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The path to homeownership isn’t always a straight line. After all, there are so many factors that could come into play in the rent vs. own debate. Considerations might include how long you plan to stay in a specific home and location, have you saved enough for a down payment, if you are ready for the responsibility that comes with maintaining a house.

However, one of the biggest considerations when thinking about your housing options comes down to the cost of rent vs the cost to own in any town or city. Often referred to as the price to rent ratio, this calculation can be a helpful tool when determining the rent to value ratio in a certain area.

This ratio is a benchmark that can help potential homeowners as they decide whether or not to plunk down their life savings on a home. Here’s exactly what that ratio is and what it looks like in the top five major metro areas in the United States.

What Is the Price to Rent Ratio?

The price-to-rent ratio may sound intimidating, but fear not, it’s easier to break down than you may think. It’s compares cost of rent to mortgage in a ratio format.

Here’s an example for you: Let’s say the average annual rent paid in the city you are considering living in is $3,000 a month and the average property selling price is $1,000,000.

The price to rent ratio would be calculated by taking the $1,000,000 property value and dividing it by 12 months. That equals $8,333.33 a month.

Next, divide that number by the average rent. In this case, that would be $8,333.33 ÷ $3,000. This gives you the price to rent ratio, which in this example is 27.78.

Alternatively, you could divide the median home price by median “yearly” rent, so $1,000,000 / $36,000. This will give you the same price to rent ratio of 27.78.

This rent to price ratio can indicate whether housing may be overpriced in an area. It can also be helpful when estimating whether it is cheaper to buy or rent. Investors who purchase rental properties often look at this ratio before purchasing an investment property to rent out later as well.

The price to rent ratio can sometimes be used as an indicator of an impending housing bubble. Since a substantial increase in this ratio could mean that renting is becoming a more attractive option in that specific housing market.

Understanding what this ratio means and learning how to calculate this ratio for yourself could be useful information as you consider whether to rent or buy.

There are a variety of resources that describe price to rent ratios in different communities that can helpful in determining what areas are best to rent in or to buy across the country. There are even some helpful online calculators that can give you an estimate of the price to rent ratio in specific zip codes.

Price to Rent Ratio: When to Buy and When to Rent?

So, is the theoretical town with a price to rent ratio of 27.78 a better place to buy or to rent?

A price to rent ratio ranging from 1 to 15 typically indicates that it is better to buy than it is to rent in a given community. A price to rent ratio of 16 to 20 indicates it is typically better to rent than buy, and a ratio of rent to home price of 21 or more indicates it is better to rent than buy.

Since the theoretical town falls into 21+ category, it would be a rent friendly community. Of course, like all things in life, there are a few exceptions to this rule, but these are general guidelines to follow when making the all-important housing decision.

Looking for a few real-life ratios? Here are five popular metropolitan areas in the United States and their price-to-rent ratios to help you make a better informed decision on your next move.

New York, NY

According to SmartAsset’s 2019 analysis , New York City’s price to rent ratio is 36.83 based on the equivalent of a $1,000 rental to its $441,987 purchased home counterpart. And, as described above, that makes the city a renter’s market rather than a buyer’s one.

San Francisco, CA

It’s no secret that San Francisco’s housing market is one of the most competitive in the country . So, perhaps unsurprisingly, its price-to-rent ratio is a whopping 50.11 based on a $1,000 rental that is equivalent to a $601,362 purchased home, according to SmartAsset.

Boston, MA

In Boston, SmartAsset found that would-be residents will find a price-to-rent ratio of 29.23 based on that $1,000 rental equivalent to a $350,811 home. While that’s lower than New York and San Francisco, but the price to rent ratio indicates that it may still be a renter’s market.

Denver, CO

Compared to SF and NY, Denver may have a more buyer friendly market, with an estimated price to rent ratio of 25.60 based on a $1,000 rental and a $307,232 home. That still puts it above the threshold for those wavering between renting and buying.

Chicago, IL

One major city to make the list of places where it’s better to buy than rent is Chicago, which scored a 19.99 based on a $1,000 rental and a $239,831 home price.

