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Whether you’re buying a home or shopping for new insurance coverage, it helps to understand basic homeowners insurance terms before you choose a policy.

The jargon used by real estate agents, lenders, and insurance professionals can be mystifying. It doesn’t help that terms for various types of homeowners insurance coverage often sound interchangeable but aren’t. Or that different lenders may have different requirements for the kinds of insurance coverage a borrower must have. Or that homeowners may require various types of coverage, and limits, based on their individual circumstances.

Need some clarity? Consider this homeowners insurance glossary a go-to resource.

Blanket Insurance

Blanket insurance enables a property owner to cover multiple pieces of property with one policy. For example, a landlord who has many rental units might take out a blanket policy to insure them all.

A homeowners insurance policy also may be referred to as blanket insurance coverage because it offers more than one type of protection. (A standard policy may combine dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage, for example.)

Recommended: Homeowners Insurance Coverage Options to Know

Flood Insurance

A standard homeowners policy typically offers some coverage for unexpected water damage due to a plumbing malfunction or broken water pipe. But most standard homeowners policies do not cover damage caused by an overflowing body of water, like a creek, bay, or river. That kind of protection usually requires a separate flood insurance policy.

Some property owners may be required to carry flood insurance, especially if they live in a high-risk area.

Hazard Insurance

When you hear the term “hazard insurance,” it’s typically referring to the portion of a homeowners policy that kicks in when someone suffers a loss caused by certain hazards or “perils,” such as fire, hail, theft, a falling tree, or a broken pipe.

Not every hazard is covered by a standard policy, however. Homeowners usually need separate insurance to cover damage caused by a flood, earthquake, or sinkhole.

Recommended: Hazard Insurance vs. Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners Insurance

A typical homeowners policy covers the physical structure of an insured home and other structures on the property, personal belongings in the home, and additional living expenses if the owner can’t stay in the home after damage. (However, it is usually necessary to purchase separate insurance to cover costs related to an earthquake, flood, or sinkhole.)

A policy also provides liability coverage, which can protect you, as the homeowner, if you’re legally responsible for another person’s injury or property damage when it occurs on your property or from your activities. For example, if someone is injured because you neglected to fix your front porch step, liability insurance may help pay for that person’s medical bills. The liability portion of your policy also may provide protection if your pet bites a person or another animal, whether the bite occurs in your own yard or somewhere else.

There are no federal or state laws that require the purchase of a homeowners policy, but if you have a mortgage, you can expect your lender to require proof that you carry this type of insurance.

Homeowners insurance is not the same thing as mortgage insurance. Homeowners insurance mainly protects the homeowner when something unexpected occurs; mortgage insurance is designed to protect the lender if a borrower can’t make mortgage payments.

Homeowners insurance is also quite different from the protection offered by a home warranty. A home warranty is a service contract that generally covers the cost of repairing or replacing some appliances and major home systems when they malfunction, but home warranties are not required by lenders.

Mortgage Insurance

Mortgage insurance protects lenders against the possibility that a borrower might fail to make the payments on a home loan.

When a homebuyer appears to have a higher risk of defaulting, mortgage insurance can serve as a backup to reassure the lender that if the borrower fails to make the mortgage payments, the loan still will be paid. The lender doesn’t pay for this insurance — the borrower does.

Not everyone has to get mortgage insurance. But if you have a conventional loan and your down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price, you’ll probably be required to get private mortgage insurance, commonly called PMI — at least until you have 20% of the principal balance paid off.

The rules are a bit different for those who have a loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Department of Agriculture (USDA). With an FHA loan, borrowers are required to pay a qualified mortgage insurance premium each month no matter how much they put down. USDA loans have a similar requirement, but the cost is referred to as a “guarantee fee.”

Renovation Insurance

Homeowners who are planning to make major renovations or repairs to a property may want to check with their insurance company to see what their homeowners policy covers.

Depending on the size of the project, they may decide it makes sense to add “dwelling under renovation,” “dwelling under construction,” or “builder’s risk” insurance to fill any coverage gaps. It can help with costs if the homeowner or someone else is hurt during a renovation, for example, or if the home or a nearby property is damaged.

If professionals will be doing the renovation, it’s also a good idea to ask for proof of their insurance coverage and to make a copy just in case there are problems. Contractors and subcontractors should have liability, property, and worker’s compensation insurance.

