Things to Consider when Searching for a Personal Loan

Obtaining a personal loan is a great way to pay off other debts, afford a vacation, pay for a college course, or pay for anything else that has become a financial issue for you. While personal loans are easy to obtain, there are many things borrowers need to consider before accepting the terms of a personal loan. Too often, borrowers are in a hurry for fast money and accept the first personal loan they are offered. The result is suffering with the consequences of that poor choice for the term of the loan.

The first order of business is to realize that there are two types of personal loans, unsecured and secured. Secured loans are available to individuals with poor credit or no credit. This type of loan requires you to put up collateral in the event you default on the loan terms. Unsecured loans are offered to those who have good credit and a solid income. There is no collateral involved, but the lender will take you to court if you default on the loan terms.

All loans have an Average Percentage Rate, known as APR. Most people think all APR does is affect your interest rate. However, it also shows the lending fees, set up costs, and any other hidden fees of the loan. Each fee has to be itemized and identified by order of the Federal Trade Commission. This is the best method for determining the true cost of a loan. Therefore, it makes the perfect tool for comparing personal loan offers to find which one really is offering you the best deal.

Carefully consider the amount of money you need to borrow. Make sure you can afford the monthly payment on a regular basis. Most lenders will approve your loan amount for more than you need to entice you to borrow more. This way, they will earn more money from you in interest over the life of the loan. It can be tempting to take what is on the table, but remember that it isn’t free cash. This is money you are responsible to repay. If you have a secured loan you will need to remember that your assets are tied up in that loan as well.

While it is recommended to repay a personal loan as quickly as possible to save interest fees and establish good credit, make sure you thoroughly read all the terms of the loan. Do not accept one that will charge you fees or penalties for early payoff of the loan.

Your credit rating will follow you for the rest of your life. It can be a blessing or it can haunt you depending on how you run your affairs. Be prepared for the unexpected to help you repay your personal loan. There is insurance you can take out that will cover your monthly payments if you lose your job or can’t work due to an injury. This is worth looking in to.

If you find yourself unable to make a personal loan payment, contact the lender. They will do all they can to work with you. They want to get the money back and keep you from getting a bad credit rating. Hiding from creditors or ignoring letters from them is the wrong thing to do in such a situation. Accept responsibility and see what can be done.

Personal loans are a great source of funds when you need them. Take the time to comparison shop, only borrow what you need to, make your payments on time, and let your creditors know of any situations that arise. Following these tips will ensure your personal loan transactions go smoothly and that your credit is not damaged.

If you have questions about personal loans, the internet is a great source of information. You can also contact a lending institution for brochures or a one on one discussion. It is in your best interest to have all the facts beforehand.

Personal Loan Research

Taking the time to research the area of personal loans can be exciting for those interested in finding the best rates and lenders to work with. While this can be time consuming, it also levels the playing field. It can often give you the leverage to negotiate the personal loan types you want from a reputable lender. This is also a great way to prevent yourself from being taken advantage of by a few scrupulous lenders.

One of the best places to start for your personal loan research is the going rates of the industry at the time you are looking to secure such a loan. This will give you a solid comparison when you start looking at the rates individual lenders are offering. There are several things to take into consideration regarding the loan rate.

First, make sure you do an updated search in this area if a period of time lapses between your initial research and when you start looking into a personal loan as rates change often. Next, make sure you are aware of your credit history and credit score. You can expect an interest rate very similar to the industry rate if you have good to excellent credit. However, if your credit has some damage be prepared for that rate to increase on your particular personal loan.

Personal loans may have fees associated with them. It is important for you to understand that it is against the regulations of the Federal Trade Commission for lenders to take any money upfront for a personal loan application or processing fee. Any such fees must be included in the loan. The Federal Trade Commission is an excellent resource for you to look at. Here you will find all the possible personal loan fees that are allowed to be assessed. Make sure you ask any potential lender for a disclosure of all fees, allowing you to find out the entire cost of a personal loan. You have the right to report any violations of these regulations to the Federal Trade Commission in writing, over the phone, or online.

There are many lenders out there offering personal loans. This includes banks, investment brokers, and other financial institutions. Over the years, internet lends have cropped up on every search engine. It is important that you research the lender you anticipate working with. To start, make sure the lender doesn’t have ongoing issues with customers.

You can check this information at no charge. Simply review online postings from other consumers as well as checking with the Better Business Bureau. You will also want to find out how long the business has been established. Further research can help you find out information pertaining to lenders including interest rates for personal loans, terms and conditions, maximum loan amounts, and repayment terms.

