Archives For Debt

There are a variety of loans that are available to suit the needs of someone who may be trying to consolidate their debts, take their dream vacation, pay for school, to name just a few of the common life-scenarios that prompt people to try to be approved for a loan. In order to be prepared before you begin the process, you should be aware of the minimum borrower requirements for any loan:

Minimum Age

With few exceptions, the minimum age that is required for a person to be approved for a loan is 18 years old. There are only four states who have an exception to this rule which are Alabama, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Puerto Rico where the potential borrower needs to be older and be minimally between the ages of 19-21 years old, depending on which of these states you live in. Anyone who is younger than 18 years old would need a cosigner before they can be considered.

Residency Status

Any bank or lending establishment will verify your residency status in the United States or any country in which you are seeking a loan. You must be able to provide proof that you have resided continuously in the country for at least six months before applying for a loan. This is the case for virtually any loan available to consumers, from fast cash personal loans online to 15-year mortgages. Lenders like to see signs of stability and predictability in their borrowers’ lives and residency status provides a strong indicator.

Employment History

The longer you have been at your employer, the more likely that a lender will consider you a good risk for loan repayment and strengthen your chances of being approved for a loan. Typically, a lender looks most favorably on someone who can minimally prove two years of employment at the same job. If you work for yourself, you will need to show proof of this through business account bank statements that go back at least 2-3 years. Individuals who have long-term employment and are paid solely on a commission that varies from month-to-month also need to prove that they have a consistent amount of money coming in each month to cover a premium loan monthly payment to the lender.

Debt-to-Income Ratio

With few exceptions, lenders look at how much money you make each month and compare it to your monthly debt amount. This is called the debt-to-income ratio and it usually cannot exceed 35% of your gross monthly income. The average lender will consider a loan if an individual has at least $800-$1,000 of additional monthly income beyond your debt in order to comfortably pay a loan premium each month.

Other Types of Loan Requirements

Mortgage Down Payment

Even though this may not be a steadfast requirement for all mortgage lenders, it is to your advantage to be able to offer between a 5 percent to 20 percent down payment on the chosen property before the loan process begins. This improves the lender score you are given for loan approval since it lessens the ratio of debt that you will incur when you become the owner of the property.

Personal Loan Collateral

This is not always a requirement for personal loans since people do not have the same items on hand for collateral value to offer, but there are personal loan lenders who require some kind of collateral before you are approved for a personal loan because a credit score may not be the most favorable for their minimum requirements. Types of collateral could include a vehicle, property, or cash.

Getting a loan can be a difficult process to understand, if you aren’t sure what banks and lenders are looking at.  Before you try to get a loan, make sure you are aware of a few things, so you are not caught off guard when you go to apply for funding. Although applying for a loan can feel as difficult as trying to install a car seat for the first time, it should really be viewed as a series of questions that need to be answered, in order to give the loan office a better understanding of who you are, and your ability to repay.

Income Is One Of The Most Important Questions

Your income is one of the questions that will be asked when you fill out a form. You will be asked how long you have spent at your job, the amount of money you make (either per hour or for the total year), and how much you get paid. If you are self-employed, you will be expected to file tax returns, and provide that information when you come in to apply for a loan. Although this may seem invasive, it can go a long way in helping the company who is lending to you understand more about your abilities to repay.

What the Loan Is For

Everyone needs a loan for different reasons. From car loans, to a mortgage to get your house, and even personal loans to help you make a small purchase, there are many different instances where individuals would need a loan. Be ready to specify what type of loan you are applying for, and what exactly it is needed for. Although many lending institutions are happy to help, they will want a clear picture before they offer you any money for your loan.

How Long You Are Willing To Repay It Back

This may vary based on the loan offered, and what it is for. Although the bank or lender may set the rates of how much you will pay back, it is helpful to know that the sooner you pay it back, the better off you will be. Paying items off with interest can leave you paying more in the long run, than if you had paid everything off right away. Keep in mind that anytime you take out a loan, you should make it your goal to pay if off as quickly as possible.

