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You may know someone who lost a home to foreclosure, but you might not know all the ins and outs of the process.

When the lender takes back a property when the mortgage has not been paid for a specified period of time, that’s a mortgage foreclosure. The process varies by state and by lender, but there are things you can do to avoid it.

Here’s what you need to know about foreclosure, as the numbers began rising, and moves you can make if you’re facing it.

What Does Foreclosure Mean?

When a buyer finances a home, the mortgage is secured with the property, meaning the property is used as collateral on the loan. If the homeowner fails to make the agreed-upon payments on the due dates, the lender can take the property back.

Each state has its own laws regarding foreclosure. Where you live will determine how properties are foreclosed. There are two main types of mortgage foreclosure.

Recommended: Help Center for Mortgages

Types of Mortgage Foreclosure

In some states, the lender is required to go through the court system to foreclose on a property. This is known as judicial foreclosure. In other states, the lender does not have to go through the court process.

Judicial

With a judicial foreclosure, a lender must get a court order to foreclose on a property. The lender must file a complaint with the court, which is also sent to the homeowner and any other lienholders. Generally, the mortgage note must also be filed with the court.

Some states require loss mitigation efforts before a suit can be filed. Most of these foreclosures are not contested, resulting in a default judgment against the homeowner.

After this, the property may be scheduled for sale (usually a foreclosure sale or sheriff’s auction). The homeowner may appeal the foreclosure judgment.

Nonjudicial

In a nonjudicial foreclosure, deeds of trust can be foreclosed without going through the court system. Lenders must give special notice to the property owner and wait a specified amount of time before auctioning the property off.

Some states allow both judicial and nonjudicial foreclosure, while others may only allow one or the other. Below is a summary of states and what process they follow for mortgage foreclosure.

State	Foreclosure process
Alabama	Primarily nonjudicial
Alaska	Primarily nonjudicial
Arizona	Primarily nonjudicial
Arkansas	Primarily nonjudicial
California	Primarily nonjudicial
Colorado	Primarily nonjudicial
Connecticut	Primarily judicial
Delaware	Primarily judicial
District of Columbia	Primarily nonjudicial
Florida	Primarily judicial
Georgia	Primarily nonjudicial
Hawaii	Primarily nonjudicial
Idaho	Primarily nonjudicial
Illinois	Primarily judicial
Indiana	Primarily judicial
Iowa	Primarily judicial
Maine	Primarily judicial
Kansas	Primarily judicial
Kentucky	Primarily judicial
Louisiana	Primarily judicial
Maine	Primarily judicial
Maryland	Primarily nonjudicial
Massachusetts	Primarily nonjudicial
Michigan	Primarily nonjudicial
Minnesota	Primarily nonjudicial
Mississippi	Primarily nonjudicial
Missouri	Primarily nonjudicial
Montana	Primarily nonjudicial
Nebraska	Primarily nonjudicial
Nevada	Primarily nonjudicial
New Hampshire	Primarily nonjudicial
New Jersey	Primarily judicial
New Mexico	Primarily nonjudicial
New York	Primarily judicial
North Carolina	Primarily nonjudicial
North Dakota	Primarily judicial
Ohio	Primarily judicial
Oklahoma	Primarily nonjudicial
Oregon	Primarily nonjudicial
Pennsylvania	Primarily judicial
Puerto Rico	Primarily judicial
Rhode Island	Primarily nonjudicial
South Carolina	Primarily judicial
South Dakota	Primarily nonjudicial
Tennessee	Primarily nonjudicial
Texas	Primarily nonjudicial
Utah	Primarily nonjudicial
Vermont	Primarily judicial
Virginia	Primarily nonjudicial
Washington	Primarily nonjudicial
West Virginia	Primarily nonjudicial
Wisconsin	Primarily judicial
Wyoming	Primarily nonjudicial

When Does Mortgage Foreclosure Begin?

Mortgage foreclosure begins with the first missed payment, though a lender’s actions will escalate the more payments a homeowner misses. With the first missed payment, the mortgage lender won’t take the property back, or even issue a notice of default, but will reach out to the borrower to help them get payments back on track.

The lender will also report a nonpayment or late payment to the credit bureaus and issue a late fee.

Typically, lenders won’t issue a notice of default until the borrower defaults on three missed payments, or 90 days past due (this is standard practice, but lenders can issue a notice of default sooner than 90 days). Default is the precursor to foreclosure.