If the home will be unoccupied for an extended period while the work is being done, owners may want to consider adding vacant dwelling insurance during that time. (Vacant dwelling coverage also might offer protection for those who have moved into a new home but haven’t yet sold their old home.)

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

Rental Property and Home-Sharing Insurance

Owners who are renting a home to someone else may want to look at the pros and cons of purchasing rental property insurance vs. a standard homeowners insurance policy. Besides covering repairs if the home or other structures on the property are damaged, rental property insurance may cover the owner if a tenant is injured and makes a claim. An owner also might be able to receive reimbursement for lost income if the property is deemed uninhabitable due to a covered loss.

What about insurance for short-term rentals like Airbnb? Business use of a house is usually not included in homeowners insurance coverage. Home-sharing insurance may provide liability coverage but not damage to the home or coverage of personal belongings. You may need an add-on to your homeowner’s insurance.

Renters Insurance

If you’re a renter, renters insurance will cover your possessions if something is stolen or damaged. And it may help with certain costs if someone is injured in the rental home, or help pay for accommodations if the home is damaged and you have to move out temporarily.

Though renters insurance is mostly meant to protect a tenant who is leasing a property, it also can have benefits for the landlord. This is why some landlords require tenants to have renters insurance when they sign a lease. For the landlord, renters insurance can help take care of some of the things a homeowners policy or landlord policy doesn’t, including damage from a renter’s pet.

Title Insurance

When you buy title insurance, the title company searches for any ownership issues that might cause legal problems after you close on the property. It will look for any liens that might remain on the property, for example, or clerical problems that weren’t caught and fixed in the past.

If there aren’t any problems (or the problems are remedied), the title company will insure your claim to the property’s title. And if something does come up later — let’s say there’s a lawsuit because the title search missed something — the policy should cover the costs of resolving the problem.

There are two types of title insurance: Lenders title insurance protects the mortgage company from incurring any costs in a title dispute. Owner’s title insurance protects the homeowner. The mortgage company likely will require that you purchase lenders’ title insurance. Owner’s title insurance is optional, but once you buy it, the coverage lasts as long as you own your home.

Title insurance is not included in a homeowners insurance policy.

Umbrella Insurance

A separate liability insurance policy, umbrella insurance goes beyond the liability coverage provided by a standard homeowners or auto insurance policy.

It’s designed to expand your protection if a claim or lawsuit is filed against you, and it only kicks in if you exceed the liability coverage limit you have with your homeowner’s insurance policy.

If you own rental property, employ a housekeeper or gardener, have a trampoline or pool — or if you have substantial assets you wish to protect — you may want to talk to your insurance company about the added risk and whether umbrella insurance is right for you.

The Takeaway

When you’re buying a home or shopping for a new homeowners insurance policy, there’s a lot to manage. Understanding homeowners insurance terms is key in protecting this major investment.

Shopping for homeowners insurance often requires considering several options, from the amount of coverage to the kind of policy to the cost of the premium. To help simplify the process, SoFi has partnered with Experian to bring customizable and affordable homeowners insurance to our members.

With Experian, you can see personalized quotes from up to 40 top insurance carriers. Match your current coverage to new policy offers with little to no data entry. And easily bundle your home and auto insurance to save money. No fees, no paperwork.

Auto Insurance: Must have a valid driver’s license. Not available in all states.
Home and Renters Insurance: Insurance not available in all states.
Experian is a registered trademark of Experian.
SoFi Insurance Agency, LLC. (“”SoFi””) is compensated by Experian for each customer who purchases a policy through the SoFi-Experian partnership.

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

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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Ready for some good news? If you want to check your credit score, you can do so without worrying about lowering it.

So why is it so common to think that will happen?

It’s easy to see where the confusion stems from, so let’s look at what a credit score is, why checking a credit score isn’t a bad thing, and where credit damage can actually come from.

Credit Scores: A Refresher

First things first: A credit score is a number based on a credit report that helps creditors determine how risky it would be to lend money to a borrower.

The risk level influences if an applicant is given credit, and if so, the terms and interest rate. Having a high credit score can make it much easier to take out a loan and get more favorable interest rates, or be approved to rent an apartment.

