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3 Smart Exterior Home Remodel Ideas

Curb appeal should always be front of mind when you plan to sell your home and want to attract buyers or boost your resale value. But it can also help make your home a more appealing place to live.

If you’re thinking about upgrading your home’s exterior, consider these smart home remodel projects

Ideas for Exterior Home Remodel Projects

No matter how beautifully you decorate the inside of your home, the outside offers up the first impression to visitors, and these exterior home remodel ideas can be great investments for you as a homeowner, whether or not you’re planning to sell your house right now.

From adding texture to the exterior of your home to swapping out old windows for more contemporary ones to fixing up your front door, a home exterior makeover can be a smart way to make a lasting impact in a short amount of time.

Replace Your Front Door With an Inviting Style

Psychologists say that it takes just seven seconds to make a first impression. This means your front door is one of the first parts of your house that a guest or potential buyer will see and will help set the tone for how they feel about the home in general. Thus, the front door should be one of the first places you focus your energy when tackling exterior renovations of your property.

For an open, light-filled look, consider doors with glass panels. Want more privacy? Use mirrored glass in the side panels, which allows you to see outside but people walking by can’t see in. Frosted glass also offers privacy while diffusing natural light.

The overall cost of installing an exterior door depends on complexity, materials, and where you live; it could run you as little as $150 or as much as $20,000. But on average, installing an exterior door will cost between $495 to $1,771. The labor alone of having someone install it for you could cost around $1,094, so if you’re handy with tools, this could be where you save money.

Even if you choose not to replace the door itself, a fresh coat of paint, updated knob and hinge hardware, and a new doorbell to match can go far in improving the curb appeal of your home’s exterior.

Mixing Textures on Your Home’s Exterior

Mixing textures is one way to alter the exterior of your home for a positive effect. Alternating visual patterns between wood, metal, concrete, and stucco requires some experimentation, but the results can be dramatic.

For a contemporary look, consider mixing multiple textures, which could range from different widths of siding or choosing different types of siding like combining cedar shingles and shiplap in the same color. You can also mix and match levels of gloss, or shapes and lengths of bricks and stone.

For a baseline cost, installed vinyl siding can range in price from $6,370 and $17,615, with the average cost being $11,676. Your costs will depend on the thickness of the siding, how much added style you want as you mix and match textures, the size of your house, how standard the shape of your house is or isn’t, and any added details like moldings, trim, soffits, corners, or vents. If there’s old siding that needs to be removed first, you’ll also want to factor in the additional cost of labor (or consider doing it yourself).

Upgrading the Windows

Changing the style of your windows will not only give your home’s exterior a brand-new look, but potentially be more energy-efficient than your current windows. This could end up helping you save money on electric bills, which may be attractive to buyers down the line.

Material selection will dictate the overall cost of new windows. Vinyl, for example, is on the lower end of the price scale, whereas solid wood windows will cost much more.

The cost of new windows also is dependent on the size of each unit, as there are hundreds of common window sizes available. On average, a single window unit runs $150 to $800 with installation costing an additional $60 to $300 per unit. The complexity of the windows also affects pricing, and if you plan to add shutters or new blinds, factor in those costs, too.

How Much Could Your Home Exterior Makeover Boost Value?

At a minimum, your home exterior makeover can make your house more appealing to the eye, but it also can help give potential buyers assurance that you have maintained the home’s upkeep.

Projects like fixing up the front door are a great place to start, and while you’re replacing your door, you could consider adding a portico or awning as a design element or to protect visitors from the weather. Also make sure your doorbell is attractive, dovetails with the house’s overall style, and — most importantly — works.

Similar comparative data shows that an upscale window replacement using vinyl can increase a home’s value by an average of 68.5% of its cost. Upscale window replacement using wood boosts a home’s value by an average of 61.2% of its cost. And siding replacement, on average, boosts home value by 94.7% of the cost.

Funding Your Exterior Home Remodel

Once you have created a plan for exterior improvements, priced out materials, and mapped out a budget, the next item on your agenda should be figuring out the best way to pay for your improvements. If you’ve got the money in savings, then that isn’t an issue. Or, if you plan to use your credit cards but can pay them off in full when the bills arrive, again, you’re squared away.

