Tragedy strikes and suddenly you need to help pay the bills for a loved one. Your soon to be pride and joy became triplets and the one bedroom you prepared just isn’t big enough. Life can throw some curveballs your way and the last thing you want is another surprise when you show up at the bank. With a little bit of planning you can keep the loan interest rates down and get back to more important matters.
Loan Rate Basics
Let’s cover the elephant in the room first. You already know your credit score is the single most important factor in deciding the loan interest rates offered. What you may not know is the lower your score the harder it will be to secure a decent loan and the higher the annual percentage rates will rise. It’s important to look in the mirror and know where you stand before you start applying for these loans. Every time you apply for a loan a new mark is added to your credit score and too many of these will make lenders uncomfortable. It’s important to go in with a game plan and stick your landing the first time.
Secured Loans
With your credit history in mind you’re ready to decide what type of loan to apply for. Almost every loan out there falls into one of two categories either secured or unsecured. Secured loans require a valuable possession such as your car or house to be put up as collateral and if you default on the loan the bank has a right to sell the possession to make up for their losses. These loans are considered lower risk so they tend to have better loan interest rates and generally have lower credit score requirements. Some of the most common secured loans you may already be familiar with are vehicle loans or home equities.
Unsecured Loans
The other popular loan type is unsecured, they are occasionally called personal or signature loans because all they require from you is to sign on the dotted line. No collateral is required for these and as a result if you were unable to pay it back there is little chance the bank can recoup its loss. With great risk comes great rates; these loans have some of the highest rates and require a much higher credit score to attain. It’s a common wives tale that unsecured loans are only for those with a high net worth. While that is a myth it is true that these are harder to attain and are much more expensive.
One Last Factor: Loan Term
The term is another important factor that determines the loan interest rates you’ll be offered. Banks consider longer term loans to be riskier so they increase the rate accordingly. If you’re pocketbook can afford it a shorter term might mean a lower rate and peace of mind sooner when the loan is paid off.
There are a lot of factors that a lender will look into to determine the risk but the three to keep in mind are your credit history, the type of loan and the term. With a little bit of forethought you can be an informed consumer and keep the loan interest rates down to a minimum when life comes knocking.