Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Unsecured Loans

An unsecured loan is a personal loan, where the lender cannot lay claim on any of the borrower’s belongings, in case they fail to repay. Instead, the lender is relying solely on the ability of a borrower to meet their loan borrowing repayments. Usually, the lender has build a relationship of trust with the borrower. Either through previous loans or through credit history and personal financial situation of the borrower.

Because you are not securing the money you are borrowing, lenders tend to limit the value of unsecured loans compared loans with security. The repayment period is shorter, compared to secure loans, and will, normally, range from anywhere between six months and ten years. Unsecured loans are offered by traditional financial institutions like building societies and banks, but also recently by the larger supermarkets chains.

An unsecured loan can be used for almost anything - a luxury holiday, a new car, a wedding, or home improvements.

An unsecured loan is good for people who are not homeowners and cannot use their property to obtain a secured loan; e.g. a tenant living in rented accommodation. There are a few things to consider before applying for an unsecured loan: Unsecured loans are invariably more expensive than secured loans, and the repayment periods demanded by lenders are shorter too. This is because they have no guarantee that you can repay the loan, and therefore charge you more in interest to cover the cost of insurance policies that they need to take out to protect them should you default on repayments. In the event that a borrower does not pay up, the lender will invoke the terms of the legally-binding credit agreement. His only way to claim the money is through the legal system.

Lenders are obliged by law to tell you how much they charge for this type of finance and this is worked out as an annual percentage rate (APR). Ask whether the APR figure quoted is 'typical' or is what every applicant is charged. You should also investigate whether the interest rate charged is fixed for the lifetime of the loan repayment period, or whether it varies with the base rate. Check too on whether there are early repayment penalties.

Unsecured loans vary from lender to lender, so it pays to shop around before making a final decision.

Karin Boode is the founder of the Loan Info Center, who strives to provide valuable information regarding any type of loan via the http://www.loan-infocenter.com/ website.

Monday, January 30, 2006

Secured Loans

A secured loan is exactly what the title suggests. It is secured by something that is, normally, of equal or higher value. This security is called collateral. The borrower’s collateral is the object, money or property that financers can appropriate to pay themselves back in the event of a default on the loan. Secured loans are suitable when you are trying to raise a large amount, creating a bigger risk for the financer. This type of loan is also appropriate when you cannot get an unsecured loan, or when you have a poor credit history. The security reduces the risk for the lender, making them more willing to work with you. Great examples, where secured loans are common, are the purchase of a new car, the need to make home improvements, the desire to take the luxury holiday of a lifetime.
Secured loans have many benefits, such as lower monthly repayments compared to unsecured loans. The ability to borrow a larger sum of money, or to spread the repayments over a longer period of time. A secured loan is the type of loan that is only available to people with securable assets. Usually, these assets take the form of property, such as a home; this is why secured loans are often referred to as ‘homeowners loans’, ‘home loans’, ‘secured personal loans’ or ‘second charge loans’. You do not have to own your own home outright to be able to take out a secured loan. If you have a mortgage you can put the proportion of the home that you own up as security. Because a secured loan is secured by collateral, most lenders will approve your loan even if you have a history of adverse credit, defaults and arrears. This makes secured loans very attractive to people who would otherwise not qualify for a loan from their local bank.
The duration of a secured loan varies from 3 to 25 years. You simply select a monthly payment that fits in your current circumstances. Generally, secured loans tend to be cheaper than unsecured loans and other forms of borrowing. The interest rate for a secured loan depends upon various factors such as the amount of money you borrow, the length of time and personal details. You can also insure your payments for peace of mind, so you do not have to worry if you lose your job or are unable to work because of accident or sickness.
Once your secured loan application has been processed and accepted you will be made a no obligation offer. It usually takes around 14 days for a secured personal loan to be completed and you can cancel any time within this period with no penalties.

Karin Boode is the founder of the Loan Info Center, who strives to provide valuable information regarding any type of loan via the http://www.loan-infocenter.com/ website.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

A Car Loan despite Bad Credit

If you are looking for a car loan, but your credit history is bad, do not despair. Even though getting approval for an unsecured car loan or line of credit is out of the question, there are also types of car loans that are not difficult to get approved for. Despite the poor credit. In fact, there are many companies that will grant financing to individuals with the worst credit. People that have gone through bankruptcy, repossession, divorce, or foreclosure can get the car loan they need!

You may be asking yourself, how is it possible to get approval for a car loan with the bad credit history that you have. Well, it is not that complicated. You see, a car loan is a secured loan. It has the car itself as collateral. If you default on your payments, your car will be repossessed from you by the lending institution. When this happens, you not only lose your car, but you also loose any money you already paid for financing, as well as any add-ons that you may have invested into your car, like a new stereo, wheels, etc.