The information in a credit report determines a credit score. The following factors influence a credit score:

•   Payment history

•   Outstanding balances

•   Length of credit history

•   Applications for new credit accounts

•   Types of credit accounts (such as mortgages or credit cards)

Consumers don’t actually have just one credit score; they have multiple ones. Scores are calculated by credit reporting agencies that maintain credit reports. Lenders can use their own internal credit scoring systems as well.

Recommended: What Is Considered a Bad Credit Score?

Does Checking Your Credit Score Lower It?

Nope. There are many misconceptions surrounding credit scores, and one of the biggest ones is that checking one’s credit score will lower it. This is simply, and happily, not true.

Checking your credit score once, or even multiple times, will not damage it. Requesting a copy of a credit report will also not damage a credit score.

In fact, it’s good to keep a close eye on your credit report and score. It can be especially helpful to review a credit report on occasion to make sure there are no errors that may cause the score to drop.

Online tools like a spending tracker app can allow you to track your credit score regularly and get important insights into your spending habits.

Recommended: What Is The Difference Between Transunion and Equifax?

What Can Lower a Credit Score?

Certain credit inquiries made by outside parties like lenders and credit card issuers affect a credit score.

You’ve probably heard of soft and hard “pulls,” or, formally, soft and hard inquiries. Only hard inquiries — a full check of credit history — affect a credit score.

Examples of Soft Inquiries

•   You check your own credit report.

•   An insurer pulls credit for a quote.

•   A company views a credit report during a background check.

•   You seek to be prequalified for a personal loan or mortgage.

•   A credit card or insurance issuer sends a prescreened offer — sometimes called a “preapproved” offer.

Examples of Hard Inquiries

You apply for a:

•   Mortgage

•   Auto loan

•   Credit card

•   Student loan

•   Personal loan

•   Rental

Hard inquiries may stay on a credit report for two years, although they usually only affect credit scores for one year.

Multiple hard inquiries in a short time frame could make a customer look higher risk because it could suggest an intention to rack up debt. Then again, if you’re shopping for an auto loan or mortgage, multiple inquiries are generally counted as one for a period of time, typically 14 to 45 days. The exception generally does not apply to credit card inquiries.

Consumers can see these inquiries on their credit report.

When to Check a Credit Report

Consumers should consider checking their credit report at least once a year to make sure there are no errors that are hurting their credit score and that their report is fully up to date. Regular checks can also alert consumers to fraud and identity theft.

It can also be smart to check a credit report before making a big purchase that requires a loan.

Doing so can even be helpful when job searching, as some employers review credit histories when hiring.

Are Free Credit Reports Safe?

Consumers are entitled to a free (and completely safe!) credit report once a year from the three major credit reporting bureaus:

•   Equifax

•   Experian

•   TransUnion

There are a few ways to gain access to these free reports.

•   Online at AnnualCreditReport.com.

•   By phone at (877) 322-8228.

•   By mail. After downloading and completing the Annual Credit Report request form, consumers can mail the completed form to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service

P.O. Box 105281

Atlanta, GA 30348-5283

Note: These free annual credit reports do not include credit scores. They are meant to allow an individual to ensure accuracy and check for identity theft.

To monitor credit throughout the year, it can be a good idea to space out the requests for these free reports, but requesting them all at once is totally fine.

After you’ve received your free credit report for the year from a specific reporting company, you can request another report down the road, but you’ll have to pay for that one.

Additional free reports are available to those who experienced an “adverse action” because of their credit report, are unemployed, and certain other situations.

Recommended: Why Do I Have Different Credit Scores?

The Takeaway

Does checking your credit score lower it? Not at all, and in fact, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your credit landscape. Your own inquiries are different from outside hard pulls, which can happen when you apply for a mortgage, credit card, student loan, auto loan, or something that requires a full check of credit history. A hard inquiry could stay on a credit report for two years, though it typically only affects a credit score for a year.

Checking your credit report at least once a year is a good way to ensure there are no errors that could damage your score. It’s also a good idea to keep tabs on your finances year-round, and a money tracker app can help you manage your spending and saving. The SoFi app connects all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see all of your balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score monitoring, plus you can get other valuable financial insights.

*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

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 .

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.

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A person’s net worth describes their total financial value, and is calculated by subtracting their liabilities from their assets. Though we generally discuss net worth in relation to very wealthy individuals, it can be important for people who aren’t billionaires to know their net worth as well.

