What are some investment ideas for short term{1 Year} with $20K?

I have some investments; 401K, mutual funds, but plan on buying a house in the next year and want to put $20-$35K thats just sitting in a savings account to good use. Please, just serious answers. Thanks!

Consider the Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund with a current compound yield of ~4.7% APR. https://flagship.vanguard.com/VGApp/hnw/...

If you are in a high tax bracket you may prefer their tax exempt money market funds: https://flagship.vanguard.com/VGApp/hnw/...

Sometimes other institutions will have a higher teaser rate, but Vanguard tends to have the highest yields I've found over the long run. (Vanguard money markets are not FDIC insured, however.)

Article on teaser rates:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ba...

ING and HSBC often have rates close to Vanguard, and most of their products are FDIC insured. Bankrate.com provides links to CD's with high interest rates. You can check these at the following links:

http://home.ingdirect.com/

http://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/3/personal/sa...

http://www.bankrate.com/

look into bridge loans,high rate of return

i'm currently getting %5.5 APY with CD through bank of america (dyess). if you try with the stock market or other, you may be dealing with more risk than it's worth.

Bottom line: it would be crazy to put the money into a stock mutual fund. The risk is only acceptable with a 7 year time horizon (or more). Keep it in savings or a CD due when you'll need it. Anything else would be gambling & frankly financially irresponsible.

Well, if you have the stomach for it, you're probably better off getting at least some of that cash into a fund or some ETF's and take the shot at picking up 15 to 25 % in the next year.
How are your 401 funds and your personal mutual funds doing? Add more to some of your best performers...or diversify with some ETF's in sectors that maybe your funds don't "cover". International ? BRIC ? Energy? Alternative energy? All are sectors that show some promise for the near future...and with the ETF's you're just a little safer than trying to pick individual stocks in those areas.
Another sector is " shipping"...but you would have to create your own ( little) basket of stocks...cover about three or four " dry- bulkers" and one or two " tankers"...just small lots and spread out, so you should do well.