Owners Equity

Written by True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

Reviewed by Editorial Team

Updated on March 12, 2023

Owner’s equity is a financial term used to describe the amount of ownership, or "equity", that an individual has in a particular property.

It is defined as the difference between an asset's market value and its associated liabilities.

Simply put, it is the total amount of cash paid for all assets of a business or individual minus any debt owed.

Why Is Owner’s Equity Important?

To better understand what owner’s equity is, it is important to know why it can be beneficial.

Owner’s equity allows property owners to maintain ownership of the land or structure that they occupy.

Homeowners can also use accumulated equity as collateral for loans for other major assets such as cars and boats.

With a deeper understanding of their available owners equity, homeowners are better equipped to make sound financial decisions regarding their properties.

By calculating the value of your home, you can determine how much equity you have built up over time and decide if it would be worth renting instead of selling.

Types of Owner’s Equity

There are two primary types of owner's equity: personal and real property.

Personal Owner’s Equity

Personal owners equity is the amount paid for all property owned by an individual, minus any debt that may be owed on those items.

This includes the cash put into savings accounts as well as other assets such as stocks and bonds, cars, and even clothing.

Real Property Owner’s Equity

Real property owners equity is the value of a property minus any debt that has been associated with it.

This approach allows an individual to calculate their items as a whole instead of breaking down each asset individually. This includes home, commercial, and agricultural properties.

Components of Owner's Equity

By gaining an understanding of owner's equity, homeowners can better prepare for future opportunities. The main components include:

Assets

Assets consist of all property owned by a person or organization.

Liabilities

A liability is a debt or financial obligation that must be repaid at a specified date or time.

Real estate loans may also be considered liabilities in certain situations. However, the primary concern when calculating owner’s equity is to determine how much money was paid for all property owned.

Net Worth

Net worth is considered a homeowner's value when factoring in all their personal equity components.

Owner’s Equity Formula

The simplest way to calculate an owner's equity is to subtract liabilities from assets. This results in net worth, or what an individual has paid to accumulate their equity.

Owners_Equity_Formula

To better understand owner’s equity in action, consider this example:

A salon with assets of $100,000 and no liabilities. $100,000 - $0 = $100,000 (Net worth).

This salon could then use their net worth as collateral for loans to purchase additional amenities or equipment needed to run their business.

Another example with slightly different numbers:

A homeowner with assets of $150,000 and liabilities of $85,000. $150,000 - $85,000 = $65,000 (Net worth).

This homeowner has a net worth above that of most others in the neighborhood.

They could then use this surplus value to purchase an additional property or invest in the stock market in order to grow their net worth even further.

To better understand owner’s equity, it is important to know the different components of this concept. By gaining an understanding of how these factors work together, people are able to make more informed decisions when faced with financial opportunities.

Factors Affecting Owner’s Equity

There are additional factors that should be considered while calculating owner’s equity, including:

Property Tax

This is a tax levied on all landowners based on the value of their property.

This money is then used to pay for local services including police protection and road maintenance.

The amount of tax an individual pays based on their assessed value is determined by a local government authority.

In the United States, property taxes are assessed and collected at the state level. This means that each county will have their own guidelines for what percentage of a home’s value should be considered taxable.

Property Value

Home values can change due to several reasons including market forces, natural disasters, or even tax laws.

Homeowners need to be aware of these fluctuations in order to understand the present value of their property.

Property Equity

Home equity is considered the difference between a property’s value and what it would cost for an individual to purchase that same home today, minus any mortgage debt associated with the property.

This calculation is then used to determine the potential return on investment that could be obtained from a homeowner’s equity position.

Again, understanding owner’s equity is an essential component of making informed financial decisions.

By using this knowledge, homeowners can prepare for future opportunities and have a better idea of their overall value as a person or business owner.

Final Thoughts

There are many things that contribute to a homeowner’s equity.

Before making any major decisions regarding property purchases or other important financial matters, it is important to understand the current value of one’s home.

The easiest way to calculate homeowners equity is by subtracting all liabilities from their assets. However, there are additional factors to consider when attempting to determine the potential profitability of one’s home.

As with any financial decision, it is important to research all options before making an informed choice about how best to use homeowner’s equity.

Owner’s Equity FAQs

About the Author

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.

True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.

To learn more about True, visit his personal website, view his author profile on Amazon, or check out his speaker profile on the CFA Institute website.

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