The CHIP rate is 7.29%, the HELOC is 5.49%. That`s a substantial difference, about 83 grand on a loan of 176K over 10 years. That is 20 grand upfront and a monthly payment of 1300 bucks for 10 years. The CHIP thing is no monthly repayments, P&I, until you move or die. If I`m dead, so what, my friends still get serious coin. If I`m not checked out, there is still substantial money left, lots to rent or downsize. I see my financial planner next week, is it all a crapshoot, in the end nothing matters anyway. To be continued....