Foreclosure Timeline: How Long Does Mortgage Foreclosure Take?

After the notice of default arrives after 90 days past due, the time it takes to complete the foreclosure will vary by state. In some states, it can be a matter of months. In others, much longer.

In jurisdictions where each step of the process requires court approval (judicial foreclosures), court backlogs can delay the foreclosure processes for years.

Why Do Foreclosures Happen?

Foreclosure occurs in a number of situations. Some of the most common:

•   Being underwater. When a homeowner has negative equity in the home, the property is more likely to be foreclosed on. Having an underwater mortgage is the most common reason for foreclosure.

•   Rising interest rates. When a borrower’s loan has an adjustable interest rate, a sudden rise in the amount owed each month can lead down the path to foreclosure. With the 5/1 ARM, the interest rate is fixed for the first five years and then adjusts once a year.

•   Mortgage types. Sometimes even the different kinds of mortgages can contribute to default. With an interest-only mortgage, for instance, after five or 10 years of interest payments, principal and interest kick in, resulting in higher payments.

•   Personal situations. When the payment on a mortgage loan becomes too much or when a life event (hospitalization, death, divorce, layoff) prevents homeowners from making monthly payments, they can slip into default and eventually foreclosure.

If the homeowner doesn’t work with the lender to make a plan for repayment of the missed payments, the mortgage servicer can seek foreclosure.

Can You Avoid Foreclosure?

Homeowners have options if they’re facing foreclosure, and the sooner they contact their mortgage lender or servicer, the more they will have. Some of these include:

•   Reinstatement. If you’re able to pay off the past due amounts and any penalty fees, the lender will stop the foreclosure process.

•   Repayment plan. A repayment plan allows you to tack on a portion of your past-due payments to your regular payment each month. This makes sense if you’ve only missed a small number of payments and will no longer have trouble making a monthly mortgage payment.

•   Forbearance. If you qualify for mortgage forbearance, your lender might pause or lower monthly mortgage payments for a short amount of time. When you start making payments again, you’ll add portions of your missed payments to your regular payment to catch up.

•   Loan modification. With a loan modification, the lender permanently alters the terms of the mortgage contract, so the payment is more manageable. This can include a reduced interest rate, adding missed payments to the loan balance, extending the term of the mortgage, or even canceling part of the mortgage debt.

•   Filing for bankruptcy. Filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy may allow you to keep certain assets like a house or car. A court must approve your repayment plan. It stays on your credit report for seven years. You might want to consult with a bankruptcy attorney if you’re thinking about going this route.

•   Selling your home. If you have enough equity in your home to pay off the mortgage and pay for the cost of selling your home, you may be able to sell your home to avoid foreclosure.

•   Deed in lieu of foreclosure. A deed in lieu of foreclosure is essentially when you hand over the title of your home to the lender instead of going through a foreclosure. It is less damaging to your credit than a foreclosure.

•   Short sale. If the lender agrees to a short sale, it is agreeing to allow the home to be sold for less than what is owed. The deficit is taxable if the mortgage terms hold the borrower liable for the full amount of the loan.

Recommended: A Guide to Mortgage Relief Programs

Consequences of Foreclosure

Foreclosure has a huge impact on your credit. It will stay on your credit report for seven years after the first missed payment, and the multiple delinquent payments are a further knock against your credit scores, making it hard to go shopping for another mortgage and other loans.

After a foreclosure, it could take two to seven years to get a new conventional or government-backed mortgage.

But there are ways to deal with financial hardship.

The Takeaway

Facing mortgage foreclosure is one of the toughest things a homeowner can go through. As the financial landscape shifts, knowledge is power.

If you’re on solid financial footing, that’s a good spot to be in. Are you in that league and shopping for a mortgage? Take a look at SoFi’s menu of fixed-rate home mortgage loans.

Get started with mortgage pre-approval and find the home of your dreams sooner than you may have thought possible.

FAQ

Can I stop the foreclosure process?

Possibly. The sooner you contact your mortgage servicer, the more options you will have.

How will foreclosure hurt my credit score?

The lender reports each missed payment, and the further behind a borrower gets, the more delinquent they become. The credit score lowers with each report. A foreclosure stays on a credit report for seven years, which makes it harder to apply for other credit lines and loans.

Am I supposed to pay property taxes when my house is in foreclosure?