But not all cities have price to rent ratios as high as these five hot markets. For example, Detroit has one of the lowest price to rent ratios at just 5.35 when comparing a $1,000 rental price and a $64,194 home.

Deciding You’re Ready to Buy

If you decide you’re ready to buy there are ways to make it more financially feasible, no matter your chosen city’s price-to-rent ratio. And that includes looking into mortgage options so you can find the best option. As you embark on your search, consider SoFi.

SoFi Mortgages offer qualifying borrowers competitive rates and no hidden fees. Plus some people can qualify for a loan with as little as a 10% down payment. You can find out if you pre-qualify for a mortgage in just a few minutes. That way, when the right home comes along—at the right price—you’ll be ready.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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.

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.

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Buying a house is quite possibly the largest investment that most people will ever make. And when you consider that the median price of a new home in the U.S. is $342,000 , the thought of actually hitting that milestone may seem out of reach for some. It is also one of the most confusing, especially for first-timers. Homebuyers attempt to master a whole slew of new vocabulary terms, from “contingencies” to “escrow” to “fixed versus adjustable rate mortgages.”

One of the most mystifying terms is PMI, which stands for “private mortgage insurance.” When you hear “insurance,” you may think it’s there to protect you in case something goes wrong with your home loan.

Actually, PMI is there to protect the lender that’s likely offering you a conventional mortgage whether it be a refinance or a purchase loan.

If you are making a down payment of less than 20% of the home’s value, the lender will typically require PMI on the mortgage from a private insurance company. Why would you pay for insurance that benefits your lender and not you? And should you take on this expense? Read on to find out how PMI works.

Why PMI?

The purpose of PMI is to make low down payment mortgages less risky for the lender so they in turn can offer you a loan if you don’t have sufficient funds for a 20% down. If you have PMI and default on your home loan, the insurer will be responsible for paying a portion of the loan balance, so that the lender isn’t on the hook for the entire amount.

When a lender is considering whether to extend a mortgage loan, and on what terms, they look at something called the loan-to-value ratio, or LTV. This is equal to the mortgage balance divided by the value of the property.

The more money you have for a down payment, the less you need to take out a loan for, and therefore the lower your LTV ratio. Whether you’re buying a home or refinancing, the higher your LTV ratio, the more of a gamble you’re likely to appear to lenders. And they’ll usually want you to have PMI when your LTV is less than 80%, which is what happens when you put less than 20% down.

Who Takes Out PMI?

Private mortgage insurance has been around for more than 60 years . Over that time period, more than 30 million families , including 1 million in 2017, relied on PMI in order to buy or refinance a mortgage. A significant amount of those who did were low-income or buying their first homes.

Specifically, more than 40% of borrowers who have taken out PMI earned less than $75,000 a year, and 56% were first-time homebuyers. In 2017, the top five states for homeowners with PMI were Texas, California, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan.

PMI generally costs between 0.55%-2.25% of the mortgage amount annually, but premium costs can vary depending upon the loan scenario.

How to Pay PMI

There are a few different options for paying PMI, which depend on your preferences. Most borrowers pay PMI as a monthly premium that is added on to the mortgage payment. You can see what the premium is in both the loan estimate you get when you apply for the mortgage and again in your closing disclosure.

The PMI factor can change between these two estimates because the appraisal valuation which drives the final LTV (loan to value) may be received by the lender after the Loan Estimate is generated. Another option is to pay your PMI all at once in a single sum when you close on the house. Or you can ask the lender if they can cover some or all of the PMI cost through lender rebate money.

Generally, in this scenario a borrower accepts a higher rate and the rebate money in that higher rate comes back to the borrower as a credit and the borrower can use that lender credit to cover some or all of the PMI cost. Ask a lender to generate a quote with different PMI payment options so you can compare and choose the best plan for your budget.

Keep in mind that some PMI policies are refundable and some are non-refundable. A third scenario is to pay some of the PMI up front and get the rest added on to your mortgage payment each month.

If you’re confused about the different policies and payment options, ask the lender’s representative to explain the options to you and ask for a quote on how much you will owe in different scenarios. If you are purchasing a home you may be receiving a seller credit towards your closing costs, this can be another way to cover the PMI in one lump sum and not have ongoing monthly payments.

