Home equity “investment” (HEI) lenders lure homeowners with the promise of upfront cash and no monthly payments. Also known as shared appreciation agreements, these complex, lengthy contracts hide that at term’s end, homeowners owe a large lump sum based on home value or appreciation—an unknown amount at signing. Many must sell their homes to pay, often with little left for new housing. As the HEI loan industry grows nationwide, NCLC works to educate and assist homeowners trapped by these predatory loans.