Brainy Loans
How to Choose Between loan offers to get the right one.
Most of us will get a loan at some point in our life, but we should always weigh our options before agreeing to any of them.
No matter what type of loan you’re looking for, such as a car loan, house loan, or personal loan, each has different terms and fees. Lenders are able to offer different rates for different credit types, so it’s always good to compare between lenders to ensure you select the right choice for your needs.
Taking a loan out is a significant financial decision that can really impact your finances and should be taken seriously. That’s why it’s always important to choose the right lender for yourself and compare it with different lenders. Here is how to choose between loan offers.
Understand the loan.
When applying for a loan it’s essential to understand what you signing up for and to do that you will need to understand the loan terms.
Just like any industry, they have their own common loan terms which usually have simple definitions. Understanding the key terms will help you make a better decision when applying for a loan.
Here are some key terms that can help you understand the loan.
Origination fee: This is a fee lenders charge borrowers to cover the cost of processing the loan. Origination fees can range from 1% -10% of the loan amount. Be sure to see if the lender has any origination fees or what they are to compare to other loan offers.
Late payment fees: It is not recommended to ever be late on your payment because it can hurt your credit score. You should avoid being late on your payment at all costs, but if it does happen, be sure to check if the lender that you’re applying with has any late payment fees.
This is a fee that a lender will charge you if you need to catch up on your payment and it can vary depending on the lender and the type of loan.
Prepayment Penalty: This mind sound crazy but some lenders will charge you a prepayment penalty which is a fee for paying off the loan sooner than the contract indicated.
The reason there are prepayment fees is a lender is trying to recoup some profit they would have received if you kept the loan for the full time. Each lender will have their own fees but this is something you should watch out for.
Secured & Unsecured Loans: Usually, loans are either secured or unsecured. A secured loan is a loan that is backed by some collateral, like a car loan.
An unsecured loan is a loan that is not backed by anything, like a personal loan. Usually, they are a little harder to apply for.
Collateral: Usually, collateral refers to some kind of asset that a borrower offers as security for a loan. Lenders use it to secure the loan, so if the borrower fails to pay, they will confiscate the asset to recoup their costs.
The most common types of collateral are cars and real estate, but it can be anything of value, such as stocks, and so on.
Principal: This is the amount of money that you borrow. For example, if you borrow $25,000, the principal will be $25,000.
A simple explanation is that the principal is what the loan is for, and as you pay it down, you are paying down the principal.
Interest: When you borrow money interest is the charge a bank will charge usually in the form of a percentage to give you the money.
Interest is decided by the borrower’s credit profile, the type of loan, and the current market. The lower the interest the cheaper your loan will be.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): Lenders use this term to simplify the cost of borrowing money for consumers. APR will be the total cost of the loan which will include interest and other fees associated with getting a loan.
Shop the lenders.
Just like with shopping for anything, we should not jump at the first offer we receive, but instead, always compare it to other offers to see if they might work better for us.
Shopping for loan offers can help you compare and evaluate different loan products to find the one that is the best fit for your situation. When comparing offers from different lenders, it’s important to consider factors such as interest rates, terms, and any other fees that might be associated with the loan.
Additionally, it’s important to compare different loan products, such as personal loans, car loans, 401k loans, or home equity loans, to see which one might work best for your specific needs.
Understand the fees.
When obtaining a loan, it’s important to understand the associated fees, which can have a significant impact on your finances. Each lender has different types and amounts of fees, which you can view on their websites or ask them directly.
There are several main fees that most lenders have, such as origination fees, prepayment penalties, late payment fees, appraisal fees, and closing costs. These are the most common fees, but lenders may have additional fees.
Make sure to ask the lender for a full breakdown of all fees and an explanation, as this can be very helpful in understanding the full picture.
Apply for the Loan.
Once you have selected the appropriate loan for yourself and a lender that you think will best fit your needs, it’s time to process the loan application. You can do this by providing all the necessary documents to the lender, such as identification, proof of income, the amount you are looking to apply for, and anything else that the lender may request.
Proof of income could include items such as bank statements, tax returns, and pay stubs that show the lender that you receive funds regularly. Additionally, a lender may request further documentation from you to verify the information you have provided.
Providing all of the requested information upfront can help speed up the loan process for you. It’s important to remember that the lender’s goal is to ensure that you have the ability to repay the loan, so providing all necessary documentation in a timely manner can help facilitate the approval process.
Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the accuracy and currency of our information. However, the information presented may differ from what you find when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or product site. We do not provide warranties for any financial products, shopping products, or services. When reviewing offers, please carefully read the terms and conditions of the financial institution. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. If you notice any discrepancies in your credit score or report, please contact TransUnion® directly. Our partners compensate us for featuring their products on our site, and this may affect the products we write about and their placement on the page. However, this does not influence our evaluations, and our opinions remain independent.