How to Get Rid of PMI

For a principal residence or second home, the borrower can initiate cancellation of PMI under the following scenario: The LTV ratio must be:

•  75% or less, if the seasoning of the mortgage loan is between two and five years.

•  80% or less, if the seasoning of the mortgage loan is greater than five years.

If Fannie Mae’s minimum two-year seasoning requirement is waived because the property improvements made by the borrower increased the property value, the LTV ratio must be 80% or less.

For automatic termination of PMI the guidelines are:

•  Loan is closed on or after July 29, 1999 and is secured by a one-unit principal residence or second home.

•  on the applicable termination date, provided the borrower’s payments are current on the termination date.

The applicable termination date is:

•  the date the principal balance of the mortgage loan is first scheduled to reach 78% of the original value of the property, or

•  the first day of the month following the date the mid-point of the mortgage loan amortization period is reached, if the scheduled LTV ratio for the mortgage loan does not reach 78% before the mid-point.

How to Avoid PMI

PMI can come in handy for people who want to become homeowners and otherwise wouldn’t qualify for a mortgage. However, the costs can add up, and unlike other types of insurance, you’re not gaining any protections yourself. Luckily, there are ways to avoid PMI altogether.

As stated above, lenders can cover the cost of PMI through lender credit. Lender credit can be generated by the borrower taking a higher rate in exchange for rebate money which is used to pay for some or all of the PMI cost. Whether or not this higher rate ends up saving you money vs paying a lower rate and monthly PMI depends on your unique situation.

An alternative is to take out a mortgage that is not a conventional loan, such as a Federal Housing Administration Loan . FHA loans require a government insurance (MIP) which usually runs with the life of the loan. FHA loans have an upfront premium as well as a monthly premium. Whether a conventional or government loan is the best fit for you depends on many factors , such as your credit history and the mortgage market.

The most surefire way to help avoid paying PMI is to save 20% down before you buy a house. Even if it might take you a bit longer to become a homeowner, consider whether it makes sense to rent until you can save up that magic number.

There are also some loan programs that do not require PMI. VA loans would be one loan program that does not require PMI and some lenders do not apply PMI requirements to their Jumbo loan products. It is good to note that SoFi offers as little as 10% down on their Jumbo purchase loans with no PMI.

If you’d like to put away more than you currently are, start by making a budget. Note down all the money coming in and going out every month, and see if there’s room to cut expenses so that you can save a bit more. Once you’ve freed up some cash, set up an automatic transfer from your savings to your checking account to make sure that money is set aside.

If you don’t have a lot of wiggle room as far as cutting spending, you may want to consider ways to increase your income. This can include asking for a raise, applying for a higher-paying job, or taking on a side hustle.

If you can save 20% down before applying for a mortgage and avoid PMI, you may save yourself a significant chunk of money for years to come. That said, only you can decide whether paying PMI is worth it in your particular situation and housing market.

Looking Into a Mortgage with SoFi

With SoFi, you make your dream home a reality with competitive rates, no hidden fees, and as little as 10%. When deciding on loan eligibility, SoFi, like other lenders, will consider your credit history, your income, your employment, and other factors. You can see if you pre-qualify in just two minutes online.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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.

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There’s a great Apple commercial spoof where an iPhone®​ owner is trying to upgrade to the new model without his current model’s Siri finding out she’s getting dumped. She freaks him out and hijinks ensue.
And while the connection may seem flimsy at best, upgrading to your next home can feel equally precarious, at least when it comes to your mortgage. After all, what do you do when you’ve found your new dream home, but selling your current one could take months, if not longer?

That’s where bridge loans can come to the rescue. A bridge loan, also known as a swing loan, gap financing, or interim financing, is a temporary loan that bridges the gap between the down payment of a new property and the mortgage balance of your previous home. Basically, a bridge loan is a short-term loan taken out by a homeowner against their current property in order to finance the purchase of a new property.

