Do You Know How Much Your House Is Really Worth?
9/18/25
Is Your Home Secretly Making You Richer?
Want to know something most people don’t have checked nearly as often as they should? (Spoiler: it’s not your teeth. It’s the value of your home.)
Here’s the truth: your house is probably the biggest financial asset you own. And if you’ve been in it for a few years, it’s likely been building wealth for you quietly in the background, even if you haven’t been tracking it.
You might be surprised at just how much it’s grown, even with all the market ups and downs lately.
So, What Is Home Equity?
Equity is basically your home’s secret savings account. It’s the difference between what your house is worth today and what you still owe on it.
Example time:
Your home is worth $500,000
You still owe $200,000
That means you’ve got $300,000 in equity
Pretty wild, right? And that’s right in line with what the average homeowner has…about $302,000 in equity, according to Cotality.
Why You Probably Have More Equity Than You Think
Two big reasons:
Home Prices Have Soared
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) says home prices have jumped almost 54% in the last five years. Even if prices have recently cooled in some spots, if you’ve been in your home for a few years (or more), you’ve likely built up enough equity to come out ahead.
2. People Stay Put Longer.
According to NAR, the average homeowner hangs onto their home for about 10 years now. That’s a decade of paying down your mortgage and riding the wave of appreciation. Over that time, the typical homeowner has gained about $201,600 in wealth just from price growth alone.
Long story short: homeownership is a long game, and most homeowners are winning.
What Can You Actually Do with That Equity?
Equity isn’t just a number on paper. It can open doors for your next chapter:
Buy your next home. Use your equity for a down payment, or maybe even pay cash
Upgrade your current home. Renovate, expand, or just make it work better for you (and add more value for the future)
Invest in a dream. From starting a business to funding a big project, your equity could be exactly what you need for startup costs, equipment, software, or marketing. And that could help increase your earning potential, so you’re getting yet another financial boost.
Bottom Line
Your house is likely worth more than you realize, and that equity could be the key to your next move.
Curious how much you’ve got? Let’s connect.
I’ll run the numbers and give you a clear picture of what you’re working with.
Source: Keeping Current Matters, Inc.
The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice.
Keeping Current Matters, Inc. does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Keeping Current Matters, Inc. will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.