A person’s net worth can be an important reference point in understanding one’s financial position. Net worth can be negative, especially early on in one’s careers. But net worth can help an individual figure out how much they need to save, how much spending they need to cut back on, or how much they’ve saved for retirement.

How to Calculate Net Worth

If you’re wondering how to calculate net worth, it’s actually a simple formula:

Assets – Liabilities = Net Worth

The hard part is usually determining a person’s assets and liabilities. And a person’s assets can go beyond what they have in their checking account. In fact, a person’s assets can include a whole host of things.

Assets

Assets basically boil down to how much money you have, as well as the value of things you own. In order to know one’s net worth, estimate the value of each asset below:

•   Money in savings accounts

•   Money in checking accounts

•   Money in investing or retirement accounts. Brokerage accounts or 401(k)s are in this bucket.

•   Physical cash

•   Value from insurance policies

•   Value from business ownership or stakes

•   Value of cars

•   Valuable personal goods, like jewelry or art

•   Value of real estate, including home

Calculating the value of a home can be a task in itself. It’s important to research the value of the homes around you, the size of your home, any deferred maintenance on the home, additional benefits like parking spots, backyard space, room count, etc. There are a number of home value calculators online, too.

Recommended: Understanding Property Valuations

There are other ways to think about assets:

•   Liquid Assets: Items like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or ETFs that are easy to sell quickly and whose sale will not greatly affect their price.

•   Fixed Assets: These are items that would take a longer time to convert to cash. These assets are often deposited for extended periods of time in exchange for high interest accrual and thus cannot be cashed before their agreed-upon time frame is up.

•   Equity Assets: Equity assets include your shares in a company, either private or public.

Intangible Assets, such as brand recognition for a company or any other intellectual property like patents, trademarks or even goodwill, are trickier to factor into your net worth due to the complexity of measuring their value.

Liabilities

Liabilities are debts. The following categories are what most often make up liabilities:

•   Auto loans

•   Student loans

•   Personal loans

•   Business loans (personally guaranteed)

•   Credit card balances

•   Mortgages

While liabilities are on the negative side of the net worth equation, it doesn’t necessarily have to symbolize something negative about your finances. For example, student loans or mortgage loans are typically seen as necessary loans that individuals take on as they reach milestones in life, like going to college, graduate school or buying a home.

Meanwhile, knowing one’s total liabilities can help with figuring out a plan to start paying off debt that has higher interest rates, like from credit card balances.


💡 Quick Tip: All investments come with some degree of risk — and some are riskier than others. Before investing online, decide on your investment goals and how much risk you want to take.

Median and Average Net Worth in US

An individual or household’s net worth isn’t set in stone, and it ebbs and flows all the time. For that reason, it can be difficult to nail down median or average net worth figures for both individuals and households in the U.S. You can find some numbers if you search for them, but they’re often several years old, and may not be accurate given the time lapse.

For instance, the Federal Reserve tracks median and average net worth data in the U.S., but generally, they do so using survey data that it publishes once every few years. So, while data from a few years ago may be fine, large-scale world events–such as a pandemic, natural disaster, recession, or similar–may have led to large changes in those numbers.

This is all something to keep in mind if you seek out average net worth numbers. It’s not that they’re inaccurate, it’s simply that the data may be hard to capture and synthesize in a reasonable amount of time.

Remember, too, that it’s important to keep abreast of your net worth because this number may fluctuate depending on factors such as stock values, interest rates, real estate trends, and other tides of the financial world. It’s important to have an idea of overall trends so you can generally understand your financial health and have an idea of your true wealth.


💡 Quick Tip: Distributing your money across a range of assets — also known as diversification — can be beneficial for long-term investors. When you put your eggs in many baskets, it may be beneficial if a single asset class goes down.

The Takeaway

True wealth can be an important factor in knowing when you might expect to retire. It’s a good idea to focus on your gains year over year, rather than the number you get at the end of the equation. If you’re concerned about your net worth or are hoping to increase it, especially for future retirement goals, then it might be helpful to consider investing.

There are a multitude of things that can have an effect on your net worth. And focusing strictly on your net worth probably shouldn’t be your focus. If you’re concerned about it, though, it may be worthwhile to talk to a financial professional.

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).

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