There are plenty of reasons why a person might need to borrow money—which is consumers in the United States currently hold about 15.2 trillion worth...
A personal loan is a short term loan that can be accessed via banks, credit unions and private lenders. People use personal loans for numerous reasons such as solving family needs, debt consolidation or financing home renovations. Personal loans are repaid over a designated period and payments are made with interest based on the selected lender. They are unsecured loans which do not require any collateral from the borrower. People with urgent needs or ‘fast funds’ (distributed in a short period of time) may also consider personal loans. We encourage you to continue learning more about personal loans and compare rates to get the loan that best suits your needs.
The rates and terms of personal loans depend on your credit score, credit history, debt-to-income ratio, and income. While some lenders tend to favor applicants with higher credit scores, others will work with borrowers with subpar scores and still offer reasonable interest rates. It will require some effort to compare and shop around.
When comparing personal loans companies, the first thing to consider is comparing the monthly payments. Ask yourself what you can afford. This will help you narrow your search. Review the terms and rates offered by the different providers.
One should also compare the APR. Legally, lenders must supply you with the APR, which includes the interest for the loan and any fees.
Customer service is important when applying for personal loans as it helps in reviewing the terms and rates, APR and also in case an issue occurs in repayment of the loan. It is important to choose a lender offering the best customer service as this will help in understanding the lender and excellent service delivery.
You can choose from several recommended personal loan lenders. Check out the top features of each lender to make a good decision.
Credible offers a best rate guarantee and a loan term of 24 to 84 months. Therefore, you may want to consider this lender if you want the best APR.
Best Egg – This lending provider is best suited for anyone seeking a fixed rate on their personal loan.
Lending Tree – Use the services of this peer-to-peer (P2P) lending source to make payments easier and approval hassle-free.
LoansUnder36 – This loan servicer is a recommended choice for anyone who has a lower credit score.
Upgrade – This loan connection service enables you to check your APR fast and proficiently – a no-hassle way to secure a loan at a reasonable APR.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs – This personal loan specialist offers simple loan processing without the regular fees
Your FICO score or credit score will be used to determine the APR for your personal loan and the amount you will receive. Along with your debt-to-income ratio, your credit score will be the determinant for your loan terms and interest rate. The following information reviews the credit score ranges. If you have a higher credit score, it represents less risk to the lender, and therefore the APR is lower.
A personal loan can be used for one of various reasons, as follows:
Debt Consolidation
Many people take out a personal loan in order to consolidate existing debt. Compare the best debt consolidation companies, to find the solution that suits you.
Weddings
Some people take out personal loans to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime event like a wedding. An online unsecured personal loan often provides the solution. Before making that decision, it is worth comparing the best wedding loans for the event you have in mind.
Boat Financing
If you love to fish and/or boat, taking out a personal loan for a boat purchase can help support this recreational activity.
Car, Motorcycle, or RV Financing
If you are in the market for a car, motorcycle, or RV, a personal loan finance can help you get the type of transportation you desire. Plus, you can compare interest rates to see which of the best car loan APRs works best with your budget.
Vacation
Have you always wanted to take a warm Caribbean holiday in the middle of winter? If so, you can do so by taking out a personal loan. Why should you freeze when you can enjoy a warm tropical breeze and sunny skies somewhere else? Whether you need a big or a small loan, make sure you review the best vacation loans before taking one.
Home Purchase and Improvement
If you are spending most of your time at home, you might consider taking a personal loan to buy a house or a piece of land. While looking for the best solution out there, whether it is for the best land loans or the best home improvement loans for your needs, use a loan calculator to see if you can pay off the personal loan.
Unexpected Expenses
If your plumbing goes awry or your car breaks down, it helps to know you can take care of the problem immediately. Taking out a personal loan can be the answer in these situations. To be able to cover that, you may want to make sure you get the best household expenses loan. In other cases, your house might be uninhabitable. Whether it’s by natural causes, fire, or a flood, search for the best relocation loan lenders and compare if their terms are matching your financial needs.
Medical Expenses
In cases where you have a medical condition that requires immediate treatment, and you do not have sufficient funds to cover it, getting the best medical loan might be the best solution for you.
Financing a Major Purchase
Are you in the market to buy a new appliance or similar upgrade? If so, taking out a personal loan can help you improve your lifestyle now. In case you are considering a big purchase, and you already have credit card debt, you might look for the best credit card refinance loan terms before getting and see what will work best for you. Often, the key to finding the best personal loan depends on the purpose for which you are taking out the loan. Be sure to review each personal loan lender thoroughly before closing a deal.
Personal loans come with set times to pay off a loan. Therefore, repayment terms may span from 12 months to 60 months or more. While longer terms will spread out the payments and lower the amount you pay monthly, you will also pay a higher amount of interest. Know your loan terms so you can make the best decision with respect to repayment.
To obtain a personal loan, often you will need some or all of the following documentation and information:
The lender needs the above information to verify your income, your age, and banking details.
Prepayment Penalty – A prepayment penalty is a charge incurred on a loan that is paid off before its due date. Because an early payoff prevents the lender from making money from the interest assessed on the loan, this type of penalty is sometimes enforced.
Origination Fees – These fees usually represent a percentage of the total loan amount and are represented in the form of upfront charges. These amounts are assessed for processing the loan request.
APR – This is the interest rate assessed for the loan, including any fees. Therefore, you need to examine this percentage closely when comparing personal loan lenders.
Late Fees – Late fees represent charges you must pay if you miss a loan payment or your payment becomes past due. When comparing lenders, check out the late fees and review the grace period for making a payment on the financing.
After having decided to take a personal loan, start with the following steps to get things moving:
Often, all of this information can be overwhelming and a lot to take in. For this reason, we encourage readers to use a personal loans guide as a reference for clear, concise, and relevant information.