It’s true that a missed tax payment can also lead to foreclosure proceedings, but it depends on where you are in the process. If you’re working with your lender to get your missed payments back on track to avoid foreclosure, then your escrow account will be replenished and the mortgage servicer will pay your taxes. If you’re in foreclosure and not able to get your payments back on track, paying your taxes won’t help you get your house back. You’re better off working with your lender to put that money toward missed mortgage payments.

Do I have to move out of my house when it is in foreclosure?

The Federal Trade Commission advises staying in the house as long as possible if you’re facing foreclosure. You may not qualify for certain types of assistance if you move out.

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Photo credit: iStock/jhorrocks

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

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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Hierarchies are everywhere, including in the mortgage world. Many people have a subordinate mortgage in the form of a home equity line of credit or home equity loan.

A subordinate mortgage is secured by your property but sits in second position, if you have a primary mortgage, for getting paid in the event you default.

Here’s what you need to know about subordination and why it matters.

What Is Mortgage Subordination?

Mortgage subordination is the process of ranking debts tied to your home in the order that they need to be paid in the event of a foreclosure. Whichever mortgage lien is recorded first usually has higher priority than those that are recorded later, but depending on state law, property tax liens, HOA “super liens,” and mechanic’s liens may have priority over previously recorded liens.

After a foreclosure, a second mortgage is only paid if there are funds left over after paying the primary mortgage.

Lenders that make second mortgages — also called junior mortgages, second liens, or junior liens — typically allow borrowers to tap only a portion of their home equity to help ensure that they will get paid in the event of a foreclosure.

And a subordinate mortgage represents a higher risk to the lender, so borrowers will likely see higher rates.

Recommended: Understanding Mortgage Basics

What Are Mortgage Subordination Clauses?

A mortgage subordination clause is typically included in the legal documents of the primary mortgage holder.

The subordination mortgage clause states that all other loans made using the property as collateral are subordinate to the primary mortgage, now and in the future.

What Is a Subordinate Lien?

A lien is a claim against your property. Generally, there are voluntary mortgage liens, such as mortgages you take out, and involuntary liens, like judgment, tax, HOA, and mechanic’s liens.

A subordinate lien is a claim against your property that usually can only be paid after the primary lien has been paid.

How Does a Mortgage Become Subordinate?

When a mortgage is subordinate to another, it simply means that the lender of the subordinate mortgage will get paid only after the senior lienholder is paid.

Again, mortgages are typically ranked in the order they are originated and recorded in county land records. The primary mortgage is first, and a second mortgage is subordinate because it came after.

If a property is refinanced, the situation changes.

Subordinate Mortgages and Refinancing

If a homeowner has two mortgage loans and wants to refinance the first mortgage, most refinancing lenders will ask the second mortgage lender to sign a subordination agreement to stay in second position after the refinance.

If the second lienholder balks at subordinating that loan, you may have enough equity to apply for a cash-out refinance and use the extra money to pay off the second mortgage. Or you could pay off the second mortgage with cash on hand.

This mortgage calculator can help you run the numbers to see if refinancing is right for you.

Recommended: What Are the Different Types of Mortgage Loans?

Subordinate Mortgage Loan Modification

Loan modification is a mortgage relief program in which the terms of the loan are changed so that the homeowner can better meet the monthly payment requirement.

Homeowners who anticipate a permanent change in finances, or are exiting mortgage forbearance but don’t qualify for refinancing, can ask for mortgage modification.

If you have a HELOC or home equity loan and you’re struggling to make the payments, the lender may be willing to modify the credit line or loan: lowering the rate, extending your repayment term, or reducing your principal balance.

The Takeaway

Though lenders are more concerned about subordinate mortgages than you may be, you may want to know how second mortgages and other liens may affect refinancing your primary mortgage.

Whether you want to refinance or you are shopping for a mortgage, SoFi is here to help.

SoFi offers a range of home mortgage loan options and competitive rates to meet your needs. Knowledgeable loan officers will guide you.

FAQ

What type of mortgage is subordinate?

If a homeowner has a first mortgage, home equity lines of credit and home equity loans are examples of subordinate loans. They will be paid second in the event of a foreclosure or cash sale.

Is a subordinate mortgage a second mortgage?

Yes. A second mortgage is a subordinate mortgage because it came after the primary mortgage.

What is subordinate financing?

Subordinate financing is a junior loan secured by an asset that can be sold if the loan is unpaid for a specified amount of time. Interest rates and terms can be more favorable than those of unsecured loans but not as favorable as those for a first mortgage.