Personal loans offer financial relief and aid to many individuals. The funds can be used for a variety of needs. People often apply for them when they need money in a hurry. However, it is in your best interest to conduct research on the personal loan industry before applying for such a loan. There is wonderful information available regarding the going personal loan interest rate as well as individual lender information. Taking the time to conduct research of personal loans can help ensure you get the right loan for your needs at an awesome interest rate. 

Ways to Eliminate Debt with a Personal Loan

There are many ways to allocate the funds you receive under the terms of a personal loan. One of the most popular uses for such loans is to eliminate debt. A personal loan offers a great alternative for individuals who are struggling to make monthly payments on too many accounts. The idea is to pay off such debt with a personal loan, then only have one monthly payment to make.

The monthly payment is often much less than you were paying before on all your outstanding debts. Having only one loan payment can also improve your credit score. This is especially true if the other debt was mainly credit card debt with the balance being very close to the credit limit.

The first step is to make a list of all of your outstanding debt. Make columns for information including the creditor, the balance due, and the interest rate. In the last column calculate the total amount you will pay on that debt making your current payments. There are great calculators to get this information online. These calculators are free and easy to use. To do this, simply type in the balance, interest rate, and monthly payment. In many cases you will be shocked to see how much that debt is going to end up costing you.

Once you have completed that task, add up the totals in each column. You will need to know the balance due to pay off the debt as this is the amount you will need your personal loan to be for. You also want to remember that overall cost total. It is very important that before you agree to the terms of a personal loan that you have made sure the overall cost of that loan will be considerably less than if you continue to make minimum payments on the debt you already have.

 If the cost is fairly close or more, than don’t take out the personal loan. It will do more damage to your current situation than good. Find out what the monthly payment will be as well. Imagine your shock if it ends up being more than what you are currently paying out.

This is a good time to take a realistic look at the reason why you have debt that you are having a hard time meeting the monthly payments for. It may be due to a change in circumstances that you had no control over. However, if the reason is that you have poor spending habits then you need to address this issue before taking out a personal loan. Nothing is more upsetting than getting a personal loan to cover your debt, then realize six months down the road that you have ran up a large amount of debt again. The situation with be much more grim now because in addition to paying off that debt you also have a personal loan payment to cover each month.

Enrolling in a debt management course or budgeting class can help you identify areas where you are not using your income wisely. There are also many excellent online resources to assist you. A good exercise is to have every family member write down all the money they spend over a week’s time. You will be amazed to see the pattern of things that are draining your wallet during this exercise, including that daily cup of coffee and eating on the run. This is a great way to get all family members involved in the budgeting process as well as involved in finding better ways to manage money.

Personal loans can be a great way to eliminate other types of debt if used correctly. It is your responsibility to do your homework first. Make sure taking out a personal loan to cover your other debt is going to offer you a solution, not result in more financial stress. 

Ways to Generate Funds without taking a Personal Loan

Obtaining a personal loan can be great, but don’t forget that monthly payment that goes with it. If you are uncertain if you can meet the monthly obligation of a personal loan, don’t take the risk. This is especially important if the only type of personal loan you are eligible for is one that is secured. A secured personal loan means that you have collateral attached to it. There are other ways to generate funds without taking out a personal loan. It will depend on the amount of money you need. If nothing else, you may be able to come up with a portion of the money, reducing the amount you need to borrow.

One of the easiest is to borrow from a friend or family member. However, only do so if they are understanding of your situation. If you will have a hard time repaying such a loan then you don’t want the relationship to suffer. Parents are sometimes willing to extend a loan with terms that are loose depending on the child’s needs and the parent’s disposable income.

Consider selling things you already own to generate funds. This can be vehicles, property, and art work, anything you have of value. You can also consider having a yard sale to earn some extra money. Every little bit you can generate will help you to avoid taking out a personal loan. Old books, especially college books and CD’s sell well on the online auction sites such as Ebay and Yahoo Auctions.

Depending on your schedule, it may be possible for you to obtain some type of work as another income source. You can do this temporarily until you have saved up the funds you are needed. This can be working on the weekends or evenings at a retail or convenience store. You may even try your hand at telemarketing. If you are going to college consider tutoring or typing papers.

The internet offers many employment opportunities that you can do from your home. There are sites that allow you to make money by typing papers, conducting research, proofreading, and even transcribing. You can do as little or as much work as you are interested in. The pay is very good as well. However, there are some work from home scams out there. Don’t sign up for any such program that requires you to send them money or purchase a start up kit.

