Connecticut Homeowners Gain $33,000 in Equity
Owners across the state are sitting on more equity than ever, much of it still untapped.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Residential
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Connecticut homeowners gained an average of $33,000 in home equity between spring 2025 and spring 2026, the third-largest gain in the nation behind New York and New Jersey, according to Cotality. The gain sits against a record $34.9 trillion of total U.S. home equity entering September.
Why it matters
For Connecticut households, rising equity means a larger cushion on the largest asset most families own, and it can be tapped through borrowing. Much of the country's record equity remains on the sidelines largely because homeowners who locked in low pandemic-era mortgage rates are staying put rather than moving at today's higher rates.
Connecticut's average home equity stands at $373,000, and the $33,000 gain ranked third in the nation behind New York and New Jersey. Nationally, $11.5 trillion of the $34.9 trillion in home equity is tappable, averaging $310,000 per household.
The players
Cotality
A property data and analytics firm that tracks home equity and housing values across the United States.
LendingTree
An online loan marketplace whose chief financial officer discussed record home-equity balances with investment analysts.
The details
Equity grows through two channels: the mortgage payments a homeowner makes, which reduce the loan balance, and changes in the value of the property itself. Homeowners can access that equity through home equity loans or home equity lines of credit, which let them borrow against the difference between what the home is worth and what is still owed. A South Norwalk house that sold for a little over $600,000 two weeks before publication illustrates how local sale prices feed into these figures. Because equity depends on current property values, the gains reflect both repayment and market appreciation rather than cash savings.
Timeline
Spring 2025: start of the Connecticut equity measurement period.
Entering September: U.S. home equity reached a record $34.9 trillion.
Spring 2026: end of the Connecticut equity measurement period.
The Home Front
Record equity is accumulating in part because homeowners locked in low mortgage rates during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now reluctant to sell and take on higher borrowing costs. That lock-in helps explain why so much of the nation's equity remains tied up in existing homes rather than being borrowed against.
If you own a Connecticut home, check your current equity by comparing your loan balance with a recent comparable sale in your neighborhood. If you are considering a home equity loan or line of credit, review the FTC's primer on home equity lines of credit and speak with a licensed lender before borrowing against your house.
The takeaway
Your equity is built from mortgage payments and property value, and it is only worth what a buyer will pay. Before tapping it, confirm current values with a local agent and consult a licensed lender about the costs and risks of borrowing against your home.
Further reading
For more on how equity shapes buying and borrowing decisions, browse the Residential real estate section.
More information
Read the FTC primer on home equity lines of credit before deciding whether to borrow against your equity.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New Haven Register.
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