Using your credit cards when you can’t pay them off relatively quickly, however, can be problematic as credit card debt can be tricky to pay off. That’s because most credit card companies charge compound interest, which means you’re paying interest on the accrued interest, with the interest continually calculated and added to your balance. To make matters worse, the interest may typically be compounded daily.

Even if you make minimum payments, the interest just keeps compounding. In fact, it keeps doing so until the balance is paid off completely. If you miss a payment, the situation gets worse, with late fees and penalties often added on.

If you’d like to calculate what you’d actually pay on your remodeling debt, use our credit card interest calculator.

If you decide that it won’t make sense to use a credit card to pay for your remodeling, then consider comparing and contrasting home equity lines of credit versus home improvement loans, which is a kind of lump-sum personal loan. Under certain circumstances, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) may make sense; for example, if you have significant equity in your home, plan to borrow a large amount of money and/or want the potential tax benefits.

Benefits of choosing a home improvement loan include:

•   You won’t tie up any equity in your home.

•   Fees are likely to be less, and maybe you won’t have to pay any fees at all

•   Application and approval processes are typically faster than with a HELOC

Recommended: How Much Does It Cost to Remodel or Renovate a House?

What Bedroom Style Is Right For You Quiz

The Takeaway

Exterior home remodel projects can be a way to increase your house’s curb appeal, while also adding value. They also are often the quickest way to turn a real estate investment into long-term value. Exterior home projects can be as simple as adding a fresh coat of paint to your existing front door or as complex as replacing all the windows in your house to be both contemporary and more energy efficient. At the very least, tackling these smart exterior home remodel ideas should help you down the line when you decide to sell your house.

Of course, the more involved a project is, the more expensive it can be. If you need help financing an exterior home remodeling project, you have options, including using cash, using a credit card and paying off the balance quickly, or taking out a personal loan.

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get some home repairs or renovations done, see what a SoFi personal loan can offer. With a SoFi Home Improvement Loan, you can borrow between $5,000 to $100,000 as an unsecured personal loan, meaning you don’t use your home as collateral and no appraisal is required. Our rates are competitive, and the whole process is easy and speedy.

Turn your home into your dream house with a SoFi Home Improvement Loan.


SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.


Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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How to Stage a House: 8 Steps

Selling your home? If so, you likely want to do everything in your power to make it look great and trigger solid offers ASAP. Staging your home can be one key contributing factor to achieving that.

When you stage your home, you optimize its look and design. This allows potential buyers to visualize the house as their own. It makes it look like a place they aspire to put down roots. (Yes, decluttering and removing some of your personal mementos may be involved.)

According to a National Association of Realtors® survey, 89% percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.

Want to learn more? Here’s a step-by-step guide to how you can stage your home.

8 Steps to Stage a House for Sellers

Follow these tips for staging your home and impressing prospective buyers.

1. Take Stock of Needed Fixes

If a house requires considerable repairs, a seller may face a lengthy negotiation process with buyers that results in concessions and contingencies. Any issues flagged by an inspection will also need to be addressed with prospective buyers.

Deciding whether to make these fixes beforehand will affect how a home is staged and perceived by buyers. Even relatively small issues like cracks in a ceiling and a dripping faucet can raise concerns and influence a buyer’s impression. That’s something to be wary of, especially in a hot housing market when many buyers want to snag a home quickly.

Taking care of these common home repairs before house staging can show buyers that you’ve maintained the property and keep their focus on its strengths.

💡 Quick Tip: Don’t overpay for your mortgage. Get your dream home or investment property and a great rate with SoFi Mortgage Loans.

2. Enhance Curb Appeal

Before buyers walk through the door, they’ll have already formed an impression from the home’s curb appeal, the attractiveness of a property from the sidewalk or street.

Buyers may even do a drive-by before setting up a showing to narrow down their search. Thus, sprucing up a home’s exterior, lawn, and landscaping is essential to any plan for how to stage a house. Even in winter, curb appeal matters.

Any eyesores, such as chipped paint, cracked windows, or clogged gutters could discourage buyers from taking a closer look. Power-washing any siding and applying a fresh coat of paint where needed are some possible quick improvements.