For those of you who interact with many people socially, selling Avon or Mary Kay products can be a very easy way to generate income. You simply leave books with interested people and place their order for them. Both can be very profitable.

For most of us, simply cutting our expenses can generate a considerable amount on money on a regular basis. Consider switching to store brand soaps and shampoos rather than name brands. Clip coupons and watch for store sales. Make a menu and stick to it. Only purchase the items on your grocery list. Carpool to work to cut down on the expense of gas and vehicle maintenance. Make your coffee and lunch at home rather than purchasing it. Eat your dinner at home rather than eating out. If you smoke or chew tobacco, quit. You will be amazed at the amount of money you are able to save when you no longer purchase such products.

Applying of credit should be done so wisely. Rather than rushing out to apply for a personal loan, consider ways you can generate more income to cover the expense on your own. It won’t always be easy, but you will feel better knowing you accomplished the feat on your own. You will also avoid another monthly payment that can lead you to financial stress. 

What to do if you are Turned Down for a Personal Loan

Obtaining a personal loan can be very important if you have a financial need and you have looked into other resources. It can be very upsetting if you are turned down for the loan. There are several things you can do to prevent that from happening. Since you never know when you may have to apply for a personal loan, always keep your eye on your credit report. It can take a very long time to get any errors corrected, time most of us don’t have when we need a personal loan. Know what your credit rating is. Be realistic about your chances of getting a personal loan based on your credit.

It is important that you fill out the loan application correctly and accurately. Provide all required information including residence verification, income, and employment verification. If you have experienced circumstances beyond your control that may have blemished your credit report, consider attaching a letter. Keep the letter short and to the point. Explain the situation, take responsibility for your credit report, and also document how you have worked hard to make the situation better. This information can help the loan officer and underwriter with the loan decision.

Be prepared to offer collateral if the only way you can get a personal loan is to have it secured. While it is best not to secure personal loans because of the high risk, it may be your only option if you are in a situation where you really need the loan. Collateral can be a vehicle, property, or other asset that is legally yours. If you default on the loan, remember that you will lose that collateral as well.

You may be able to get a personal loan if you have a co-signer. This is someone who signs the loan agreement with you. If you default on the loan, that person is legally responsible for repaying it. Asking someone to co-sign a loan for you is giving them your word that you will not place them in a financially difficult situation. If you have a co-signer to get a personal loan, you should pay that loan before anything else every month. You can seriously damage the relationship you have with a co-signer if you fail to make your personal loan payments.

While it is never a good idea to apply for credit in multiple places, you just might want to approach another lender if one has denied your personal loan application. Each lender has different formulas they use to determine loan approval. If your credit is not good, consider approaching a lender that specializes in personal loans for those with bad credit. It is very important that you verify they are a legitimate lender and not a scam set up to prey on those desperate to obtain a personal loan. While you will likely pay a higher interest rate with this lender, you will at least have the access to the funds you need. Use this opportunity as a way to start improving your credit score by making all your payments on time.

It can be a huge let down if your personal loan application is denied. Do all you can to ensure that your application is approved the first time. Do not lie on your personal loan application. This can create many other issues for you that aren’t good. Be honest as well as describe any issues that you think the lender might see as a red flag. Work hard to maintain good credit so that you won’t be denied future loans because of a poor credit history.

Repayment of a personal loan is very important. You will want to make it a top priority in your budget. Down the road, you will likely need to borrow funds again. Most lenders will help you if they see a history of responsible finances. If your personal loan has collateral or a co-signer attached to it, you have an even greater responsibility to repay the loan on time. 

Unsecured Personal Loans

Unsecured Personal Loans are those that do not have any collateral attached to them. This type of loan is often easy to get, but know in advance you will be paying a higher interest rate on the loan. This is because there is a great risk of non-payment due to the no collateral issue. Most unsecured personal loans are for amounts up to $15,000. You may find some loan companies that offer a higher amount, but that is a standard loan amount in the industry. If you know you will need an unsecured personal loan for more than $15,000 you can try to secure two or more such loans from different companies.

Unsecured personal loans can be used for many things. Sometimes a person takes out such a loan to improve their credit rating. If this is the case, then it is very important that you make all payments on time. You will want to pay the loan off early if possible. Not only will this look great on your credit report, but you will save yourself money in interest. Other uses for unsecured personal loans include a vacation, home repairs, remodeling, vehicle repairs, education, or medical expenses. The possibilities are endless.

