Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Here is a useful guide to secured personal loans. A secured personal loan is the generic term for a loan. A secured personal loan is when you take out a loan that is secured on your property.

A secured personal loan is secured against your home to act as security to the lender for the money you have borrowed. A secured personal loan is often referred to as a homeowner loan.

Secured personal loans are an ideal solution for homeowners who have recently been refused a personal loan or for home owners wanting to borrow a larger loan amount.

The property you own is valued and the lender can then decide how much they are willing to loan you. A secured personal loan can sometimes be the best option if you are looking for lower rates of interest, longer repayment lengths and own your home.

Secured personal loans are 'secured' on the assets of the borrower. The most often used asset for a secured personal loan is the borrower's home. In some cases lenders may allow the loan to be secured against other items of value. Because the lender has security, the interest rate (APR) offered is usually lower than for unsecured loans, but rates can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances. Secured personal loans offer lower interest rates, due to the lower risk that is being taken on by the loan company.

So, why do people take out secured personal loans? Well, firstly you may want to borrow money in order to increase your home's value by making improvements to your home. Others may take on a debt consolidation loan, which means that you take on a large loan for a long period, which pays, off your other loans and credit cards and you end up paying a smaller monthly payment than you were paying with all of your other loans together.

The application process is a lot longer with secured personal loans than with unsecured loans, due to the fact that your loan provider will need to value your home.

The amount that you borrow for a secured personal loan may be limited by your collateral value in your property. So, the greater the collateral, the greater the amount you can borrow against it. Even if you have had credit problems in the past, you may still be able to get your funding.

With a secured personal loan you can borrow from £5,000 to £75,000 with low monthly repayments. Loans may be taken out over terms ranging from 5 to 25 years giving you the option of setting repayments at a level with which they feel comfortable.

Secured personal loans tend to have a lower interest rate compared to unsecured personal loans. This is because there is less risk involved for the lender because the loan is secured on your property.

If you default on your payments, you will find that loan providers will be a good deal more patient with you. Because they know that they have your home as collateral for the loan, they will give you more time to recover from whatever problems you are having that are making you late on your payments. This is not guaranteed though, so take the time to plan your payments and make sure that you can make them comfortably before you take the loan out.

A Secured Loan Could Save You Money

What is a Secured Loan?

A secured loan is any loan that is secured on your home or property. It is any loan which requires you to provide the lender with some form of security other than just a promise to pay. The security will be your property or home. The property may be mortgaged or owned outright.

If you agree to a secured loan on your home, you should remember that, although the property remains in your possession, it can be repossessed by the lender if the loan and the interest are not paid according to the agreed terms. The lender will then sell the property in order to recover the money you borrowed plus any additional costs incurred in recovering the money.

Secured Loan Benefits

In many instances secured loans can be repaid over a longer period with a lower monthly repayment. The interest rate will be lower on a secured loan than on a comparable unsecured loan. A secured loan may also offer more flexible repayment periods.

1. If you're a homeowner, you may get a lower rate through a secured loan using your property as security. By taking out a secured loan, you are agreeing to allow the forced sale (foreclosure or repossession) of the asset in order to pay back the loan. The risk to the lender is reduced so the interest rate offered is lower. This is why secured loans tend to be cheaper than unsecured loans and other forms of borrowing. The lender has the added benefit of security, which provides protection in the event of your inability to repay.

2. Secured loans are more easily accessible to those with a poor credit record. This means that persons who are self-employed, or who have recently changed jobs, or who have adverse credit (ccjs, arrears, defaults, etc.) can take out a secured loan.

3. You can borrow larger amounts and repay over a longer period. The amount available usually ranges from £3,000 to £50,000, although some lenders will consider lending more. Compare this to unsecured loans where you're only allowed to borrow up to £25,000. If you wish to borrow a larger amount or if you require a longer period in which to repay the loan, secured loans may be the most suitable for you.

4. You can consolidate more expensive borrowings into a single much cheaper monthly payment. You may choose to take out a secured loan in order to consolidate debts and replace high-interest loans with a low-rate loan. The loans being consolidated may include higher purchase loans, unsecured loans and credit cards.

Useful Points to Remember

Before you take out a secured loan, make sure that you can afford the monthly repayments. Also, read the loan agreement carefully and pay particular attention to the rate of interest required, the term of the loan, the repayments required and the total amount payable. If you fail to repay the loan, the lender may repossess your property or home and sell it to repay the loan. If you borrow money using a mortgage as security you are agreeing that the lender can claim the mortgaged property if you fail to keep to the agreement. Your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured on it.