How long does it take to subordinate a loan?

On primary loans, subordination is included in the contract. On a subsequent refinance when there is a junior (or subordinate) mortgage, the amount of time it will take to reach a subordination agreement will depend on the lenders involved, but it can often be done in 25 business days.

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Photo credit: iStock/wutwhanfoto

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

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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You’ll likely need a credit score in the Good range (670 to 739) or higher to qualify for a $20,000 personal loan with a competitive interest rate. If your credit rating is Poor or even on the lower end of Fair, you may have difficulty getting approved for a personal loan.

Personal loans offer relatively low interest rates compared with other options, such as high-interest credit cards. Ultimately, the interest rate will depend on the size of your loan, the term, and your credit score.

Here’s a closer look at what it takes to apply for a personal loan this year.

Can I Get a $20,000 Personal Loan with Bad Credit?

Your credit score helps banks understand your history of managing debt. A high score suggests that you have a history of paying your bills on time while managing multiple accounts. As a result, banks see borrowers with high scores as at relatively low risk of default. Therefore, they may offer these borrowers better terms and interest rates on loans.

Lenders see borrowers with low scores as risky. To compensate for this risk, they may charge higher interest rates, if they offer a loan at all. It may be more difficult for those with bad credit to find a $20,000 personal loan, or to find one they can afford.

What Is the Typical Credit Score Required for a $20,000 Personal Loan?

When applying for a loan, a FICO® credit score in the Good range (670 to 739) or higher will help you qualify for loans with better interest rates from a wider variety of lenders.

If you have Poor credit (a FICO score of 300 to 579), or even in the low end of the Fair range (580 to 669), you may have difficulty getting approved for a personal loan.

If this is the case, all is not lost. You can work to raise your credit score by paying down debts and making sure to always make payments on time.

What Can You Use a $20,000 Personal Loan for?

A personal loan is money that you borrow from a bank, credit union, or online lender that you pay back in regular installments with interest, usually over about two to seven years. One feature of personal loans is the flexibility it provides borrowers in how they can spend their funds. Here are a few common options:

Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is one of the most popular uses for personal loans. If your current debt carries high interest rates, you may be able to pay it off in one fell swoop, combining all of your debt under a lower interest rate. Consolidating confers a number of advantages, including saving money in interest and replacing several debts with just one payment, which may be easier to keep track of and pay off on time.

If you consolidate credit cards, be wary of running up more debt on your cards while you pay off your personal loans. You don’t want to increase the amount of debt you’ve taken on.

Medical Expenses

If you’ve had an accident or unexpected illness, and you find yourself with growing medical bills, you may consider a personal loan to help you get them under control. Medical bills can be extremely pricey, so before committing to a loan, see if there is a way to negotiate the price down.

You may also be able to negotiate a payment plan that allows you to pay off your bill in installments, which might be more manageable and wouldn’t require taking out a loan that saddles you with interest payments.

Home Improvements

Borrowing money for home improvements is sometimes necessary and smart. For example, repairing a leaking roof in a timely manner can help prevent further damage to your home, which could cause pricier repairs down the road. In some cases, improvements or remodels can increase the value of your home.

That said, beware of taking out loans for home improvements that are simply “wants.” For example, it may not be prudent to borrow money to install a hot tub.

Funeral Expenses

In 2021, the median cost of a funeral was approximately $7,848, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Personal loans may be an option for those who can’t afford to pay these expenses out-of-pocket.

Vacation Expenses

You can use a personal loan to pay for anything, but should you? The answer is likely no. When it comes to discretionary spending, like vacations, consider saving up money from your paycheck to cover the cost. Otherwise, because you’re paying interest, your vacation could end up costing you a lot more than the sticker price.

What’s more, if you miss a payment, you’ll be putting your credit score in jeopardy, which may not be worth it for a few days of fun in the sun.

Recommended: 11 Types of Personal Loans

Applying for a $20,000 Personal Loan

To secure your money, you’ll need to get approved for a personal loan. Once you know how much you want to borrow, you may consider getting prequalified for a loan. Lenders will ask you to provide basic information, including your address, income, and Social Security number. They may then perform a soft credit check that won’t hurt your credit score.

Finally, they’ll offer you a prequalified quote, including how much money you qualify to borrow, your monthly payment, and your interest rate. You can use this process to shop around with a few lenders to secure the best quote.