Also, the interest rates for bad credit car loans are obviously going to be higher than the interest rates associated with a good credit car loan. However, if you show a positive payment history for your car loan, you can refinance this loan with the same, or another company after one year. In the case of a bad credit car loan, you will undoubtedly receive a favorable rate upon refinancing your loan. The fees associated with refinancing are minimal. Typically, all you will have to pay is a transfer fee and a state fee. The transfer fee ranges between $5 - $10. The state fee can be between $5 and $75. Refinancing your existing car loan is definitely something you want to consider if you can earn you fees back within a few months.

In conclusion, if you manage to make your payments on time, car loans can be a great way to turn your credit history around. However, if you do not make your payments on time, your credit will be adversely affected. If your car becomes repossessed because of non-payment, your credit will be severely hurt. So, if you take advantage of the second chance offered to you by utilizing an auto loan on a new car, make sure you buy a car that is in your budget so that you don’t have to worry about making payments. Be practical. Choose a car you can afford and at the same time improve your credit rating.

Karin Boode is the founder of the Loan Info Center, who strives to provide valuable information regarding any type of loan via the http://www.loan-infocenter.com website.She has a seperate website for auto loans, http://www.auto.loan-infocenter.com.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Which loan is which?

Here is a summary of some of the most common loans available today.

Home Equity Loan

A loan based on the difference between the present value of your home and its original price, less any unpaid balance on your mortgage. If your home is worth more now than it was when you bought it, that extra equity is considered to be collateral for this loan. You can receive the entire principal as a lump sum or opt for a home equity line of credit that allows you to pay only interest on money you’ve actually spent.
Look for a no-fee home equity loan at a competitive rate of interest that allows you the option of just paying interest each month and does not require any repayment of the principal for 10 or more years.
Although home equity loans are attractive because the interest you pay is tax-deductible, keep in mind that the lender can sell your home if you fail to repay the loan. If possible, try to repay a home equity loan in two to three years.

Payday Loan

Payday loans go by several names including cash advance, check loan, or post-dated loan. These are all the same type of short-term loan for amounts between $100 and $1000 depending on your financial situation.
Payday loans are for small financial emergencies. You can save money on late charges or bounced checks by securing a cash advance against your next payday. You usually have thirty days to pay back the loan, although with additional fees you can take longer to pay back the loan. To apply for a loan you must have a job and a bank account with a check book. A poor credit rating or debt history is initially not a problem.

Auto Loan

This type of loan uses your car as collateral. The vehicle will belong to you at the end of then finance period with no residuals to pay. Until that time most lenders will keep the legal title to the vehicle in their name. If you can’t make payments, the lender may be able to repossess your car and sell it. It may not be a bad idea to borrow money to buy a car if you intend to keep it for a long period of time and you can’t or don’t want to lay down cash for it.

Personal Loan

There are two categories of personal loans: secured and unsecured loans. The difference between the two is the use of collateral against the loan. Secured loans, using your belongings as security against the loan, are suitable for when you are trying to raise a large amount, are having difficulty getting an unsecured loan, or have a poor credit history. In an unsecured loan, the lender solely depend on the ability of the borrower to meet their loan borrowing repayments. These type of loans, generally, involve less money and need to be paid off in a shorter amount of time.

Business Loan

A business loan is designed for a wide range of small, medium and startup business needs including the purchase, refinance, expansion of a business, development loans or any type of commercial investment. Business loans are generally available at highly competitive interest rates from leading commercial loan lenders. A business loan can be secured by all types of collateral, varying from business properties to personal belongings.


Author: Karin Boode
Karin Boode is the founder of the Loan Info Center, who strives to provide valuable information regarding any type of loan via the http://www.loan-infocenter.com/ website.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Get Your Payday Loan Online

The process of applying for a payday loan has become easier now that these types of loans are available online. Obtaining a cash advance has become much quicker now that applications are processed over the internet. In a few minutes time, you can be approved for a cash advance and your money can be in your checking account the next day, helping you out in a financial emergency.

Payday loans can go by several names, such as cash advance, check loan, or post-dated loan. Despite there difference in name, they all are the same type of short-term loan. Depending on your financial situation the amounts may vary from $100 to $1000. Payday loans are meant to cover small financial emergencies, and the cost of payday loans, in general, is less than the cost of late charges or bounced checks. The loans are secured by your next payday. They are very short term in nature and require pay back within 30 days. If you need more than a month to pay the loan back this, usually, can be done, but you run the risk of incurring additional fees.


The application for a payday loan can be filled out from your home. Through an online website, you enter certain data such as contact information and employment history. The minimum age to be eligible for a payday loan is 18 years and you have to have been employed for at least 90 days. Within several minutes your application will be reviewed and you will receive notice if you are approved. With an approved application, you will need to supply your lender with your checking account routing number, so they know where to deposit your money. When you transfer the money using a wire transfer, your money will typically be available the next day.