Getting a loan for the first time (or anytime) can be a scary process. If you know what to expect and what you will need to do, that is half the battle. Make a point to find out what questions are asked for you particular type of loan, and go in armed knowing you will need to provide information on your income and what the loan is for. Although how much you pay every month is not entirely in your hands, try to pay everything back as soon as you can to make life easier in the long run.

When you have bad credit, securing a loan for any purpose is a challenge. The more inquiries you have into your credit report, the harder it will be to obtain the loan. It is ideal to try and clear up a few small accounts on your credit report before applying for a loan to aid your chances of approval. There are a few other options discussed below to help you get the funds you need quickly.

Continue Reading...

When experiencing financial distress, it is often more important to get a loan quickly then to get money at all. Financial problems should always be handled with great care and time, but sometimes we can’t help but be in a rush. You should try to seek personally tailored help from a credit counselor, but in the meantime, we have listed a few options for you to consider that are solving people’s financial problems quickly:

Financial institutions give small sum loans – There are a rising number of commercial and private banking institutions that are offering lower priced alternatives to the more typical pricy payday loan and can be just as fast to get. It is important that you shop around first and find the best deal because there is range between 5 percent and 25 percent. While five percent is very affordable, 25 percent can be incredibly steep for some, but this will depend on your financial outlook and personal needs. Keep in mind that these cheaper rates can help boost your credit score.

Employers can give you an advance of cash – Many shy away from this option because it involves a potentially uncomfortable conversation with your boss. However, the benefits usually outweigh this cost. If you are confident in the relationship you hold with your company, then asking should not pose problems. It should be kept in mind that this method is particularly best for one-time emergency situations when money is needed quickly and should not be repeated.  If you meet with your boss and politely tell them what is going on, there is a good chance they will be positive about it.

Payday loans – Although payday loans may be on the expensive guarantee the convenience of quick cash side, they do. Ads for payday loans are seen a lot in the media and have given many people a bad impression. However, well-priced and safe payday loans do exist out there. In order to acquire a payday loan, a borrower must issue a check to the payday company equal to the amount that they wish to borrow. The issuer then gives the borrower the amount that the check is worth minus a fee. On the date of the next payday, the full amount of the loan is then due from the borrower. Be careful in determining the amount needed in the loan, as this is often what distinguishes good experiences from bad ones.  If you carefully choose the amount based on income then you should have a successful payday loan experience.

Military and other special interest benefits – Exploring the possibilities of receiving loans tailored for those who served in the Military or Coast Guard is well worth it. If a family member has served, you might even be able to benefit when you yourself did not serve. Societies such as Air Force Aid, Marine Corp Relief, Emergency Military Relief, provide loans at a relatively low rate of interest to the family members of those that have served. These loans are usually given out to people that use it for necessities such as food, health insurance and housing costs and can be organized very quickly because of the pre-filing they have on the veteran.

 

Removing the Stress of Debt

Corey —  September 25, 2015

Debt is stressful; no one enjoys creditors constantly putting pressure on to pay an outstanding debt. If you have been in this situation or still are then you will all too easily be able to relate to the scenario. The problem is that people under stress sometimes become desperate. They certainly sometimes make decisions out of desperation that they would not make if they were not under pressure and made those decisions with a clear head in the cold light of day. That said, debt will not simply go away; it cannot be ignored. However there is usually more than one solution to a problem. The secret is to select the right one.

Continue Reading...

Loans (from anyone) are always difficult to secure when you have a bad credit rating. You may think your only option is to carry on without a loan, but this is not the case. There are still options available to you, and we are going to show you a few of them.

Continue Reading...

Look Elsewhere before you Borrow

Corey —  March 20, 2015

Life’s little emergencies can often set a family or business behind the eight ball with seemingly no options but bankruptcy or high interest short term loans. Yet there are lots of different options depending on the need of the emergency. The first and foremost thing you need to do is stop any borrowing transaction and look at alternatives first. Short term loans look great until you have to pay back 200% of what you borrowed, doubling the cost of your emergency.

Continue Reading...