Bridge loans are designed to help home buyers purchase a new property in the event that their old property has not yet been sold. And assuming you don’t have a contingency contract or an extra couple hundred thousand dollars in the bank, you may well need to bridge that gap.

Pros & Cons of Bridge Loans

Bridge loans can be a major benefit in a time crunch: The home seller can immediately put their home on the market and move into another house. This can be especially helpful if you are a homeowner going through a period of sudden transition.

For example, if you have a new job or have children who need to switch schools soon, this could be necessary. Bridge loans are not a replacement for a mortgage but a temporary solution. They are generally designed to be repaid within six months to three years.

The terms vary widely for bridge loans, but they can have high interest rates because bridge loans are usually tied to a variable rate index such as the Prime Rate.

Borrowers may also encounter differences in how lenders deal with interest payments . Some require monthly interest payments while others require an upfront or end-of-term lump sum interest payment.

Bridge mortgage loans are secured to the borrower’s existing home, which means your old house can be claimed in the event of defaulting repayments. The standards for qualifying for a bridge mortgage tend to be high. After all, you’re trying to prove that you can afford not one, but two homes.

Many lenders do not actually have a set credit score requirement or a maximum debt-to-income ratio. Most of the time, your ability to qualify will depend on your future home purchase and the long-term financial benefits the lender predicts.

Exploring Other Financing Options

Borrowing a bridge loan can be risky—you may be required to start paying off your mortgage and the bridge loan at the same time. You are also depending on the sale of your home in order to pay off the bridge loan, which could take time depending on the state of the real estate market as you are selling your home.

If you are planning on taking out a bridge loan to cover the cost of a new home, you may want to negotiate for the extension of your bridge loan in the event that your home does not sell in a timely manner. Bridge loans can be a risky investment for banks too , which means they can be extremely difficult to get.

Due to the risks and costs that come with a bridge mortgage, borrowers may want to consider other options. One alternative to a bridge loan is a home equity line of credit (HELOC) which allows you to draw equity against the value of your current home in a similar way to a bridge loan.

With a HELOC you’ll usually get a better interest rate, pay lower closing costs, and have more time to repay the loan than you would with a bridge loan. It’s important to note that many lenders will not loan a HELOC on a home that is currently on the market for sale, so it may require advance planning.

If you are considering borrowing a HELOC, you may want to look for one without any prepayment penalties or early closure fees, which could significantly cut into your profits in the event that your home sells quickly.

Another alternative to bridge loans is borrowing a personal loan. If you have decent credit history and a solid income, you may consider applying for a competitive-rate personal loan, especially because bridge loan interest rates can run fairly high .

In addition, because personal loan lending is a more diversified market, you can likely find personal loans without the expensive origination fees. Personal loans, including the ones available with SoFi, are often unsecured and therefore require no collateral.

And when you borrow a personal loan with SoFi there are no prepayment penalties, which means if your home sells quickly, you can pay off the loan without losing any of your profits.

No matter what, make sure to do your research. As long as you do your homework, you can find the option that works best for your personal situation, so you can get the home you need at a cost that works for your budget.

Looking to move into a new home? With SoFi personal loans, you can bridge the gap so that you can move into your new house now instead of later.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SoFi Mortgages are not available in all states. Products and terms may vary from those advertised on this site. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria#eligibility-mortgage for details.
Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

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Homeownership can be both rewarding and a great financial decision for your future. But as anyone who has dipped their toes into the home-buying process knows, the pressure to find and secure the “right” mortgage loan can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer.

During the early stages of the home-buying process—perhaps while you’re researching neighborhoods and schools, shopping around for properties, and nailing down the details of your budget—it would serve you well to do some research into the types of mortgages available. That way, you’ll feel prepared when the time comes to put down an offer on the perfect home.

As you’ve likely noticed, there are quite a few mortgage loan types available to borrowers. Brace yourself, because the process definitely requires you harness your best inner comparison shopper. You’ll need to consider the ins and outs of each option alongside your personal and financial needs. To help make the decision a bit easier, we’ve compared the advantages and disadvantages of each mortgage type below.

