The value of your home continues to rise. Many homeowners are experiencing significant gains to the value of their homes and their home equity, especially this past year.

Home price gains, which are tied to home equity, have risen at a rate not seen in more than six years.

According to CoreLogic, the home price index increased by 8.4% in October, up from 7% during the previous month. Some cities like Phoenix, Seattle and San Diego recorded increases of up to 12.7%.

Earlier in 2020, restrictions related to the pandemic led to a deacceleration in gains to home prices, but that did not last. Since late spring, monthly reports have showed a persistence in home price gains across the nation.

Part of the reason for the success in the real estate market is ultra-low interest rates that allow more homebuyers into the market. The pandemic has also reframed priorities as more people migrate from urban cores to suburban neighborhoods, where home prices tend to be more manageable.

With recent developments to vaccine availability and new stimulus measures, 2021 may pick up where 2020 left off. Recent stimulus and other consumer protections could lead to bigger demand in the housing market and thus keep prices moving upward.

Current homeowners can get in on the action as well. While you may have no plans for selling your home, you might be pondering how to maximize home equity.

Home equity is earned as the value of your home increases relative to how much is owed. Similarly, making monthly payments will also chip away at the balance, which boosts home equity.

Through a refinance mortgage loan, borrowers can accomplish a number of financial outcomes that boost their flexibility thanks to their equity.

Refinancing a loan means replacing the existing loan with one that features more favorable borrowing terms. A lower-interest rate loan saves homeowners money on their monthly mortgage payment, which will add up to bigger savings over the life of the loan.

Equity can also come into play when you decide to refinance. Through a cash-out refinance, for instance, a homeowner can tap into equity and borrow against it.

You can access the equity to consolidate debt, pay for education or save for a rainy day.

Some homeowners decide to invest in their homes and use proceeds from a cash-out refinance loan to renovate their home, which will also boost the home’s value.

Gyro Shack is on its way to a popular destination in Twin Falls as the company makes good on its plans of expanding through new franchisees.

Currently, the company operates nine locations that are designed with drive-through and takeout orders in mind, which customers value during the pandemic. As a result, the company has seen little interruption in delivering fresh gyros to its growing base of customers.

The Mediterranean cuisine restaurant is fast gaining lots of followers for its delicious Chicago-style Greek gyros, which are made to order and served fast.

Gyros and pita sandwiches combos come with a fountain drink and a choice of tzatziki, hummus, Greek salad, rice, fries, chips or a side of healthy vegetables.

The original pita includes gyro meat, tzatziki sauce, tomato and onion. The deluxe version adds feta cheese.

For vegetarian diets, customers can order the veggie pita with a veggie patty, hummus, cheese and fresh vegetables.

Gyro Shack also puts a spin on the traditional gyro. Customers can select a BLT, spicy, chicken bacon ranch or the Philly gyro that has a special Philly mix and melted cheese.

Options with less carbs are also available. Gyro Shack makes bowls and salads. The salad option allows customers to turn any gyro into a Mediterranean salad or customers can swap out the salad for a bed of rice.

Early risers who love their pitas can start their day with a breakfast pita containing egg, gyro meat, sauce and cheddar cheese. The colossal breakfast pita is filled with egg, gyro meat, bacon, tzatziki sauce, tomato, grilled onion, avocado, cheddar and spicy sauce.

A kids menu features grilled chicken strips and a cheese-packed pita melt served with fries, chips, applesauce or veggies.