What You Need to Know About Unsecured Loans

Loans that are provided without accepting any form of collateral are considered as unsecured loans. Your qualification for an unsecured loan mostly depends on your income and credit history. Since there is no risk of losing your assets, the interest rates tend to be slightly higher. But, if you are in need of cash, applying for an unsecured loan online is the best option. They can be approved quickly since there is no heavy documentation involved.
How can you qualify for an unsecured loan?
Before approving your unsecured loan application, the lender assesses your repayment capacity. They will approve your request for a loan only if they believe you have the ability to repay your loan. Usually, a lender determines if you are qualified for an unsecured loan by considering the below factors.
● Credit score:
Your credit score will help the lender assess how likely you are to pay back the debt on time. If your credit score is high, you may qualify for a higher loan amount with lower interest rates.
● Income:
The lender will verify your income to make sure you make enough money to pay back the loan.
● Debt-to-income ratio:
The debt-to-income (DTI) ratio compares the debts you currently have to the monthly income you earn. The lower the DTI ratio, the better chance you have to get approved for a loan. The DTI ratio helps a lender determine if you will be able to repay a loan.
Things to watch out before applying for unsecured loans
Though unsecured loans are a great option to get cash in your account quickly, there are a few things that you need to watch out for.
● Interest rates:
As you don’t pledge any of your assets (home, vehicle, etc.) as security, lenders are at a higher risk. So, they provide an unsecured loan at a slightly higher interest rate compared to an auto loan or home equity, where your assets are provided as security.
● Origination fee:
The origination fee varies from lender to lender. Some lenders will charge this fee to cover the costs of processing the loan. This fee often ranges from 1% to 6% depending on the lender and the loan amount you borrow.
● Prepayment penalty:
Paying off your loan early can save you a lot of money in interest. A few lenders will impose extra charges for repaying your loan amount in advance. Always try to stay away from such lenders.
Advantages of applying for unsecured loans
● The biggest advantage of applying for an unsecured loan is, it doesn’t need collateral.
● You can use an unsecured loan for any of your needs, including unexpected medical expenses, major purchases or to head off on a holiday.
● Most of the unsecured loans come with a fixed rate of interest, which means a fixed monthly EMI, making it easy to plan your monthly budget.
● Lenders offer flexible repayment terms ranging from 12 to 84 months usually. So, depending on your ability to pay back, you can choose a comfortable repayment period.
At any point in time, if you get a sudden emergency, unsecured loans will provide you with enough cash in hand to pay off for anything. The loan application process, approval, and disbursal are quite quick compared to a secured loan. It is even better if you choose lenders like Advance FinancialAdvance Financial who offer flexible loans with same day funding so that you can meet your emergency needs instantly.