Posts tagged: loans

How Do I Know Which Loan To Choose?

equity-rate_how-to-choose-the-best-home-equity-loans_1-3When selecting the right loan for your situation, it’s necessary to look at a range of different factors; these range from the types of loans that are generally available, through to the importance of understanding interest rates and your how much your credit score determines what you can borrow. It’s also important to think about what the loan is for, and what options there are if you have bad credit.

Types of Loans

Loans can be divided into several broad categories, which include secured and unsecured loans. A secured loan is generally taken out against something valuable that you own, whether that be a piece of property, a car, or jewellery. The lender can choose to repossess an asset or sell it in order to pay off the loan. Secured loans do produce low interest rates and longer contract terms than unsecured loans, but with a higher risk of losing valuable assets.

Unsecured loans, then, represent forms of credit that don’t use assets, but are instead valued through their rates of interest – this might include a personal loan from a bank, a credit card, or an emergency or payday loan – these loans are worth considering if you need money quickly, and if you can take out a loan off the back of a positive credit score.

Interest Rates and Your Credit Score

How much you can stand to borrow and repay on a loan will depend on interest rates and your credit score. The base rate of interest is set by the Bank of England in the UK, and is currently at 0.5 per cent – most lenders will charge above this for loans, although mortgages can be taken out to match the base rate. In terms of an average loan, you can might pay 5.2 per cent on a £3,000 payment, with 1 year to repay – this 5.2 per cent interest will mean you repay around £230 a month to cover the loan.

Credit card interest rates are also variable, and can go from very low introductory offers to about 18.9 per cent and higher in interest charges per year. Payday loans, which are easy to apply for, but come with the understanding that you make a full repayment with interest at the end of a month, can charge up to 1400 per cent in interest for their quick lending.

The kind of interest rate you have to pay will primarily depend on your credit score, which is worked out through your past borrowing history, as well as through your employment and address history. A negative credit score can result from defaulting on loans, and from consistent periods of time away from work; this can make it difficult to get credit, and can mean that you have to work to rebuild your score with credit agencies such as Equifax, Callcredit, and Experian.

What the Loan is For

Whatever loan you need, remember to consider how much risk you’re willing to enter into – what is the purpose of the loan, and can you realistically expect to make repayments with interest within a given contract? Also, think about what kind of collateral, or assets, that you can afford to gamble with. If you do have bad credit, it’s similarly worth considering approaches that lower your personal risk – getting a loan with a guarantor can be useful, as they agree to make payments on your behalf if you are having problems. Borrowing against the equity in your home can also represent a calculated risk if you need to raise a significant amount of money in a short period of time.

From Christmas To Easter: When Is The Best Time To Buy A House?

Buying houseIn the world of property and real estate, there are plenty of myths surrounding the purchase of a new home for your family. Some people believe that homes are consistently overvalued; others won’t touch auctions no matter how much their life depends on it. However, one of the biggest myths out there is that there is no optimal time to buy a new piece of property.

When it comes to getting the best price for your property, timing isn’t everything but it certainly is a crucial component – if you play your cards right, you could save thousands, or even tens of thousands, on your next property.

Want to know more? Here are the best and worst times during the year to buy property.

Christmas Cheer

Christmas is the season of giving, and this is just as applicable when it comes to real estate. If you’re trying to drive a bargain and the sellers seem to be as negotiable on price as Louis Vuitton, the best time to make your move is about a week before Christmas. Sellers are very aware that people often go away for Christmas and the New Year, and therefore their property won’t get as much attention as it has during previous weeks. Plus, people tend to let their softer side come out during the silly season – do the words “honey, let it go – it’s Christmas” ring any bells to you?

Jubilance in January

It seems that no matter which country you’re in, January is one of the best times in the year to buy property. Why, you ask?

After spending money on Christmas presents and vacations, many families spend January lying low with minimal spend – and this means people who are considering relocation to a new home will be waiting a few months until their bank accounts have bounced back from the holidays. Many sellers don’t want their homes left sitting on the market for an entire month, therefore many will be more negotiable on the asking price. This gives you the perfect opportunity to swoop in and nab your dream house.

Tuesdays are a winner

Yes, there is even a best day of the week to make an offer on a property. After an open home during the weekend, many buyers will make an offer on a property immediately if they are seriously interested. By the time Tuesday rolls around, if a property hasn’t had an offer, the seller will be more likely to consider your offer seriously – after all, if they decline, the property will be stuck on the market for another week at the least.

Avoid putting a spring in the seller’s step

When spring comes around and tax returns are flowing into buyers’ pockets, many are more willing to pay full price for a property they love. Spring is quite possibly one of the worst times to buy a property – there is plenty of competition on the market, but also plenty of competition for buyers who want a new home before the holiday season.

Hayley Frances is a writer who is currently looking for houses for sale in Epping. She’s in love with all things real estate and can’t wait to decorate her new home. 

6 Unusual Loan Options For Borrowers With Bad Credit

loansIn spite of the tight credit market that we all hear about via the news, there are still many loan options available for borrowers with bad credit. The challenge is to find the loan that makes sense for your needs. Repayment options, interest rates, collateral required, and loan amount needed all impact a borrower’s decision about which loan to choose.

  • Peer-to-Peer Lending – Peer-to-peer lending services act as a broker of sorts, connecting lenders with borrowers. While the borrower’s credit score is considered, bad credit is not usually a deal-breaker, since the loans are generally smaller. Lenders spread the risk among a large number of borrowers as a way of protecting themselves. Some of the loans are for as little as $50.

Borrowers apply online. It is free to apply. Questions about the amount requested, reason for the loan, credit score, and existing debt are answered online. If approved, the lender deposits funds using an Automated Clearing House(ACH), check, wire or with PayPal.
One of the best things about this type of loan is that the rates tend to be lower than other loans for borrowers with bad credit. What keeps the rates low is that lenders bid on the loans they want to fund. This process drives the interest rate down.