Fixed-Rate Versus Adjustable-Rate Home Loans

First, it’s helpful to know that most home loans come with a fixed or adjustable interest rate. A fixed-rate mortgage means that your interest rate will never change. In other words, your monthly mortgage payment is locked in. Fixed-rate mortgages generally come in 15 or 30-year loans.

A 30-year fixed-rate loan is the most common, though you can save a lot in interest if you opt for a 15-year loan. Monthly payments on a 15-year loan will be much higher than for a 30-year mortgage, so it’s best to commit only if you’re confident that it works in your budget—even in the event of a financial emergency.

An adjustable-rate mortgage, called an ARM, has a fixed, usually lower rate for an initial period and then increases to a more expensive, floating rate tied to the market interest rate index. ARMs are often expressed in two numbers (like 5/1 or 2/28), although those numbers don’t follow one particular formula (they could represent years, months, number of annual payments, etc.). For example, a 5/1 ARM has five years of fixed payments and one change to the interest rate in each year thereafter.

It’s easy to be drawn to the lower initial rate offered on an ARM, but it very well could end up costing more in interest than a fixed-rate loan over the lifespan of your mortgage. An ARM might work best for someone who plans to pay off their mortgage in five years or less, or is committed to refinancing prior to the ARM’s rate increase.

Rate increases in the future could be dramatic although there are limits to the annual and life-of-loan adjustments, often leaving adjustable-rate mortgage-holders with much higher monthly payments than if they had committed to a fixed-rate mortgage.

Types of Government Home Loans

The government does not actually lend money to home buyers. Instead, “government home loans” is a catchall for loans that are insured or guaranteed by various government agencies in the event the borrower defaults. This makes the loan less risky for lenders, and allows them to provide mortgages at reasonable rates.

Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Loans:

FHA loans are one of the most popular government loan types for first-time home buyers, because they have the more lenient credit score requirements and down payment requirements. With a 580 credit score, you might qualify with a 3.5% down payment. For more, check out the FHA’s lending limits in your state.

Pros: Because FHA loans are ubiquitous and have lower down payment and credit score requirements, they are one of the most accessible loans. FHA loans give potential homeowners a chance to buy without a big down payment. Additionally, FHA loans allow a non-occupant co-signer (as long as they’re a relative) to help borrowers qualify.

Cons: Historically, the requirements for FHA mortgage insurance have varied over the years. Currently, an FHA loan requires both an up-front mortgage insurance premium (which can be financed into your loan amount) and monthly mortgage insurance. The monthly mortgage insurance has to stay in place until your loan-to-value ratio reaches 78%.

USDA loans:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides home loans in rural areas to borrowers who meet certain income requirements. USDA loans offer 100% financing—so no down payment is necessary—and require lower monthly mortgage insurance (MI) payments than an FHA loan. This type of mortgage loan is offered to “rural residents who have a steady, low or moderate income, and yet are unable to obtain adequate housing through conventional financing.” To find out if you qualify, visit the USDA income and property eligibility site .

Pros: USDA loans come with low monthly MI, and they are accessible loans for low-moderate income borrowers in rural areas.

Cons: You need a credit score of at least 640 to qualify. These loans, like an FHA loan, also require an upfront fee which can be financed into your loan. If you are obtaining a loan with no down payment, this could result in a loan balance higher than your loan amount.

VA loans:

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs provides loan services to members and veterans of the U.S. military and their families. If you are eligible , you could qualify for a loan that requires no down payment or monthly mortgage insurance.

Pros: You don’t have to put any money down or deal with monthly MI payments, which could save borrowers thousands per year.

Cons: These loans are great to get people in homes, but are only available to veterans.

FHA 203k rehab loans:

FHA 203k loans are home renovation loans for “fixer upper” properties, helping homeowners finance both the purchase of a house and the cost of its rehabilitation through a single mortgage. Current homeowners can also qualify for an FHA 203k loan to finance the rehabilitation of their existing home.

Many of the rules that make an FHA loan relatively convenient for lower-income borrowers apply here. An FHA 203k loan does not require the space to be currently livable, but it does generally have stricter credit score requirements. Many types of renovations can be covered under an FHA 203k loan: structural repairs or alterations, modernization, elimination of health and safety hazards, replacing roofs and floors, and making energy conservation improvements, to name a few.

