Owning a home can be a great way to build wealth, especially once you’ve accumulated a significant amount of equity. One popular way to access your home equity is by taking out a home equity loan, which is a type of second mortgage. It’s helpful to understand how long it takes to apply for home equity loans and receive funds so you can decide if they’re a good fit for your situation. How home equity loans work With home equity loans, you borrow from the equity in your house, or the stake in the propert ...