You probably could, but for a $5,000 balance we would think hard before putting your house behind it. On the mechanics: credit unions tend to be good sources for HELOCs and fixed second mortgages, and many will lend up to around 90 percent of your home's value. At roughly 82 percent loan-to-value today, a small $5,000 draw would likely keep you under that ceiling, so the tool is available. Limits and terms vary by lender, so confirm the current guidelines with whoever you approach. Jeb's take deserves real weight here. For a balance this small, encumbering your home is a lot of cost and hassle: a second lien, fees to open it, and your house now standing behind what was unsecured debt. He would rather see you attack the $5,000 directly, by trimming expenses or picking up some extra income, and keep your equity out of it entirely. Equity tools earn their setup costs on bigger jobs. The call is yours either way. Price the HELOC route, price the grind-it-out route, and pick the one you can live with. Run the numbers before you commit, and if your situation sits near the line, that comparison will make the answer obvious.