Loans
This page offers tools for getting the best loan rates. Find out where to compare loan rates, and what you can do to get a better rate. We'll cover auto loans, debt consolidation loans, and home equity loans. You'll know how to get the best loan available to you. Whether you want to refinance a loan or get a new loan, this is the place to start.
- Auto Loans (10)
- Co-Signing (5)
- Credit Scores and Reporting (31)
- Mortgages
- Peer to Peer Lending (20)
- Student Loans (10)
When getting a loan, it helps to calculate loan payments and costs. Use that information to compare loans and determine which one fits your needs. You can calculate loans yourself using formulas, or use an online calculator. Learn your options and how to calculate loan specifics.
A line of credit is a pool of available money that you can borrow. This page covers the basics of how lines of credit work.
Amortization is the elimination of a debt over time. With an amortization schedule, you can see how payments are applied to principal and interest. This page explains amortization, and then you can generate an amortization schedule with our free online calculator.
How much does that loan really cost? Is it possible to compare loans with different interest rates and closing costs? The annual percentage rate (APR) helps you understand how various loan offers stack up. Learn how it works, how it doesn't work, and how to calculate it.
What happens when you can't repay a loan? It depends on the type of loan. With some loans, known as recourse loans, lenders may be able to garnish your wages, collect from your bank account, and so on. With other loans, the lender can only take collateral (like a home you purchased with a home loan). Find out what the risks are.
Borrowers sometimes find that a family loan is the best option. What does it take to set up a family loan properly? You have to consider financial and personal topics to make sure the loan does not become a nightmare.
You may see loans advertised as 'no closing cost loans'. While it may be a good deal, you should understand what it means to use a no closing cost loan. It does not mean you’re getting something for free. Let’s drill down into no closing cost loans and whether or not you should use them.
You have a loan and a little extra money. Should you pay off loans early? It’s important to understand what you get from a loan, and what it costs. You’ll save a bundle if you pay off loans early, but it’s not always the best thing to do.
Experts suggest that you get preapproved for a loan before making a purchase. But what does that mean, and why is it important?
Loan modifications are changes to your loan agreement. Your payments get more affordable, and you don’t have to default on your loan. Banks choose to offer loan modification programs because it is easier to work with you than to go after you. Let's review how loan modification works, and how you can improve your chances.
Do cheap loans exist? There’s almost always a cost to borrow money, but you can manage the costs and improve your chances. Find out how to find cheap loans, and what to avoid.
Title loans are risky loans where you pledge something you own as collateral for a loan. We’ve previously covered the risks of title loans, so let’s see how you can avoid using them. There are several alternatives you should investigate before using a title loan.
When you need money, an IRA loan may come to mind. Technically, it’s not possible to borrow from your IRA. However, you can do a few things that act like an IRA loan for quick cash. Learn what your options are.
An upside down loan is a situation where the loan balance is greater than the purchased item’s value. This happens when the item loses value faster than the loan balance decreases. This page covers upside down loans and how to spot trouble.
Subprime refers to a borrower that is not 'prime'. These subprime borrowers...
Moral hazard is a concept saying that people will take risks if they have an incentive to do so. The idea is that people might ignore the moral implications of their choices. Instead, they will do what benefits them the most. The concept of moral hazard comes from the insurance industry.
It’s hard to get a loan with bad credit. Options are limited, and borrowing is more expensive. If you’re trying to get a loan with bad credit, do some homework before you get a loan. It’s easy to get into expensive traps, and there are a few things you can do to improve your chances.
The loan to value ratio (LTV) tells you how much of a property is being financed...
Debt elimination is the process of knocking out loans so you stop paying interest. Sometimes borrowing is necessary. However, once you’re financially secure (or if you’re in over your head) you need to start on a debt elimination program. Find out how to go about debt elimination, and what you need to know before starting.
Universal default is a feeding frenzy that your lenders participate in. If you’ve got a universal default clause on one of your credit cards, you may have to pay the default rate even if you always pay on that card as agreed. Make sure you understand how universal default works so you’re not surprised during hard times.
Deficiency judgment are court orders that make you personally liable for unpaid debt. They are often associated with foreclosures, when a home's selling price is not enough to cover the loan balance. Let's take a closer look at what deficiency judgments are and if you should expect one.
Car title loans are short term loans against your automobile. When you get a car title loan, you pledge your auto as collateral in order to get cash. For people with no other options, car title loans are a reasonable choice. However, car title loans are also very expensive and very risky.
The Community Reinvestment Act was designed to make money available to underserved areas. Banks took deposits in low-income areas, but they did not make many loans in those areas. Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act to encourage lending, home ownership, and business expansion.
Government loans come in a variety of flavors. You can get a government loan to go to school, buy a home, run a business, and more. This list shows the most common government loan programs.
It’s a good idea to use a bank loan calculator to figure your loan payments. Before you commit to anything, you should know what you’re getting into. Here are several bank loan calculators that help you understand what your payments will be like and how much interest you’ll pay on the loan.
Deed in lieu of foreclosure is a way to get out of a home loan...
Subsidized loans are loans for which the borrower does not pay interest. Interest would normally be charged periodically according to the annual percentage rate (APR). However, with a subsidized loan the interest is paid by another party.