Thinning out lawn decor, replacing burned-out lights, and tidying up gardens and landscaping are also low-cost ways to increase curb appeal.

For many prospective buyers, their first look into your home will be digital. High-quality photos can be helpful in attracting buyers.

Staying on top of things like lawn care while the home is listed could make a difference in getting more showings and securing a higher offer. In fact, 98% of NAR members say they believe curb appeal is important to potential buyers.

3. Remove Clutter

While working on house staging, you may also be encumbered with the home-buying process or figuring out what to do with all your stuff after it’s sold. In either case, staging is an opportunity to jumpstart the moving process and declutter the house.

Removing clutter is a popular staging tactic to make the interior of a home appear more spacious. A home’s square footage can’t be fabricated, but curating a more open layout can give the impression of a larger space.

Begin by packing away items that you don’t use daily, like seasonal clothes, knickknacks, sports equipment, and other odds and ends. This is also a chance to identify anything you want to sell, donate, or dispose of.

Storage space of a home can also be a major selling point. Instead of loading up the basement, garage, and closets, sellers may want to consider asking family members or friends to store their belongings, hosting a garage sale, or renting a storage unit.

Recommended: How to Refresh Your Home Room by Room

4. Depersonalize the Space

Cutting back on personal items is an important step in staging a house. While decluttering the home, stowing away family photos and clothing is a good place to start. Removing subtler items like personal toiletries can further neutralize the space.

That lavender paint in one room and turtle-themed wallpaper in another? It might be best to create a more basic canvas.

The point is to show that the home is move-in ready and an open book for buyers to add their personal touches. With just the integral furniture and furnishings remaining, it’s easier for buyers to imagine themselves moving in and living there.

5. Do a Deep Cleaning

Once the decor and furnishings have been minimized, it’s time to get the house squeaky clean. While this is one of the more cost-effective ways to stage a house, it can take significant time and energy.

To streamline the process, consider starting with the highest surfaces and working your way down. Overhead fixtures like lighting and ceiling fans are often overlooked in regular cleaning routines, and thus accumulate lots of dust and grime. It’s likely that cleaning these hard-to-reach places will bring debris down on countertops and floors.

Bathrooms and kitchens are key rooms to focus on. Water stains and mildew in sinks, tubs, and showers are obviously a no-no. Making sure appliances sparkle and that countertops are spotless can give the kitchen a fresh new look.

💡 Quick Tip: To see a house in person, particularly in a tight or expensive market, you may need to show proof of prequalification to the real estate agent. With SoFi’s online application, it can take just minutes to get prequalified.

6. Define Every Space

While the kitchen, bathroom, master bedroom, and garage are straightforward in their purpose, some spaces in a home may not have an obvious use to prospective buyers.

Thinking about how to stage spare rooms and unconventional spaces is important. For example, staging such a space as a home office or workout room could appeal to a larger segment of buyers.

7. Stage Where It Matters Most

Not every room holds equal weight from the homebuyer’s perspective. Prioritize the living room, primary bedroom, kitchen, dining room, and yard; real estate agents say these are of most interest to buyers.

The kids’ rooms and basement? Spend less time and energy there.

Recommended: Home Appraisals: What You Need to Know

8. Don’t Forget Outdoor Space

While the front of a house determines curb appeal, the yard, porch, or patio space can sell buyers on the lifestyle they could enjoy there.

The backyard is a popular place for entertaining and socializing, especially for families with kids. Tidying up the yard and addressing any safety issues like a wobbly porch railing or broken fence could be easy fixes.

Setting up a focal point, such as an outdoor seating area, fire pit, or grill, can make the space more inviting. Even if it’s a limited yard or patio space, brightening it up with flowers and comfy outdoor furniture can change the perception from confined to cozy.

Recommended: Guide to Buying, Selling, and Updating Your Home

The Takeaway

How to stage a house? It can take time and energy, but emphasizing a home’s strengths and creating an inviting atmosphere can be done with some thorough cleaning, decluttering, and rearranging.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.


SoFi Mortgages: simple, smart, and so affordable.


