When shopping for an unsecured loan, a common concern amongst
potential borrowers is, how do I get the best rate? Often, people take
out an unsecured loan to fulfill an immediate need, such as paying back
taxes or funding the start-up of a new business, so they don’t always
have time to search for the best interest rate. When shopping for an
unsecured personal loan, getting the best rate is the main concern.
What are unsecured loans?
Unsecured
personal loans are personal loans that do not require you to put down
anything as collateral. Most of the time, you do not need to have a
co-guarantor (or co-signor) nor proof of home ownership. The loan amount
will be given to you as a lump sum, which you have to pay back in
installments. An unsecured loan differs from a line of credit, in that
the line of credit may be reused over and over again through a certain
period of time. The unsecured loan is only good while the lump sum
awarded to you lasts. When it is gone, it is gone.
Types of Unsecured Loans
One
type of unsecured loan is the payday loan which may only require
evidence of your electronic signature. The lender will deposit your loan
amount into your bank account. You pay back the loan on your next
payday, when you receive your paycheck. Payday loans carry a very high
interest rate, so the money should be paid back as soon as possible.
With this in mind, a payday loan should really only be used in extreme
financial emergencies.
Another common form of unsecured personal
loan is the credit card. The balance you incur with a credit card is
supposed to be repaid within a month. If you fail to pay, this unpaid
balance turns into debt on which the credit card company will charge
additional interest. Credit cards are currently the most used form of
unsecured personal loans. The interest rates on credit cards are quite
high, so it is best to repay the borrowed amount in as little time as
possible.
A bank overdraft is another type of unsecured personal
loan. You take out a bank overdraft when you are permitted by the bank
to withdraw more money than is available in your bank account.
A final type of unsecured personal loan is the type
that you take out from a bank. Like a tenant loan, an unsecured personal
loan is one that does not require you to secure the loan with a
valuable piece of property. An unsecured personal loan from a bank also
carries a higher interest rate than a secured loan because your lender
is taking on a larger risk by lending to someone who does not have any
collateral.
Bad Credit Loan Shoppers
Often,
unsecured loans are sought after by potential borrowers with bad
credit. Seeing as how unsecured loans already carry a higher interest
rate than secured loans, a person with bad credit will have to pay much
higher interest charges. The best way to avoid being seriously
overcharged on interest is to try to improve your credit before you seek
an unsecured loan.
Tips on Improving Your Credit
- If for some reason you do not yet have a bank account, getting one
is a definite step in the right direction. When you are applying for an
unsecured loan, you bank account information will be taken into
consideration when the lender is thinking of approving you for the loan. - Apply for some department store cards or secured credit cards. The
records of these cards will be submitted to the credit bureaus, and
this will help to establish a positive credit rating. When a potential
lender sees that you have got positive credit based on the records of
these cards, they will be more inclined to not only offer you the loan,
but to provide you with a better rate. - Only purchase within your means. If you only make credit purchases
that you will surely be able to pay off on time, your credit rating
will reflect your on-time payments, thereby improving your credit score.