Slider

Pages

Showing posts with label applications. Show all posts
Showing posts with label applications. Show all posts

Wednesday, 2 May 2012

Secured and Unsecured Loans

One of the most basic decisions when it comes to taking out a new loan, is whether to opt of a secured or an <a href="http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/unsecured_personal_loans.html">unsecured loan</a>. Before we discuss the advantages and disadvantages, you should know that a secured loan means that if you cannot meet the repayments, the lender has access to an agreed security, such as your home or car, to pay off the loan.

This is the huge draw back of <a href="http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/secured_loans_doc.html">secured loans</a>. The asset they are secured over is usually very important to the borrower. For most people, the two most important assets they own, and are least willing to part with, are their home and their car. Your home can act as security whether it is currently mortgaged or not. The size of the loan will also depend on, among various other factors, the value of the asset. For example, if you home is worth £50,000 it is extremely unlikely that a lender will grant you a loan of £60,000. At the same time, just because you have significant assets to secure the loan, does not mean the lender will lend you the full value of the asset. Factors such as your income, your current indebtedness, and your repayment capacity will also be critical.

Secured loans can be used for any purpose, typically debt consolidation or home improvements. However, since the loan is being secured over your home, many short term uses will inappropriate. While borrowing against your home to invest in home improvements may make sense, borrowing against your home in order to buy groceries and pay your day to day bills would not be so appropriate.

<b>Secured loans</b>, as well as being possibly larger than unsecured loans, will also be likely to have better terms and rates. A lender should be more willing to give you a lower interest rate on a secured loan because his risk is less. Should you default on the loan, he can move in on the house, and sell it. He is therefore, virtually guaranteed not to lose the money he lends you. If the loan is unsecured, it is significantly more risky, as should you become bankrupt, he may end up with nothing. While such outcomes are rare, and hopefully will not happen, they are the bread and butter of how interest rates are set.

Lenders will typically be more willing to lend on a secured basis too, for the same reasons. Therefore, if you find that you cannot get unsecured credit, you may try secured credit as a second option.

Friday, 27 April 2012

Balloon Loans - How One Could Help You

Today, there is a specific loan type for just about anything that you could need money for - whether short or long term. A balloon loan also has a specific purpose, and it could be what you are looking for if you are looking for something that is more of a short term than long term. Here are some ways that a balloon loan could help you.

A balloon loan, whether as a first or a second mortgage, is always set up for a 30-year span. This is so that there is a basis with which to calculate the payments. Your payments will always be what they should be to become fully amortized over the 30-year period. Balloon loans then are given a period of time, such as 5-year, or seven-year, or even a 15-year, in which they become due.

Balloon mortgages are usually fixed rate mortgages. The interest rate on a balloon mortgage is also a little lower, too, which reduces your monthly payments even lower, bringing even larger savings. There generally are not any limits on interest placed on refinancing, such as there might be with a 30-year ARM, so you will be refinanced at whatever is the current rate. Refinancing is simpler, though, and, if it is in your contract, you will not need to be requalified, or the property reassessed, and fees will usually be minimal.

When a balloon mortgage becomes due, then full payment is expected. However, because there is so much left to be paid, most people are required to refinance in order to pay the balloon mortgage off. Whatever the interest rate is at the time, is the rate that you will have to take – there is not much of an option here.

If you are looking to buy a house, and stay for a short term, either less than the typical 5, 7 or 15 years, then you have a real good way to save some money. A balloon loan allows you to enjoy the lower monthly payment rates, and you can sell it before the balloon payment becomes due. This gives you the perfect opportunity to buy an even a larger house for less. The only problem is if you decide you want to stay - then you must refinance.

Balloon mortgages are more commonly being used as a second mortgage now, in order to reduce monthly payments and save hundreds of dollars each year. If you do not have a 20% Downpayment when you apply for your mortgage, then you will be required to get private mortgage insurance (PMI). You can avoid this by getting a piggyback loan, one for 80% (first mortgage) and the other for 20% (balloon loan), and then you will not need to get the costly and unnecessary PMI.

It is even possible to get a larger balloon loan if you get it against the equity built up in your house. Another option would be for the purpose of projects around the house in the way of construction and remodeling – especially if you want to do it before you sell. When applying for a balloon loan you want to be sure to check out the various fees and compare several potential mortgages in order to see which one has the best deal for you. Also make sure that you get one without any penalties for paying it off early.

Recent Posts