Pros: They can be used to buy a home and fund renovations on a property that wouldn’t qualify for a regular FHA loan. And they only require a 3.5% down payment.

Cons: These loans require you to qualify for the price of the home plus the costs of any planned renovations.

Conforming Home Loans

Conforming home loans are a type of mortgage offered by private lenders. They are not insured by the government, but meet standards set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (government sponsored agencies). As of 2018, the conforming loan limit is $453,100 in most of the U.S. and goes up to $679,650 in certain higher-cost areas.

Conventional Home Loans:

Conventional loans are the single most popular type of mortgage used today. These are slightly more difficult to qualify for a conventional loan than a government-backed loan. However, borrowers can obtain conventional loans for a second home or investment property.

Conventional loans typically require a minimum of a 620 credit score and a down payment between 5% and 20%. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) ) if you put 20% down. If you put less than 20% down, PMI is required but you have options. PMI can be paid monthly or can be an upfront premium that can be paid by you or the lender. Monthly PMI needs to stay in place until your loan-to-value ratio reaches 78%.

Pros: Pretty much any property type you’re considering would qualify for a conventional mortgage. And you have greater flexibility with mortgage insurance if you are putting down less than 20%.

Cons: Conventional loans tend to have stricter requirements for qualification and require a higher down payment that government loans.

Conventional 97 Mortgage:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s conventional 97 loan was made to compete with FHA loans. It requires a 3% down payment or 97% loan-to-value ratio, besting the FHA’s 3.5% down payment requirement. A conventional 97 loan also requires that at least one borrower be a first-time homeowner, which they define as someone who hasn’t owned a property in the past three years. Participants in this program will need to have good credit scores and the standard 43% debt-to-income ratio.

Pros: You only need to put down 3%.

Cons: Only single-unit properties qualify, and one of the borrowers must be a “first-time buyer.”

Non-Conforming Loans

If you need a loan that exceeds the limits of both a conforming loan and a government-backed loan, you’ll need a non-conforming loan. A non-conforming loan exceeds the limits set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Jumbo Loans:

Because of their size, jumbo loans tend to have even stricter requirements than regular, conforming loans. Most jumbo loans require a minimum credit score above 700 and a down payment of at least 15%.

Super Jumbo Loans:

For financing of $1 million or more, you are going to need to take out what is called a super jumbo loan. These loans require excellent credit and can provide up to $3 million in financing.

Those looking to fund an expensive property purchase will likely have little choice but to use a jumbo or super jumbo loan. If that’s you, it might require taking some time to get your credit score in good shape.

The process of finding and securing the right mortgage loan requires a little bit of investigation and a whole lot of patience. Happy hunting!

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SoFi Mortgages not available in all states. Products and terms may vary from those advertised on this site. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria#eligibility-mortgage for details.

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Mounting credit card debt can sometimes feel impossible to get out from under. Emergencies come up, things happen, and sometimes it’s easiest to reach for a credit card to cover unexpected expenses. Yet when you carry debt on your credit card, even if you make the minimum payments each month, interest still accrues and adds to what you owe.

If you’re struggling to pay off credit card debt, you’re far from alone. Revolving consumer credit rose to over $1 trillion in January, according to the Federal Reserve , and credit card debt has become the form of debt most widely held by families in the U.S . Fortunately, there are a few good solutions to getting rid of your credit card debt for good.

When faced with high-interest credit card debt, it can make sense to pay it off with either a balance transfer credit card or a personal loan. Both can consolidate all your credit card debt into one place at a lower interest rate, which can save you money and helps you deplete your balance without racking up high-interest charges.

But which of those two options makes sense for you? To answer that, you need to know what a balance transfer credit card is and how a balance transfer works. And you need to know the ins and outs of personal loans. Let’s get into it.

What is a Balance Transfer Credit Card?

A balance transfer credit card is when you transfer all your existing high-interest credit card debt to a new credit card. Generally, when selecting to do a balance transfer to a new credit card consumers will a apply for a new card with a lower interest rate than they currently or a card with an introductory 0% APR.