One of the biggest uses for an unsecured personal loan is to consolidate other unsecured debt. This is often credit card debt. The amount of interest you will pay for the unsecured personal loan is generally going to be less than you will pay overall if you pay off each of the credit cards you are considering consolidating. You will only have one payment to make each month. It is very important that you don’t run up more charges on your credit cards after consolidating them with an unsecured personal loan. If you do, financial disaster is likely to be just around the corner for you. Make sure you have a solid budget and financial plan in place.

There are many places to secure a personal loan from. You may do so at the bank you have established accounts with or even one of your credit card companies. There are many unsecured personal loan companies on the internet. You can fill out a form on a website and have a response in just a few minutes regarding the status of your loan application. This process is fast, secure, and is a great choice for those who are embarrassed to go to a loan officer and ask for money.

Be careful if you decide to apply for an unsecured personal loan online. There are many reputable companies out there, but there are just as many scams. They often prey on individuals looking to borrow money. You can check up on an online loan company by checking with the Better Business Bureau. You can also search the internet for reviews by other users of this company.

If you can’t find any information about the business anywhere, stay away from it. There is a good possibility that the business is running a scam and continually changing its name to avoid being caught. An internet loan company should never ask you to send them an application fee or processing fee. If you are asked for one, end all contact with that business.

Unsecured personal loans are a great way to generate money for other needs. They are generally easy to get regardless of your credit history. Shop around for a good rate. Remember that the rate is going to be slightly higher than that of a secured personal loan. As with any type of loan, make sure you use the funds wisely. Financial security is very important. Just because there is no collateral attached to the loan doesn’t mean you have an easy out for not repaying it. Doing so will severely cripple your credit rating and credit score. It will also affect your ability to secure an unsecured personal loan in the future.

Questions to ask Lenders before Committing to a Personal Loan

Personal loans are those that can be used for a variety of uses including vehicles, home repairs, vacations, education, and many more endless possibilities. Personal loans can be obtained from banks, financial investors, and other lending institutions including those found on the internet. It can be confusing to decide who to conduct business with. There are some questions you need to ask potential lenders before making any type of commitment on a personal loan.

First, it is important for you to understand that as a customer or potential customer, you have the legal right to ask lenders questions. Do not conduct business with any lender who is willing to answer your questions in detail. Be wary of lenders who tell you not to worry about the details or who try to rush you through the process. Both of these should be red flag indicators that something isn’t right. Quality lenders who have nothing to hide are more than happy to answer any questions you have about personal loans.

 Too often, customers are hesitant to ask questions out of fear that the lender will look down on them or that they will be wasting the lenders time. As a consumer, you need to prepare yourself with the proper information to make informed decisions. This is very important in the area of your finances.

If it is not clearly stated, find out the maximum amount the lender offers for personal loans. This way you can find out if the lender will even be able to meet your needs based on the amount of money you are looking for. Next, ask questions about the personal loan terms. This will help you determine if the payment is going to fit your monthly budget.

Most personal loans are decided within just a few days. Ask the lender what verifications you will need to provide as well as how soon they can have a decision after you provide all the necessary documentation. The verifications will vary but should include ID, income, tax returns, and a completed loan application.

Many personal loan lenders will push the loan rate at you, especially if they are offering one that is lower than the competition. However, you should ask them to show you exactly how much the loan is going to cost you. Lenders can give you an itemization of all fees of the loan. You will want the information to compare with other lenders information.

Don’t forget to ask the lender about prepayment. If possible, you will want to pay your loan off early to save on interest you pay over the life of the loan. Some lenders will charge you a payment for prepayment. If you plan to pay the loan off sooner than it matures, then do not work with a lender who requires prepayment penalties as part of the personal loan offer.

With security issues being so huge in our society, inquire how the lender will be using and securing your personal information. You want their guarantee that your name and personal information won’t be sold to other solicitors. If they do, expect to start getting telemarketing calls and lots of pre-approval offers in the mail. Most lenders will use encryption and a firewall for their computer storage of your personal information, but ask about it anyway. It is also a good idea to ask them how they inform customers if they feel security has been breached. Good lenders have such plans in place for your protection.

Taking the opportunity to ask questions from potential lenders before making a commitment to a personal loan takes time and effort. However, you will be glad you did. It is important that consumers arm themselves with the best possible information as this is the only way to make important decisions based on having the proper knowledge. I can’t tell you how many people have learned the hard way that asking questions makes a world of difference when it comes to financial issues.