*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.


SoFi Mortgages
Terms, conditions, and state restrictions apply. Not all products are available in all states. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information.


Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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What Is the Difference Between Pending and Contingent Offers?

People often use the terms “pending offer” and “contingent offer” interchangeably, but there is actually a difference when you are talking about real estate.

When a property is said to be contingent, that means the seller accepted an offer that is contingent on particular conditions requested by the buyer. These conditions could involve anything from an inspection to financing.

If, however, you see a house on the market switch to pending, there’s a different status involved. The seller has accepted an offer, and all contingencies have either been waived or addressed.

Yes, the distinction may be subtle. However, the bottom line is, neither status actually means a property is sold. If you have found your dream home and it says “contingent” or “pending,” there is still a chance you could snag it.

Contingent Offers vs. Pending Offers

Here’s a closer look at the difference between contingent and pending offers.

What is a Contingent Offer?

When a home’s status switches to contingent, it means contingencies stand in the way before the deal is done. If closing on a home is a race, then buyers still have miles ahead of them when they enter the contingency process.

There are many types of contingencies buyers can include in their offer that make it easier for them to back out of a real estate deal, but these are some of the most common:

•   Financing contingency. The buyers put some money or the promise of a mortgage behind their offer, right? This condition ensures that if the buyers aren’t approved for a mortgage, they’re not on the hook for finding cash to buy the property.

Some buyers choose to have a preapproval letter in hand to make the financing contingency move faster.

•   Inspection contingency. A home inspector is paid to search the property top to bottom to uncover any issues. With a home inspection report in hand, buyers can ask the sellers to solve the issues or give them a credit against the purchase price of the home.

With this contingency, buyers can also walk away from a deal based on the findings of the inspection. Alternatively, if both parties don’t come to an agreement on repairs or credits, they can terminate the deal.

•   Appraisal contingency. In order to secure financing for a home, it must be professionally appraised for the value of the offer or more. If the home appraises for less than the offer, the buyer can either make up the difference in cash, negotiate with the seller for a lower offer, or walk away from the deal.

Recommended: What Is a Mortgage Contingency?

•   Home sale contingency. If buyers need to sell their existing home to help finance the purchase of a new home, they may include a home sale contingency in the offer. That means if an offer on their home falls through, they’re no longer on the hook to buy the home they made an offer on.

Contingencies are in place to protect buyers and sellers in the event of snags throughout the negotiation process.

Prospective buyers can include as many contingencies as they like in an offer, and if the sellers agree, the buyers will need to work through each one before they make it to closing.

For people salivating over a hot property that looks taken, contingencies may signal opportunities for a deal to fall through. If you have your heart set on a home that’s contingent, you can hold out hope. Thanks to contingencies, there’s a chance the existing offer will fall through.

💡 Quick Tip: Don’t overpay for your mortgage. Get a great rate by shopping around for a home loan.

What is a Pending Offer?

Just because a home is pending doesn’t mean the deal is done. A home often enters pending status once buyer contingencies are cleared, but it can also enter pending status immediately if a buyer makes an offer without contingencies.

A pending home sale may still fall through, but the buyer and seller have worked through most of the contingencies. For a pending sale to fall through, there likely has been an unexpected issue with the inspection or financing.

In fact, a pending home is still on the market. The listing agent and seller can choose to continue showing the home and even accept other offers, even if its status is pending. However, this is largely up to the sellers and their agents.

Recommended: First-Time Homebuyer Guide

Can Pending and Contingent Homes Take Other Offers?

If a home is contingent and the buyers are still working through the inspection, financing, or selling their current home, a competing buyer can make a backup offer on the property. If the initial offer falls through for any reason, the seller can take the other buyer up on their offer.

It’s up to the sellers whether they will accept a backup offer or not, but if the buyer loves the property, it can’t hurt to ask.

In many markets, a home with pending status means it’s not open to additional offers, but the deal isn’t sealed. It’s not over till it’s over, so the buyers could still back out based on their contingencies, as outlined above.

(A home could be marked “pending, taking backups,” indicating that the seller is still showing the house and accepting backup offers.)