This introductory period can last anywhere from six to 21 months, and varies by lender. By opening a new card that temporarily charges no interest, and then transferring your high interest debt onto that card, you can save money because your balance will no longer accrue interest charges as you pay it off.

You can transfer debt from one credit card or multiple credit cards onto your new interest-free card. Paying off your credit card debt can be easier without the compounding interest, because you can pay off your balance without it growing every month during the introductory-rate period.

But you need to hear one crucial warning: After the introductory interest-free or low-APR period ends, the interest rate generally jumps up. That means if you don’t pay your debt off during the introductory period, it will start to accrue interest charges again, and your balance will grow.

How do Balance Transfers Work?

It’s easy to understand, in theory, what a balance transfer credit card does, but how do balance transfers actually work? The logistics can be a little more complicated.

There are a number of types of balance transfer credit cards out there, varying in their interest-free introductory periods, credit limits, rewards, transfer fees, and interest rates after the introductory period. You’ll want to compare the fees and credit limits, to figure out which balance transfer card works best for you.

Related: Personal Loan vs. Credit Card

Once you apply and are approved, then you can transfer your existing credit card debt onto your new card. You can only transfer as much debt as is covered by your credit limit onto the new balance transfer card.

It typically takes one to two weeks for your new credit card company to contact your existing cards and transfer the balances. Until the transfer is complete, you’ll need to make any payments you have due, so you don’t incur missed payment penalties. You’ll also still need to close out your old credit cards once the debt is transferred and they have a zero balance.

What’s the Difference Between a Balance Transfer Card and a Personal Loan?

Another option to pay off high-interest credit card debt is to use a personal loan. A balance transfer card transfers credit card debt onto a new credit card at a low or nonexistent interest rate—but the interest rate rises at the end of the introductory period.

A personal loan, however, can be used to pay off a wider range of existing personal debt, credit card or otherwise. And when you can choose a fixed interest rate, which means the interest rate you sign on for is the one you’ll have for the duration of the loan—it won’t go up.

You can usually take out a personal loan for a wide range of amounts (SoFi offers personal loans from $5,000 to $100,000). Depending on your credit, financial situation, and the state you live in, interest rates, terms, and the amount you can borrow may vary.

The application process typically requires a credit check and a look at your financial history and current employment. Once you’re approved, you can use your personal loan to pay off your high-interest credit card debt.

Basically, you use the personal loan to pay off your credit cards, and then you just have to pay back your personal loan in manageable monthly installments. A personal loan can allow you to pay much less interest on your debt; Credit cards charge an average of 16% interest, whereas

Choosing Between a Balance Transfer and Personal Loan

Both a personal loan and a balance transfer essentially help you pay off existing debt by consolidating what you owe into one place. The difference comes in how each works and how much you’ll ultimately end up paying (and saving).

Balance transfer credit cards can require a high credit score to qualify, which can be a challenge if your current credit card debt is affecting your credit score. Most balance transfer credit cards also charge a balance transfer fee, typically 3% to 5% of the balance you’re transferring, which adds up if you’re transferring a large amount of debt. Some balance transfer credit cards will offer an introductory period without transfer fees and with 0% APR, but you’ll want to do the math on how much you’ll save in interest versus how much you’ll pay in transfer fees.

For many people, a balance transfer credit card also comes with the additional concern of starting a new cycle of credit card debt. If you don’t pay off the debt on the new card, then it could hurt your credit score.

Additionally, if you fail to pay off the debt during the no-interest period, you could be back where you started; your balance will start to accrue compound interest based on the new card’s APR.

With personal loans, however, you can choose to have a fixed interest rate that doesn’t balloon. You will agree to a repayment term with your lender, which could be up to a few years. All you have to do with a personal loan is make the monthly payments.

Additionally, while personal loans can come with origination fees, and other fees some personal loans don’t have origination fees or prepayment penalties. And you won’t have to worry about transfer fees at all with a personal loan. Personal loans can also be used for personal expenses, which means you can pay off other higher-interest debt (like a car loan) by bundling it into the personal loan amount you request.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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