Repayment of your payday loan will also be handled online. Most payday companies offer at least three payment options, to be paid on your due date: pay only finance charges, pay the whole amount, or pay a portion of it. You can contact the payday loan companies through a variety of means. Typically, lenders can be reached through phone or email. Increasingly, payday loan questions are answered by fax and/or instant messaging. Payday loan websites will also post general information, including their rates, payment options, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Karin Boode
Karin Boode is the founder of the Loan Info Center, who strives to provide valuable information regarding any type of loan via the http://www.loan-infocenter.com/ website.She has a seperate website for payday loans, http://www.payday.loan-infocenter.com/.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Home equity loans – the smart choice for home owners

There are several loan products available in the market place. The amount of money that you are looking to borrow, your personal circumstances and how much you can afford to pay on a monthly basis dictate what loan type will be best for you. If you own a home and you need to borrow a larger sum of money, a home equity loan seems to be the way to go. There are considerable benefits to this type of loan, provided you have the equity in your home to cover your loan.

Your home equity is the market value of the property minus any outstanding mortgage or other loans secured upon it. The balance is the equity, and with home equity loans you can borrow against this equity. Over the last few years property prices have risen substantially. As a result, homeowners have seen their equity rise also. This equity can be used as collateral to borrow money when the need arises.

What it comes down to, is that a home equity loan permits the home owner to use the added value of the house without having to sell up or move. The security of the equity makes it possible to borrow more money than would be possible with an unsecured loan. The loan can oftentimes be spread out over longer periods of time, and as a result the monthly payments are more reasonable. Be careful, not to spread out the loan too much. If the value of your property goes down during the time of the loan, you loose equity and your loan is no longer fully secured. This could potentially cause problems if you need to repay your loan and/or you are selling your house. The sale of the property may no longer be enough to repay your home equity loan. The balance of the debt needs to be repaid with other means and that could potentially be a problem. Another benefit of a secured loan is the fact that interest rates are lower, as the risk for the lender is less. This, obviously, results in even less monthly payments. Or, if so desired, you can borrow more money without paying more on a monthly basis. In both cases you come out the winner.


Karin Boode
Karin Boode is the founder of the Loan Info Center, who strives to provide valuable information regarding any type of loan via the http://www.loan-infocenter.com/ website.She has a seperate website for home equity loans, http://www.HomeEquity.loan-infocenter.com/.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Online Auto Loans - Getting A Good Quote Online

You are thinking about buying a new car. You have seen many websites dealing with auto loans and you ask yourself “how save is it to get your auto loan online?”.

One of the nicest things of online auto loans is that you can get the best deal in the nation, whereas when you go to a local bank or credit union you will only be able to optimize for your own local area. So, if you don’t live in the lowest cost area of the US, and chances are you don’t, you may not get the best deal if you don’t utilize the internet as your source.

I realize that many of you are concerned with the security of giving information online. But these days, a large variety of financing companies is available online. Choose the ones that provide you contact information, so that you can actually talk to someone. This way you can get a quick quote online, without giving out your confidential information and when the time comes to finalize your auto loan you can talk to an actual person and finalize your papers. Having said this, I would like to stress that the security of the fast majority of the sites we are talking about, is very good and the information you provide is save.

Now that you are not, simply, going to the bank and ask for an available loan officer, how do you get the best possible auto loan quotes? Let me give you some suggestions:

Make sure you know your credit history . Auto loans are usually the second largest loan you will take out, so your credit history will greatly impact your rates and loan costs. A good credit history will help you sail through the process, but you can improve your rating by paying down credit cards and planning on a down payment of 20% or more. If you have bad credit, you can still find an auto loan. You will need to use a sub prime lender, which auto loan brokers can help you find. You can expect to pay a couple of points higher than a regular loan. Realize that you can refinance within a couple of years when your credit score improves.

Make sure to request several quotes from several different lenders to find the best financing company. A difference in payments of just $10.00 a month will save you $600 on a standard 60 month auto loan.
One option is to use the services of an auto loan broker. They will allow you to make side by side comparisons of several different financing offers. If you can afford the time, researching individual financing companies yourself is also an option.

With your collection of auto loan quotes, research both rates and terms to find the best financial option for you. A short loan will save you money through lower interest rates. A longer loan will reduce your monthly payments, but increase the interest rates. When deciding what is best for you, factor in your budget considerations along with the auto loan cost. Aim to make the contract as short as possible, to reduce the risk of wanting to get rid of the car before the auto loan has been re-paid.

After you have picked an auto loan lender, get pre-approved to increase your negotiation leverage when you go to buy the car of your dreams. Once approved, your lender will send you a blank check, which you fill out when you buy your vehicle. The nice thing is that dealerships treat you like a cash buyer, offering rebates and incentives to seal the deal. It is another way to trim thousands off the cost of your vehicle.

Karin Boode
Karin Boode is the founder of the Loan Info Center, who strives to provide valuable information regarding any type of loan via the http://www.loan-infocenter.com website.She has a seperate website for auto loans, http://www.auto.loan-infocenter.com.