U.S. Mortgage Index

What fees can a lender charge on a HELOC?

Short answer

fees are set out in the account documents; read those papers before you borrow. The CFPB lists charges that some plans use, including application, closing, inactivity, annual, early-cancellation, and conversion fees. This source does not publish a typical fee schedule or dollar amounts.

Full explanation

A Home Equity Line of Credit can include fees at application, at account opening, while the line is open, and if you close it early or convert part of the balance. The CFPB says to read the documents carefully to see which of those charges the lender may impose.

Charges the CFPB names on some plans include an application fee; origination, appraisal, title, or other closing-cost fees when the account is opened; an inactivity fee if you do not use the line; an annual or membership fee; a cancellation fee for ending the HELOC early, often in the first two or three years; and a conversion fee if you move part of the balance to a fixed rate.

Not every plan uses every fee, and this page does not publish current typical amounts. Compare written fee lists when you shop, and use the CFPB HELOC booklet for a fuller explanation of how these lines work.

Sources reviewed

Last reviewed

September 10, 2026