Calculator
See how much home equity you could access, and what an interest-only or amortized payment would look like.
Available HELOC
$240,000
HELOC availability is capped at whichever is smaller: 65% of home value on its own, or 80% combined with your existing mortgage (OSFI guidelines).
A HELOC is revolving credit — you can draw, repay, and redraw against your available limit, similar to a credit card secured by your home. A second mortgage is a fixed lump-sum loan with its own amortization schedule.
Because your combined secured debt (existing mortgage plus HELOC) is also capped at 80% of your home's value. If your mortgage balance is high relative to your home's value, that 80% combined limit — not the 65% HELOC-only limit — usually ends up the binding constraint.
It can be, if the borrowed funds are used for investment or business purposes — not for personal use like renovations or debt consolidation. This depends on your specific situation; talk to an accountant before assuming deductibility.