Once you’ve decided which lender to go with, you’ll submit an application. You’ll need to provide proof of income, address, and employment, and you’ll need to submit to a hard credit check.

Recommended: Personal Loan Calculator

Applying for Other Small Loan Amounts

If you don’t qualify for a $20,000 personal loan that you can afford based on your credit, you might consider taking out a smaller loan, such as a $3,000, $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 personal loan. Smaller loans present less risk to lenders, so you may be able to qualify with a lower score.

The Takeaway

To get the best terms and interest rate for a $20,000 personal loan, you’ll likely need a Good credit score (670 to 739). But no matter your score, shop around and consider using prequalification to find the loan that’s best for you.

Consider personal loans from SoFi, which have no fees and offer low rates for loans of $5,000 to $100,000. Borrowers can receive funds as quickly as the same day their loan is approved.

Compared with high-interest credit cards, a SoFi Personal Loan is simply better debt.

FAQ

What credit score is needed for a $20,000 personal loan?

To access personal loans from a broad array of lenders offering the best interest rates, you’ll need a credit score of at least 670.

Where can I get a $20,000 loan with bad credit?

Some lenders may offer you a personal loan if you have bad credit. However, they may charge much higher interest rates.

What’s the monthly payment on a $20,000 personal loan?

Your monthly payment will depend on the term you choose and your interest rate. Typically, shorter terms will carry higher monthly payments and lower interest rates, while longer terms will have smaller monthly payments and higher interest rates.

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Photo credit: iStock/AsiaVision

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.

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.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

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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Personal loans used to be considered a last resort to resolve cash flow issues. Today, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, personal loans are the fastest growing lending vehicle in the nation. Personal loans are appealing partly because of their flexibility. They can be used for almost any purpose, whether to fix up a home or consolidate credit card debt. Borrowers can receive anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000, choose a fixed or variable interest rate, even select the length of the loan.

Read on to find out more about how personal loans work, how to qualify, their advantages and disadvantages, and whether a personal loan is right for you.

What Is the Required Credit Score for a $15,000 Personal Loan?

You will likely need a credit score of at least 660 for a $15,000 personal loan. Many lenders don’t state a minimum required credit score because they will vary the terms for each borrower depending on their credit history. The higher your score, the more money you can qualify for and the better the interest rate.

Benefits of a $15,000 Personal Loan

A $15,000 personal loan is a sizable amount that can serve many purposes. Common personal loan uses include making large purchases, covering living expenses for a defined period, consolidating debt, and paying off a credit card with a higher interest rate. Here are some other benefits:

Interest Rates and Flexible Terms

There are many types of personal loans, and interest rates can be fixed or variable. The interest rate that a lender charges will depend on the borrower’s credit rating and the length of the loan, but rates are typically lower than for other forms of debt. Loan lengths can vary from a few months to a few years.

No Collateral Required

Personal loans are typically unsecured, which means no collateral is required. If you don’t qualify only for an unsecured loan, you may select a loan cosigner with a stronger credit rating to help you get approved.

Recommended: Guarantor vs Cosigner

Fixed Monthly Payments

Most personal loans have fixed monthly payments based on the amount borrowed, the interest rate, and the term. This makes budgeting easier because the borrower knows how much they must pay each month.

Recommended: Try Our Personal Loan Calculator

Cons of a $15,000 Personal Loan

One disadvantage of a $15,000 personal loan is that it can be expensive, especially if you have bad credit or need to spread the payments out over many years. The longer the term, the more you will pay in interest. Here are some other issues to consider:

Taking on Debt

If you already have trouble paying your monthly bills, taking on more debt may not be a good idea. Some borrowers use a personal loan to consolidate other debt that charges higher interest, such as credit cards. For people who have a tendency to overspend, freeing up their credit may just encourage them to spend more again.

Higher Payments Than Credit Cards

Credit cards do not have a deadline to pay off the entire debt. For that reason, the monthly minimum payment is typically less than the payment on a personal loan. If a personal loan is used to consolidate credit card debt, some borrowers may find it difficult to make the higher payments of a personal loan.

Origination Fees and Prepayment Penalties

Some lenders will charge an origination fee to cover the cost of setting up the loan. Additionally, if the borrower wants to pay off the loan before the payoff date, the lender may charge a penalty. Borrowers should find out about any fees and penalties before deciding on a lender.

Interest Rates May Be Higher Than Other Options

For borrowers with poor credit, the interest rate on a personal loan can be high. In this case, a credit card might be a better option.