When a home is pending or contingent, it’s not against the law for another buyer to ask for a tour, express interest in the home, or even make a competing offer. But compared with a home that is not under contract, it is less likely that a competing buyer will get the property.

While you may make offers on these properties, buyers don’t get your hopes up. Depending on how close the buyer and seller are to closing, it’s not legally possible for the seller to accept another offer.

Additionally, the closer a home gets to closing, the more complicated competing offers can be. This is when a seasoned real estate agent may come in handy. They will understand the market, process, and legalities better than most first-time buyers do and how to navigate a hot housing market.

Recommended: Guide to Buying, Selling, and Updating Your Home

The Takeaway

Contingent vs. pending: Though some use the words interchangeably, the two statuses are different. A contingent deal may have a long way to go, as buyers firm up financing, await an appraisal, or sell their current home. A pending property is nearer to closing, but the deal still isn’t final.

Buyers eyeing a dream property may hold out hope that contingent or pending deals fall through. In that case, having everything set up for a backup offer could pay off.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.


SoFi Mortgages: simple, smart, and so affordable.


*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.


SoFi Mortgages
Terms, conditions, and state restrictions apply. Not all products are available in all states. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information.


Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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How Can Investors Receive Compounding Returns?

Compounding returns can help the money you’ve invested grow, as long as those returns are reinvested.

Compound returns depend on the rate of return–meaning how much the investment gains or losses over time. The most powerful effects of compounding returns take time, even decades. That’s why people are often encouraged to start investing at an early age, even with small amounts. The longer their money is invested, the more compounding it can do.

How can investors receive compounding returns? Here’s how the process works and steps to take to achieve it.

What Are Compounding Returns?

Compounding returns are the earnings you continuously receive from contributions you’ve made to an investment.

Compound returns can be achieved by any type of asset class that produces returns on both the initial amount–or the principal–as well as any profits or returns that are generated after the initial investment. Essentially, the money you put to work is doing additional work automatically for you.


💡 Quick Tip: If you’re opening a brokerage account for the first time, consider starting with an amount of money you’re prepared to lose. Investing always includes the risk of loss, and until you’ve gained some experience, it’s probably wise to start small.

How Does Compounding Interest Work?

Compound interest, on the other hand, refers to interest that accrues on savings accounts. (There isn’t such a thing as compound interest in stocks.) So, for instance, if you have a savings account that pays interest on the principal in the account, the interest you earn gets added to the principal. That means, your interest ends up earning interest–or compounding.

The Value of Compounding Returns

Here’s a hypothetical example that illustrates the idea of compound returns. (However, be aware that this is only for an investor making profits. In reality, an investor could also experience losses.)

Let’s say an investor buys a stock that costs $1,000. That’s the investment’s “principal.” In the first year, they earn a 10% return. The stock is now worth $1,100. Things start to get interesting in the second year, when the stock increases in value another 10%, bringing the stock’s value to $1,210.

That’s $110 in profit earned in the second year, compared to $100 in the first year. This happened even though they did not add any additional money to the investment, and they earned the same compound rate of return. The investment simply grew over the previous year, creating a larger base from which to earn more.

If the investor were to earn a 10% rate of return the third year, the profit would be even greater than in the previous two years. Working off a larger base—now $1,210—a 10% return will yield a profit of $121.

But keep in mind that investments that hold stocks may experience volatility. Take the example from above. Three consecutive years of precise 10% returns is highly unlikely. In fact, it’s also possible for investors to lose money on their investments, which is the case in almost any asset class. While helpful for understanding the concept of compound returns, it’s not necessarily reflective of the real-world experience.

Recommended: A Beginner’s Guide to Investing in Your 20s

How to Get Compound Returns

With compound returns, the reinvestment of interest may be done automatically or manually.

Here are some examples of investment types that can earn compound returns.

Stocks: There are two ways to make money on a stock. The first is through price appreciation, and the second is through dividend payments. When the value of a stock grows over time, an investor has the potential to earn compound interest if those profits are reinvested. With cash dividend payments, compound returns are not automatic, as they are paid out in cash, but an investor can add the payouts back in in order to potentially earn additional returns.

