in St. Augustine South1099 loans in St. Augustine SouthP&L loans in St. Augustine SouthAsset depletion in St. Augustine SouthNo-doc / stated income in St. Augustine SouthNew self-employed in St. Augustine SouthITIN loans in St. Augustine SouthForeign national in St. Augustine SouthNon-warrantable condo in St. Augustine SouthInterest-only in St. Augustine SouthAfter bankruptcy in St. Augustine SouthBad credit in St. Augustine SouthSelf-employed refinance in St. Augustine SouthNon-QM jumbo in St. Augustine South
Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans near St. Augustine South
- Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans in St. Augustine Beach, FL (3 mi)
- Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans in St. Augustine Shores, FL (3 mi)
- Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans in St. Augustine, FL (4 mi)
- Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans in World Golf Village, FL (13 mi)
- Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans in Nocatee, FL (18 mi)
- Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans in Palm Coast, FL (22 mi)
- Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans in Green Cove Springs, FL (24 mi)
- Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans in Palm Valley, FL (25 mi)
Related guides
- What Is a Bank Statement Loan and How Does It Work?
- How Tax Write-Offs Affect Your Mortgage Qualifying Income
- How to Compare Non-QM Loan Offers: Loan Estimates, Features and Fit
Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans across Florida · Bank Statement HELOCs & Home Equity Loans guide · Florida overview
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates
- 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data for St. Johns County
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25081 and B19053