Home Equity Friction: Fees Beyond the Advertised APR
Origination, appraisal, annual fees, and variable indexes — the costs that sit beside HELOC rates.
Updated 2026-07-15 · Not financial advice
APR is not the whole story
Introductory APRs, margin over SOFR/prime-like indexes, and annual fees change economics after month one.
Map expected drawn balance × rate, then add fixed fees to see friction per year.
Related tool: heloc interest cost · bank fee leak
Sources
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can HELOC interest be tax deductible? +
Sometimes, under IRS rules for qualified residence interest — ask a tax professional. FeeFriction does not determine deductibility.