  • Cash Advance Loans – This type of loan works for borrowers with bad credit since there is no credit check. The loan amounts tend to be for small amounts. As is often the case with high-risk loans, high interest rates are charged to cover the high risk incurred by the lender.
  • Title Loans – Title loans offer another option for borrowers with bad credit. People who own cars outright can pledge their car as collateral for some quick cash. Due to the very high rates charged for this type of loan, this should be a last resort loan when all other possible resources have been exhausted. Usury laws do not apply to this type of loan, so it is not uncommon for the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) to be as high as 250 percent.
  • Permanent Life Insurance Loans – Many life insurance policies have cash value. These types of policies can be borrowed against. This may be the easiest and best loan to obtain for borrowers that own this type of insurance policy. A check is often cut on the spot if you drop by the office. Credit scores are not a factor. Policyholders should read the Policy Loan Provision in their insurance paperwork to find out the details. The interest rate and repayment information is stated in that Provision.
  • The 401(k) Loan – For borrowers lucky enough to have a 401(k), this can be one of the best sources for cash. Since you are essentially borrowing your own money, they do not check your credit.

This loan is often even cheaper than a bank loan. Strict regulations dictate that this loan be repaid in five years or less.

  • Pawn Loans – Pawn loans are quick and convenient. A borrower can pledge personal property for a fast cash loan. As long as the debt is paid according to the terms of the agreement, then the collateral is returned to the borrower.

Jack Sperrow is a widely recognized financial blogger that writes regularly at http://www.loanshark.co.  The website advocates against illegal lenders by allowing borrowers to report lenders and financial scams.  Read more about Jack on his Google+

Tips To Consider Before Securing Car Loans

car loanBefore you append your signature on any paper so as to secure car loans, consider the following tips so as to avoid any regrets;

Term length of the car loan

Before engaging in any serious negotiations to secure car loans, know what you can happily pay on monthly installment. Never forget to calculate the repayment period. The time frame should not be compromised by the interest rate charged. Some dealers could stretch the term length to an extent that by the fourth year of the loan payment, you will realize that you are servicing a car loan for a car that no longer impresses you.

Interest rate on the car loan

Consider checking out for the best lender charging a reasonable interest rate. Remember even if you are bankrupt doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to accept loan from a non trusted creditor who offers a high interest rate. There are companies who are ready to work with you on securing a manageable  car loan and at the same time help you improve on your credit history once a gain. Convince the company that you are serious on getting out of the bad credit trap. The first thing you can try out is to visit your bank as there are likely to offer low rate to their customers.

Large deposit

When applying for a loan putt down a large down payment on the vehicle. This will be a good indicator that you are committed to paying off the balance. Moreover a large deposit will relieve you of a higher monthly installment. To further cut down the possibility of future regrets, have a fixed figure on your mind on how much you would want to spend on the car and stick to it. Do not be swayed into any deal that will ensures that you can hardly secure a meal and other basic needs afterwards.

Break down the details of the transaction of the car loan

To avoid the risk of any confusion, make sure that the car dealer breaks down the deal into under stable details for example the car price, the financing terms and the trade in value of the vehicle you want to buy. Understand each part before rushing to make a decision.

Check for mistakes on your credit report

Check for any small errors on your credit report. For example any account that had been closed down but is still being reflected on your credit report as open must be corrected. You can easily be considered a bad debtor or high risk borrower on these small grounds. It is therefore wise to get a copy of your credit report so as to correct these anomalies which might stand in you way.

The Benefits Of Online Personal Loan Providers

iStock_000009217829XSmallPersonal loans can be acquired from a whole assortment of online lending companies (-and financial institutions) that offer unsecured and secured personal loans. If you require a small, unsecured personal loan or a large personal loan tolling in the thousands of dollars – There are numerous loan options available from various online loan providers. Online lending institutions that specialise in personal loans can provide fast, convenient and proficient service through online application- and approval procedures. Individuals can obtain personal loans for any reason, without being questioned as to why you require the loan.

An online personal loan can be obtained even if the individual taking out the loan has bad- or no credit history. Subject to the kind of personal loan one applies for, collateral is not required for certain personal loan types. Smaller personal loans (-under $1000) are typically easier to acquire with no collateral requirements. Secured personal loans in larger amounts (-more than $1000) are also attainable, depending on the terms and conditions of the online lending company. Also, researching numerous lending institutions in order to find the appropriate personal loan type for your situation – is imperative. Online lending institutions provide application forms for the various types of personal loans they offer. These online application forms should also answer many of your loan related queries as you apply.

Unsecured personal loans on the other hand are loans that are offered at a higher interest rate, because the lack of collateral adds a risk factor to the lending institution. Generally, these online lending institutions favour loan applicants that have good credit. In other words, anyone with a clean/good credit history should easily find personal loan providers that will approve their personal loan application. Personal loan providers do typically offer loans for people with bad credit, but then again – the interest rates on these loans are usually higher. The financial risk is more pronounced in these loans, and therefore lending institutions are obliged to charge more for extending loans to clients of high risk.

A secured personal loan is usually easier to obtain, since collateral is put up to secure the loan amount. As a result, lending institutions are guaranteed of their investment in case the client defaults on a loan, plus consumers can easily acquire a personal loan if they have collateral to offer. Things like houses, property, cars, jewels, and any other valuable asset can be provided as collateral for a personal loan.

No matter what your financial necessities might be, there are legitimate lending institutions all over the internet that can help you to determine which loan type best suites your financial situation.

This article was provided by food lover and financial guru, ScribeZA, for an online financial institution that provides unsecured and secured personal loans.