Category Archives: Home Mortgage
Payday Loans How To Choose A Lender (Page 1 of 2)
Most of us have experienced a minor crisis which called for immediate cash. If you have been in this position you may have considered taking out a payday loan, also known as a cash advance or paycheck loan. It’s a well known fact that these loans feature steep finance charges, obligating the borrower to repay the debt at an annualized interest rate of over 900%. Because of the high cost of this form of borrowing, payday loans should only be used as a last resort. Using them frequently can trap a person in a dangerous cycle of debt.
If you decide on a cash advance loan you have a number of options. To the dismay of many lawmakers, this form of lending has proliferated throughout the US and Canada, and those who don’t have local access to a lender can easily find one online. In fact, your online payday loan options are so abundant that you may have some difficulty in settling upon a lender. The following are some unique features of payday loans, and a few guidelines to follow when getting one.
Exactly how high are the finance charges? A typical $250 payday loan carries finance charges from about $40 to $75, which translates into an APR of 400% to 800%. Not much of a bargain, but you can find significant differences from lender to lender.
One criteria you can use to compare payday loan companies is the maximum amount they will lend. The minimum amount is normally around $200, with the upper limit being somewhere around $2000. The precise amount will be determined by several factors including your income and work history. In many cases you will be able to increase the maximum amount for which you are eligible by building a history with the lender. Take care not to borrow more than you can afford to repay on the specified date, or you will incur even more finance charges.
How quickly will you receive your money? If you get the cash advance in person at a local establishment, you will have the cash as soon as you are approved. Online lenders take slightly longer, with the next business day being the norm. Some companies offer money wired into your account on the same business day provided you receive approval before a certain time, for instance 2:00 pm. You will probably pay more in fees for same-day service.
The minimum monthly income requirement for a payday loan can be as low as $800, not a big issue for most full time workers. Most lenders will not run a credit check; however, many of them use some type of tracking service that verifies identity and other information given by the loan applicant.
What if you are self employed or living on a fixed income like a pension or social security? Not all lenders will extend credit for this type of income, but you can find one with some persistence. In the event that you receive some non-traditional form of income that you want considered, the lender will verify the income by looking at your bank statements.
Do you happen to have access to a fax machine? With many payday loan companies, you won’t need it. “No Fax” lenders are the norm these days. While some lenders may require you to fax proof of income, most of the time everything can be verified online, saving valuable time in getting your money which can be deposited directly into your checking or savings account.
The Basics Of Student Loan Consolidation
Whether you are a parent of a college student, a current student, or a recent college graduate, you have undoubtedly realized how confusing student loans can be. Many students have multiple loans from several lenders, each with its own distinct terms, rate, and payoff amount. Keeping track of these multiple loans seems like a full time job where, instead of receiving a paycheck, you are given stacks of payment coupons. There is a way to free yourself from the overwhelming monotony of being in this position: Student loan consolidation.
Student loan consolidation makes things much less complicated; instead of tracking multiple loans and payments, you will only have one monthly payment. A typical repayment period is ten years. While in essence student consolidation loans are large loans used to pay off several smaller loans, they are governed by different rules than other types of consolidation loans. Here are some distinct features of student loan consolidation:
1. You cannot consolidate student loans that are in default. If you have already defaulted on one or more student loans, you must first work with the lender/s to get back on a payment plan; then you are free to consolidate these loans. You may consolidate student loans that are still in the grace period, as well as loans on which you are currently making payments.
2. If your student loans are through conventional federal funding sources like Stafford Loans, Direct Loans, Perkins or Guaranteed Student Loans, and you are not in default on any student loans, you should find it relatively easy to obtain a consolidation loan; however, it is not always possible to consolidate student loans from private funding sources. You should consolidate any federal student loans first, because their availability and interest rates are not based on a person’s credit. By making timely payments on a federal loan consolidation, you can improve your credit and get better rates and terms when you consolidate any private student loans.
3. When you consolidate student loans, the interest rate you will pay is calculated based on the average rate of your existing loans. If most of your outstanding student loans have similar interest rates, then your student consolidation loan should have approximately the same rate. If your interest rates vary widely, your consolidation loan will be based on a weighted average of your existing rates.
4. You should be able to consolidate your student loans without having to pay a fee. Beware of lenders that offer to consolidate your loans for a small fee; There should be no fees for student loan consolidation, and you can easily shop elsewhere.
5. Many lenders require that you consolidate a certain minimum amount of student loan debt. The amount will vary from lender to lender, but if your student loans total less than $10,000, you may have fewer options available when consolidating.
By simply consolidating your outstanding student loans, you will see improvement in your overall credit score. Part of your credit score is based on the number of accounts you have open, and by reducing this number you will be seen as a lower credit risk. For recent college graduates whose maximum earning potential may be years in the future, student loan consolidation can make surviving on an entry level salary much more comfortable.