Where Can I Get a $15,000 Personal Loan?

Online lenders, traditional banks, and credit unions all provide $15,000 personal loans. Some online lenders pre-qualify borrowers so they can see the terms, and many will deposit funds into a bank account within one to two days.

Traditional banks or credit unions may offer better terms to their members because there is a pre-existing relationship. But they may also want to meet with a borrower in person to negotiate the loan.

How to Get a $15,000 Personal Loan

The steps to get approved for a personal loan are typically the same regardless of the lender. The first step, before you even apply, is to review your credit history. You can pull a report for free from each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — from the website AnnualCreditReport.com. Then you can file a dispute online to have any inaccuracies removed. This can boost your credit rating and ensure you get the best terms from a lender.

Here are the basic application steps you’ll need to be prepared for:

1. Check Your Eligibility

Shop around for the best loan terms and find out if you qualify. Check both online lenders and traditional lenders, paying special attention to origination fees and prepayment penalties.

2. Get Pre-qualified

Getting pre-qualified will show you what terms the lender is offering based on your credit history. Fill out the online form, including how much you want to borrow and your desired payoff time frame.

Lenders will pull your credit report to pre-qualify you, which may ding your credit score. Focus on lenders who will perform a “soft inquiry” for pre-qualification, which will not affect your credit rating.

Recommended: What’s the Difference Between a Hard and Soft Credit Check?

3. Check the Terms

Once you are pre-qualified, review the pre-approval letter and check the loan amount. Check whether it is an unsecured or secured loan, the annual percentage rate (APR), and whether the interest rate is fixed or variable. Pay attention to the monthly payment and the payback term. Also look for fees, penalties, and other potential charges.

4. Apply for the Loan

Gather the documents that you will need to apply for the loan. Borrowers typically need to upload a pay stub, mortgage or rent agreement, debt documentation, proof of identity, and their social security number.

Applying for Other Small Loan Amounts

Loan amounts can range from $1,000 up to 100,000. The terms for a small $3,000 personal loan will vary with those for a larger loan. Here are some examples of loan interest rates, terms, and monthly payments.

$5,000 Personal Loans

Here’s a typical scenario for a borrower with average credit (700–759 credit score): The monthly payments on a $5,000 personal loan, paid back over five years at an APR of 15.75% to 18.25%, would be around $121–$128.

$10,000 Personal Loans

For a $10,000 personal loan paid back over five years at an APR of 12.75% to 15.25%, a borrower with average credit would pay $226 to $239 per month.

$20,000 Personal Loans

For a $20,000 loan paid back over five years at an APR of 12.75% to 15.25%, a borrower with average credit would pay $452 to $478 per month.

The Takeaway

Personal loan interest rates are determined by a borrower’s credit rating and financial history. The higher the credit rating, the lower the interest rate. For consumers with good credit, a $15,000 personal loan can be a more affordable form of debt than credit cards. For consumers with bad credit, the higher interest rate may make a $15,000 personal loan less attractive.

SoFi offers competitive personal loans. There are no origination, prepayment, or late fees as there are with some other lenders, and our competitive interest rates are fixed, making budgeting easier.

SoFi’s Personal Loan was named NerdWallet’s 2022 winner for Best Online Personal Loan overall.

FAQ

What credit score is needed for a personal loan for $15,000?

A credit score of at least 660 is typically required for a $15,000 personal loan. Some lenders that cater to people with poor credit will charge higher interest rates and fees to cover their elevated risk.

How long can I get a $15,000 personal loan for?

Personal loans are typically for three, five, or seven years. The shorter the repayment period, the less interest you will pay over the life of the loan.

What would payments be on a $15,000 personal loan?

The monthly payments on a $15,000 loan depend on the interest rate and repayment terms. If you know how much you want to borrow, over what period, and at what interest rate, an online loan calculator can tell you what your payments will be.

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Photo credit: iStock/fizkes

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.

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 .

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.

Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

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Ethereum 2.0 is the new and improved version of the original Ethereum project, while Ethereum Classic is a smaller, less well-known fork from the original Ethereum blockchain, dating back to 2016. The native coin of Ethereum 2.0 is ETH, unchanged from the original Ethereum project. The native coin of Ethereum Classic is ETC.

Ethereum 2.0 features a series of innovations and upgrades that became known as The Merge, when the project shifted from a proof-of-work system to a more efficient proof-of-stake algorithm in September 2022.

