Consider ...
- Your loan rate;
- The term (no. of years);
- Reputation of lender;
- Application and handling fees;
- Affordability;
- Pre-payment penalties;
- Your credit rating.
These are the criteria you should use. Don't make a decision based on interest rate alone.
How can YOU get the BEST deals?
Answer:
- Do some research.
- Get written quotes from four lenders.
- Improve your credit rating.
+ Don't just pick a lender out of a newspaper. Ask friends. Use the internet! This is a major purchase. It makes sense to spend a bit of time shopping around.
+ Verbal quotes are not worth the paper they're printed on; get them in writing, and get more than one.
+ You can improve your credit rating by only having one or two credit-cards, for example, and paying them off on time. Get rid of lines of credit you don't need.
+ The smaller you can make your loan, the better. Loans, like credit-cards, are an expensive way to get money. If you can beg or borrow from friends or relatives to bulk up your cash-at-hand, do so. You'll feel a lot happier if you're only paying a few hundred, rather than a grand, a month.
There are secured and unsecured loans.
The idea of a secured loan is that you put up an asset/capital as security, so that if you default on your payments, the lender can claim you asset to pay off your debt. The asset that is usually used as security is your home, which is why this type of loan is often referred to as a homeowner loan. They are often easier to arrange and you can generally borrow larger sums of money, due to the lender having some form of security.
Unsecured loans. This type of loan is not secured against your assets such as your home, but it does not mean that a lender would not pursue you for their money, should you be able to keep up the repayments. The lender can pursue any debt through civil procedures, which could ultimately result in your home being at risk.
1. Look for lenders who are targeted towards your need. Your specific requirement may not match with their existing plans and if the company can sketch out a specific one for you, consider them.
2. Look for customer support: Every company claims great customer support. Review it yourself. You can also get feedback from existing customers.
3. Look for interest rates: They should be competitive. Even if the rates are comparable with the market rate, you should negotiate for a better one. You may not get any direct benefit from negotiation but you will get to know how the lenders deal with customers.
4. Look for honesty: Many lenders charge you more interest than due especially if you have a low credit score. It's better to get your credit report so that you can negotiate with the same tool they're using.
5. Look at their 'sociability': The company should be helpful in nature. Many lenders just think about the deal. Some may be kind enough to finance you at the optimum interest rate and agree your terms and conditions in part or fully.
=> FREE: TigerTom's '50 Loan & Mortgage Tips' ebook. It's a simple list of tips to be aware of when getting a loan, including how to improve your credit rating.
=> FREE: Use TigerTom's Loan and Mortgage Calculator. This shows you what your monthly payments will be, and allows you to adjust the amount, rate and time period, until you find what you can afford.
Interested in getting a loan? Complete the form below, and get both softwares free. There is no charge or obligation.