Mutual funds: Mutual funds are pools of stocks, bonds, or other investment types. For example, a mutual fund could invest in the U.S. stock market. Over time, the goal is that the mutual fund grows as the underlying investments grow. Many mutual funds give the option of automatic dividend reinvestment plans. This way, the investor can earn compound returns in both ways, on the price appreciation and the dividend payments.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): Similar to mutual funds, ETFs are pools of investments, like stocks. As the value of the ETF grows over time, returns will compound. Depending on which bank or institution where the ETF is purchased, it may or may not be possible to automatically reinvest dividends.

Remember, with all investments, a good return on investment is not guaranteed, even profits aren’t. Plus, investments that tend to earn a higher potential return may also come with higher risk.


💡 Quick Tip: How to manage potential risk factors in a self-directed investment account? Doing your research and employing strategies like dollar-cost averaging and diversification may help mitigate financial risk when trading stocks.

Which Products Offer Compound Interest?

Here are some examples of the types of accounts that earn compound interest.

High-yield savings accounts: Some high-yield savings accounts pay interest on cash balances. With these accounts, it is possible to earn interest on top of interest earned in previous months, therefore earning compounding returns.

Money market accounts: These accounts combine features of both a savings and a checking account. For instance, you may be able to write checks or use a debit card with a money market account. You earn interest on the balance in the account.

CDs: With a CD, or Certificate of Deposit, you place your money in the account and leave it for a specified period of time, which is usually anywhere from three months to five years. While the money is in the account, it earns a guaranteed amount of interest that typically compounds.

Bonds: You can buy different types of bonds such as US Treasury Bonds. In return for buying the bonds, the issuer pays you compound interest over a certain period of time, which can be as long as 30 years until the bonds mature.

The Takeaway

Compound returns can be a powerful way for your money to grow over time. When you invest your money in stocks or other asset classes, you have the potential to earn compounded rates of return. And the longer you invest, the more time your returns may have to compound.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

Invest with as little as $5 with a SoFi Active Investing account.

FAQ

Do stocks compound daily?

Compound return is a measure of a stock’s performance over time. Compounding often happens monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.

What is the average compound interest return?

The average compound interest return depends on the types of savings vehicles you have.

What is the difference between arithmetic and compounding returns?

With arithmetic returns, you take the difference between the ending value of an investment and the beginning value of the investment and divide it by the beginning value. Compound returns depend on the rate of return–meaning how much an investment gains or losses over time.



Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

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Where to Keep Emergency Funds

Where to Keep Emergency Funds

An emergency fund can help you cover life’s curveballs when an unexpected financial situation comes your way. You may be wondering where to keep your emergency fund until you actually need it.

You could stuff your emergency savings under the mattress or in a piggy bank, but a bank account can be a smarter way to save. The best account for emergency fund savings is one that offers you convenient access to your money, a competitive rate on deposits, and minimal fees.

Weighing some of the different banking options can help you decide where to put emergency funds.

Where to Keep Emergency Funds

Now, where to keep an emergency fund? There are different places you could keep your rainy-day money. When making a decision, it’s important to consider what works best for your lifestyle. And you’ll also want the security of knowing your money is safe, so it can be best to bank at a financial institution that is insured by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) or NCUA (National Credit Union Administration).

With that in mind, here are five possibilities you might consider when looking for the best account for emergency funds.

💡 Trying to figure out how much to save? Check out the emergency fund calculator for help.

1. Traditional Checking or Savings Accounts

You might consider keeping emergency savings in a traditional checking account or savings account at a brick-and-mortar bank. On the pro side, that could make it easier to access your money in an emergency. However, you may not get the best rate for your money. Also, checking accounts often don’t earn you any interest, and their accessibility can make it tempting to dip into the funds for something that isn’t a true emergency.

Traditional banks are not known for offering the highest annual percentage yields, or APYs, on savings accounts either. You’re also more likely to pay a monthly maintenance fee for a traditional savings account than one at an online bank.

2. High-Yield Savings

High-yield savings accounts offer above-average rates on balances. For example, you might find a savings account with an APY that’s five, 10, or even 20 times higher than the national average.