Ethereum Classic, meanwhile, still exists, but ETC has a much smaller market cap and lower price compared with ETH.

What Is Ethereum 2.0 (ETH)?

Although Ethereum is the second-largest crypto by market cap, the road to Ethereum 2.0 has been long and complicated.

History of Ethereum 2.0 and Ethereum Classic

It helps to think of Ethereum as evolving in three stages:

•   The original Ethereum project and crypto (ETH) were created by Vitalik Buterin and launched in 2015 as the first programmable blockchain.

•   In 2016, a hacking incident resulted in a hard fork of that original blockchain, which divided the Ethereum project in two. Users loyal to the original blockchain became part of Ethereum Classic — essentially the original Ethereum, untouched — creating a new coin ETC.

   Those who favored the upgrade, which reconfigured the blockchain to address the hack and cyber theft, built a version known simply as Ethereum, which kept ETH as its native coin. Call it Ethereum 1.0.

•   Then in late 2022 the Ethereum 1.0 blockchain completed a major shift from its legacy proof-of-work system, migrating to proof-of-stake. This more efficient blockchain is sometimes called Ethereum 2.0 — but that moniker is fading now that some of the major changes are in place.

So when people talk about Ethereum 2.0, they are referring to the latest upgrade to the far more energy-efficient, proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. But Ethereum 2.0 is really the same big crypto competitor that has been #2 in size and scope to Bitcoin’s #1 for years.

What Is Ethereum Classic (ETC)?

Ethereum Classic was created from a hard fork of the original Ethereum blockchain, and ETC is its native token. The hard fork was an effort to cope with a cyber attack in which $50 million was stolen.

ETH and ETC shared the same blockchain record prior to the hard fork. Since they both stem from the same project, Ethereum Classic has many of the same features as Ethereum 2.0. But owing to the substantial technological differences between the two chains, Ethereum Classic wasn’t able to support the kinds of innovations that have built Ethereum into the DeFi powerhouse it is today.

Ethereum is best known as one of the most successful programmable blockchain platforms, with the capacity to support smart contracts, dApps (decentralized apps), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other DeFi projects. For these and other reasons, Ethereum remains a crypto industry leader, pointing to some of the reasons investors may consider crypto.

As of February 7, 2023, ETC was the #23 largest cryptocurrency, with a price of $22 and a market cap of just over $3.1 billion. By comparison, Ethereum (ETH) is the second-largest cryptocurrency with a price of $1,638 and a market cap of about $200 billion. Both tokens can be traded as speculative assets and both are listed on many of the most popular crypto exchanges.

Bitcoin remains the oldest and still the largest cryptocurrency, with a market cap of $442 billion, as of February 7, 2023.

What Is a Smart Contract?

A smart contract is an agreement between two parties written in code. The blockchain will execute the terms of the contract automatically, when certain conditions agreed upon by the two parties are met.

Because blockchain technology is also immutable (a blockchain’s records cannot be changed, at least in theory), smart contracts create many opportunities for businesses to do things faster, more efficiently, and in a way that doesn’t require the time and money costs of third-party oversight.

Smart contracts are a critical part of how crypto works. Many different types of cryptocurrencies can use smart contracts, but Ethereum was the first and remains the most prominent leader in the space.

How Ethereum Classic Works

Ethereum Classic is the original Ethereum, and still adheres to the rules and functions of the original Ethereum blockchain. As such, the upgrades that have been implemented over time, leading to Ethereum’s current incarnation (Ethereum 2.0), are not compatible with Ethereum Classic.

Accordingly, Ethereum Classic retains a proof-of-work consensus mechanism, in which miners can generate additional ETC through crypto mining.

Ethereum Classic also doesn’t adhere to the ERC20 token standard. The primary purpose of ERC20 tokens is to work with smart contracts and define a common list of rules that all tokens on the Ethereum blockchain abide by.

Ethereum Classic History

The history of Ethereum Classic is complicated and technical. A simplified summary of the altcoin might go something like this:

•   Developers created the DAO, or decentralized autonomous organization, on Ethereum with the goal of funding future development of decentralized applications.

•   The DAO had its own tokens that were interchangeable with ETH tokens and executed contracts using proof-of-work.

•   In 2016, after hackers took advantage of a flaw in the DAO smart contract and stole $50 million worth of ETH, the community decided that the network would create a hard fork to solve its security challenges.

