Is CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment the right fit for you?
Last Updated: 10/20/2026
Cast Your Vote
Compare All Home Equity Investment Companies
Filter & compare all your options in one place.
Highlights
Community Rating
Strongly recommended
Credit Score Range
Starting at 680
Disclaimer popup with additional information
Funding Range $
Up to $1,000,000
Funding Range %
5% - 26%
Disclaimer popup with additional information
Contract Term
N/A
Disclaimer popup with additional information
Number of Reviews
CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment Review
CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment is offered by Cornerstone Financing , a nonbank financial services provider founded in 2023 and based in Summit, NJ. CHEIFS are available in 21 states and Washington, DC.
Key Takeaways
- Good credit required. You will need a credit score of at least 680 to qualify for CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment.
- Significantly lower cap on investor return. CHEIFS caps its equity share return at an annualized rate as low as 12.99% on the investment payment, compounded annually — well below the 19% to 20% caps commonly used by other home equity investment providers. This homeowner protection feature establishes a firm ceiling on the maximum equity share return Cornerstone can receive at settlement, even in strongly appreciating markets.
- No fixed term. Settlement occurs upon sale or transfer of the home, permanent move-out, or death of the homeowner — providing flexibility to plan settlement on the homeowner's own timeline rather than a forced exit at a set number of years.
- Lower upfront origination fee. CHEIFS origination fee is capped at up to 2.99% of the investment payment ($2,000 minimum), compared to the 3.9% to 4.5% origination fees commonly charged by some other home equity investment providers.
- Up to $1,000,000. CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment will invest up to $1,000,000 in a home, which is more than what most shared equity companies offer.
- Home improvement credit. Cornerstone Financing recognizes money you invest in eligible home improvements and adjusts the ending value so it doesn’t take a share of the value you added.
- Only available in select states. CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment is currently available in a limited number of states.
CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment FAQ
How does the CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment product work?
A shared equity agreement (also called a shared appreciation agreement or home equity contract) is a way to sell a portion of the equity in your home to an investment company.
The transaction is secured by a lien on your property, but instead of paying interest or monthly payments, the investor receives a share of your home's value when the agreement ends.
How much will Cornerstone Financing invest?
Cornerstone Financing offers equity investments ranging from 5% to 26% of a property's value. The maximum investment in a single home is $1,000,000.
While CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment is not a traditional loan, the maximum lien-to-value ratio is 50%. This means the total of the investment return plus any existing mortgage balance cannot exceed that percentage of the property's value.
| Term | Amount |
| Equity Investment Range | 5% – 26% |
What are the costs associated with CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment?
Shared equity investments do not charge an interest rate or require monthly payments. Instead, the investor earns a return based on the future value of your home. However, most investors will charge an appraisal fee and other third-party closing costs.
| Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origination Fee (%) | Up to 2.99% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share of Home Value | Up to 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How long does it take to close?
Funding typically occurs within 14 to 21 days.
What types of property are eligible?
Intended Use
- Primary home
- Secondary home
Property Type
- Single-family home
- Multi-family home
- Condominium
- Townhome
Is Cornerstone Financing a legit company?
Cornerstone Financing was founded in 2023. It is an established company that has been in business for 3 years. Based on their "strongly recommended" SuperMoney community rating, they appear to be a very reputable company.
Provider Disclosure: CHEIFS is offered by Cornerstone Financing LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, and does business as Domus Funding LLC in OH and as Domus Funding in NM; in CA, CHEIFS is offered by Domus Funding Corp dba Cornerstone Financing, CA DRE # 02248492. CHEIFS is not offered or solicited related to properties located in New York or Minnesota.
CHEIFS® is a home equity investment agreement (“HEI”). CHEIFS is subject to underwriting and approval. Homeowners must occupy, insure, and maintain the property and pay all property taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, and payment on any other mortgages during the term. Additional costs, terms and conditions apply. Homeowners’ contractual obligations are secured by a mortgage or trust deed against the home. Terms are subject to change. Not available in all states. Visit cheifs.com for additional details and licensing information.
SuperMoney Disclosure: SuperMoney.com is an independent, advertising-supported service. The owner of this website may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. Read more...
Editorial Disclaimer: Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone and have not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution, including those that are advertising partners.
Message from CHEIFS
Hours of Operation
SundayClosedMonday9:00AM - 5:00PMTuesday9:00AM - 5:00PMWednesday9:00AM - 5:00PMThursday9:00AM - 5:00PMFriday9:00AM - 5:00PMSaturdayClosed
Other Services by Cornerstone Financing
Availability
Available in 21 states and Washington, D.C.
- Arizona
- California
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
SuperMoney Net Recommendation Score
SuperMoney users strongly recommend this product, giving it a user recommendation score of +100, or 5 on a 5-point rating scale.
+100
-1000+100
No one recommends
Everyone recommends
Reviewer Sentiment Over Time
CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment Community Reviews
Would you recommend CHEIFS® Home Equity Investment to your friends?
MJ
Mathew J.
Sep 24, 2026
Would Recommend
It has been a pleasure working with Tyler and the staff at CHEIFS to help me unlock my home equity and put it to use without any monthly payments. I would highly recommend CHEIFS!
RS
Ra S.
Aug 7, 2026
Would Recommend
I highly recommend CHEIFS to any homeowner looking to unlock their home's value. The team—and Tyler in particular—was an absolute pleasure to work with. They clearly explained the timeline and what to expect, making what could be a complicated process feel effortless with step-by-step precision. The biggest benefit has been accessing my equity without the stress of adding another monthly payment to an already tight budget. It is a fantastic ...Show More
KP
Katie P.
Jun 11, 2026
Would Recommend
Working with Horizon and CHIEFS was a really easy and straightforward process. It was also really fast! I was really grateful to be able to access some of my home's equity without any income verification and with no monthly payments. Everyone on the team was super friendly and easy to work with. Great communication and follow up.
AL
Andrea L.
May 26, 2026
Would Recommend
It was a pleasure working with Bryan, Steve, Valerie, and the whole gang at Chiefs. They were very responsive and answered all my questions. The HIE loan was the best option for us because of multiple factors and we love the fact that we have no monthly payments which allows us to maximize the funds received. It is so much better than a reverse mortgage because we will always own ...Show More
NC
Nancy C.
Apr 29, 2026
Would Recommend
My experience with CHEIFS was very positive from start to finish. The process was easy and smooth, and everything was explained clearly along the way. My financial advisor was very helpful and walked me through how this option fit into my overall financial plan.I used the proceeds for a Roth conversion, which gives me long-term, tax‑free growth, and that was a big win for me. The entire CHEIFS team did ...Show More
U
Anonymous
Mar 25, 2026
Would Recommend
We used CHEIFS as part of a broader financial planning conversation and had a very positive experience with the process.
What stood out was how straightforward everything was. The team explained how the agreement works clearly, including how the investor participates in the home’s future value at settlement. There were no monthly payments, and we didn’t have to refinance our existing mortgage, which was important to us.
Overall, the process was smooth, ...Show More
Showing 6 of 6 reviews
You might also like
Best Home Equity Agreements
SuperMoney
IRS Debt Forgiveness Program: Here’s How To Apply
Jessica Walrack
I Owe the IRS: Penalties and Interest Explained
Andrew Latham