It’s more common to find high-yield savings accounts at online banks vs. traditional banks. That’s because online banks tend to have lower overhead costs so they’re able to pass on savings to their customers. You’re also less likely to pay a monthly fee for a high-yield savings account.

Of course, you won’t have branch banking access with an online savings account. You may, however, be able to access your account via an ATM card or debit card, or by transferring funds to a linked account.

Earn up to 4.20% APY with a high-yield savings account from SoFi.

No account or monthly fees. No minimum balance.

9x the national average savings account rate.

Up to $2M of additional FDIC insurance.

Sort savings into Vaults, auto save with Roundups.


3. Bonds

A bond is a type of debt instrument. When you buy a bond, you’re agreeing to let the bond issuer use your money for a set time period. In return, the issuer agrees to pay interest back to you.

Bonds can be attractive since you can earn decent interest rates on savings. However, they’re not great for accessibility since you have to wait for the bond to mature to get your money back.

You could cash out a bond early but that might mean forfeiting some of the interest you could earn. So you may want to consider bonds for money that you’d like to invest, versus money that you might need to tap into for emergencies.

4. Certificate of Deposit (CD) Accounts

A certificate of deposit or CD is a time deposit account. When you put money into a CD, the bank agrees to pay interest on your balance over a set time period. Once the CD matures, you can either withdraw your initial deposit and the interest or roll it all over to a new CD.

CDs can be a reliable way to save, since interest rates are guaranteed. However, your money is locked in for the entire maturity term. If you need to break into a CD early, your bank may charge an early withdrawal penalty. That could cost you some or all of the interest earned.

If you’re interested in using CDs for emergency savings, you might consider a CD ladder. Laddering CDs means opening multiple CDs with different maturity terms. That way, you always have a CD maturity date on the horizon. CD laddering could also help you to capitalize on rising interest rates since you can roll expiring CDs into a new account with a higher APY.

5. Money Market Accounts

Money market accounts combine features of savings accounts with checking accounts. For example, you can earn interest on balances and you might also get a debit card or paper checks that you can use to access your money.

A money market account can offer flexibility since they’re easier to access than bonds or CDs. And you might find money market accounts at online banks that offer rates comparable to what you could get with a high-yield savings account or CD. However, read the fine print: There may be minimum account opening and balance requirements as well as monthly fees to be paid.

If you’re considering a money market account for your emergency fund, consider the fees. An online money market account might be preferable for minimizing what you pay in fees while getting a competitive rate. Remember, the best account for an emergency fund will be the one that suits your specific needs.

The Takeaway

Having an emergency fund can help you sleep easier at night if you know that you’re covered should an unexpected expense crop up. If you’re looking for the best emergency fund savings account option, you can start with your current bank then compare it to other banks. Look for a combination of high APY and low (or no) fees to make the most of your money.

For instance, you might consider opening an online bank account with SoFi. With our Checking and Savings account, you can spend and save in one convenient place, plus you’ll earn a competitive APY on balances while paying no account fees, which can help your cash grow faster. One other terrific benefit: Qualifying accounts can get paycheck access up to two days early.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.20% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

What type of account is the safest for emergency funds?

A bank account at an FDIC-member bank is the safest option for holding your emergency fund. FDIC insurance protects your deposits in the rare event that your bank fails. Accounts that can be FDIC-insured include savings accounts, money market accounts, checking accounts, and CD accounts. NCUA serves a similar function insuring credit union accounts. Both offer $250,000 coverage per depositor, per account type, per insured institution.

Should I open a separate bank account for my emergency fund?

Opening a separate bank account for an emergency fund can be a good idea if you’re worried that you might be tempted to spend savings that are mingled with other funds. Having a separate savings account that’s linked to your checking account can allow for easy transfers. You’ll also continue earning interest until you need the money.

Should emergency funds be kept in cash?

Keeping an emergency fund in cash can be problematic as it increases the risk of the money being lost or stolen. You’re also not earning any interest by keeping emergency funds in savings. What’s more, certain emergency expenses might need to be paid using a check or debit card, which would still require you to deposit your cash into a bank account at some point.


Photo credit: iStock/dobok

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2024 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.


Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/31/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

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