•   The new blockchain, created as a result of the fork, would be called Ethereum. Ethereum began a bigger evolution in 2021 and shifted to proof-of-stake consensus algorithm in 2022. The old blockchain is called Ethereum Classic.

Difference Between Ethereum 2.0 and Ethereum Classic

If you’re looking to build a well-balanced crypto portfolio, you probably want to choose one but not both Ethereum and Ethereum Classic.

While the Ethereum 2.0 and Ethereum Classic networks allow software developers to use smart contracts to build applications, one advantage of Ethereum 2.0 is that it has a larger market cap and user base than Ethereum Classic. This may make ETH less volatile overall. Certainly the token has higher liquidity, and is more popular on exchanges.

ETH also has the added use case of being fuel or “gas” for decentralized applications (dApps). Many developers build decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols on top of Ethereum.

To use those kinds of apps, users need ETH tokens. Sometimes ETH is the only token that users can exchange for other tokens necessary for participating in the platform. Other times, dApps require small amounts of ETH to perform certain functions.

For example, Crypto Kitties was one of the first big decentralized applications, or dApps. The game allowed users to buy, sell, and trade virtual cats that could be “bred” with one another, creating new, unique virtual cats. To participate in the game, users needed ETH tokens.

Ethereum 2.0 also has stronger support from something called the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, which counts many large companies among its members.

Choosing Which Ethereum to Invest in

If you want to invest in one of the two Ethereums — Ethereum 2.0 or Ethereum Classic — the decision will ultimately come down to your personal preferences and goals as an investor. As discussed, the two are similar, but there are some stark differences that may make one more attractive than the other.

For the average crypto investor, though, it may make sense to stick to the larger cryptocurrency, which is Ethereum 2.0. It has more liquidity and a larger market cap, which might make it a more attractive choice. On the other hand, if you’re interested in being able to mine crypto, Ethereum Classic may be more suited to your tastes.

Price of Ethereum Classic vs Ethereum 2.0

In terms of price or value, Ethereum 2.0 (ETH) is more valuable than Ethereum Classic (ETC). As noted above, Ethereum 2.0 tokens were trading for roughly $1,638 each as of Feb. 7, 2023. That is down significantly from its all-time high of more than $4,600 in the fall of 2021.

Ethereum Classic, conversely, trades for around $22. That, too, is far off its all-time high, which was around $120 in the spring of 2021.

Recommended: Top 30 Cryptocurrencies Based on Market Cap

The Future of Ethereum Classic

What is the future of Ethereum Classic? It’s hard to say.

Looking at Ethereum Classic vs. Ethereum 2.0, it’s not hard to see that Ethereum appears to have better prospects for the future. For instance, there’s more trust in the ETH network, it has more backing, and it has a much larger market cap when compared to the Ethereum Classic value. There are also a lot of DeFi platforms and other dApps built on Ethereum 2.0 — more so than on any other smart contract platform.

To make matters worse, the Ethereum Classic network has suffered several 51% attacks. This can happen when attackers gain enough hashing power to control the majority of the network. Then they can alter the blockchain, leading to potential problems like double spent transactions, where users can send the same coins more than once.

The Takeaway

Ethereum Classic is the original version of Ethereum, which itself has undergone several upgrades and is now Ethereum 2.0. The two are similar, and have their roots on the same Ethereum blockchain, but now are two different cryptocurrencies entirely, operating on their own blockchains.

Ethereum Classic still adheres to the original Ethereum’s standards and protocols, including its proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Ethereum 2.0, on the other hand, has adopted new and improved standards, including a proof-of-stake model. It’s also vastly more popular and valuable.

FAQ

Is Ethereum Classic the same as Ethereum?

No, Ethereum Classic is its own project on a separate blockchain network, that adheres to the original Ethereum’s standards and protocols. It’s more accurate to say that Ethereum 2.0 is the “original” Ethereum, as it is the old Ethereum having undergone upgrades and updates.

Which is better: Ethereum 2.0 or Ethereum Classic?

It’s impossible to say which is better, as that’s a subjective call. But Ethereum 2.0 has many advantages over Ethereum Classic, since it’s bigger, more widely used, and more valuable. But prospective miners may give Ethereum Classic the edge.

Is there a future for Ethereum Classic?

Ethereum 2.0 appears to be winning over more investors and market participants. Ethereum Classic is still one of the largest crypto, however, so it’s not time to rule it out.

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Photo credit: iStock/MStudioImages

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