Americans Have $35 Trillion in Housing Wealth—and It’s Costing Them

April 7, 2025 – In an article for The Wall Street Journal, Shannon Vasconcelos, senior director for Bright Horizons College Coach, discussed how home equity can affect a family’s financial aid eligibility. 

Most assess home equity like any other parental asset, with an approximate 5% assessment rate, said Shannon Vasconcelos, a senior director for Bright Horizons College Coach, based in Newton, Mass. This means $100,000 in home equity could reduce a family’s financial aid eligibility by roughly $5,000. Most schools use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or Fafsa, which doesn’t count home equity for a primary residence but does consider it for investment properties and vacation homes.

Read the full article here.