Best Way to Double $20k Right Now

High yield savings accounts and strategic investing are the best ways to double your money. The faster you want returns, the more risk you need to take on.
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Updated on Dec 13, 2024
Reading time 5 minutes

Key Takeaways

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  • Invest strategically to double your money. Options like high-yield savings accounts, dividend stocks, and real estate offer a mix of safe and higher-risk strategies depending on your goals and timeline.
  • Active methods like house hacking or starting a business can grow your $20K faster. These require effort but offer higher potential returns within a few years compared to passive investments.
  • Balance risk and diversification. Spreading your $20K across various assets – like stocks, real estate, and even a small crypto allocation—can manage risks while maximizing growth potential.

The Best Way to Double $20K

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Doubling $20,000 requires a strategic combination of investment vehicles balancing risk with potential returns. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to invest your money to get the best returns.

Our guide on how to invest $20k offers even more alternatives if you have a longer timeframe for seeing returns.

1. Put It in a High Yield Savings Account

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High-yield savings accounts help your money grow safely, but doubling $20,000 will take a long time 1

Even with higher interest rates, it can take decades to see big gains. 

You’ll earn interest daily and keep full access to your funds, but for faster growth, you may need to explore other options.

2. Invest in Dividend Stocks

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Dividend stocks offer steady income through regular payouts and potential growth if the stock’s value rises. 

If you invest $20,000 in stocks with an 8% dividend yield, you could earn around $1,600 a year. Reinvesting those dividends helps your money grow faster through compounding 2 .

But doubling your money takes time – often many years – unless the stock’s price shoots up. Dividends are reliable, but they’re not a quick path to big gains.

3. Invest in Real Estate

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Real estate can help turn $20,000 into much more in different ways. 

Investing in REITs lets you own a slice of commercial properties without needing a lot of money upfront. 

Crowdfunding platforms make it easy to buy small shares of real estate projects.

Buying property directly with leverage can boost returns fast. 

For example, using $20,000 as a 20% down payment on a $100,000 home could double your money if the home’s value rises 20% 3 .

But remember, real estate takes time, and market changes can impact gains.

4. Invest in Money Market Accounts

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Money market accounts are a safe way to grow your savings. 

They offer higher interest than regular savings accounts and protect your principal. You can also write checks, giving you easy access to your money. 

While the returns are decent, they’re not as high as some riskier investments.

On the other hand, cryptocurrency markets are always moving, 24/7. 

They come with higher risk and volatility, but also more opportunities. 

If you go into crypto, make sure your security is top-notch and understand the regulatory rules.

3 Ways to Flip 20k

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Flipping $20,000 can turn it into a bigger amount if you invest wisely and make active moves. Here are three ways to do it:

House Hacking

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With $20,000, you can buy a multi-unit property. 

By using an FHA loan, you can put down just 3.5%, which allows you to buy a property up to $571,428. You live in one unit and rent out the others 4 .

This strategy can bring in $500-$1,000 per unit each month in rental income.

Start a Business

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Investing in a business is another smart option. With $20,000, you can start an e-commerce or service-based business. 

You might spend $8,000 on inventory, $5,000 on marketing, and $4,000 on setting up your website.

You can expect profit margins of 20-30%, which means you could double your investment in 12-18 months by reinvesting your earnings.

Flip Cars

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Flipping cars involves buying used vehicles, fixing them up, and selling them for a profit. 

With $20,000, you could buy 2-3 cars priced between $6,000 and $8,000, spend a few thousand on repairs, and market them for resale. 

You could make $2,000-$4,000 profit per car and flip 6-8 cars a year, potentially earning $12,000-$32,000 in your first year.

These strategies all offer ways to grow your $20,000, but the right choice depends on how much effort you’re willing to put in and how quickly you want to see returns.

Investment StrategyInitial CostPotential Annual ReturnTimeline to Double
House Hacking$20,000$6,000-$12,0002-3 years
Business Startup$20,000$15,000-$25,0001-2 years
Car Flipping$20,000$12,000-$32,0008-18 months

Conclusion

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Doubling $20,000 isn’t just about picking the right investment. 

It’s about creating a plan that fits your goals and risk tolerance. 

From steady strategies like index funds to more active moves like house hacking or starting a business, there are plenty of options.

The most important thing is to be patient. Stick with your plan, and keep your portfolio diverse. 

Whether you go for slow, consistent growth or take a bit more risk, success comes from informed choices and sticking to your strategy.

Building wealth takes time, so be patient. 

By following these methods and staying disciplined, you’ll be on your way to reaching your financial goals. 

Start today and let your money work smarter for you.

FAQs

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01

What’s the safest way to double $20,000?

02

How long does it typically take to double $20,000?

03

Which investment strategy offers the fastest returns?

04

Is real estate a good option for doubling $20,000?

05

How risky is investing $20,000 in cryptocurrency?

06

Should I pay off debt before investing $20,000?

07

What’s the role of diversification in doubling $20,000?


Prash Raval

Prash Raval

Financial Writer

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Prash is a financial writer for Invezz covering FX, the stock market and investing. For over a decade he has traded spot FX full time while running an educational service helping novice traders learn the markets. He has a keen interest in micro and small cap stocks....