potofgold's Blog

Purchasing a car involves many factors. You have not only to select the models, the accessories, the maintenance charges that may be incurred, the above all, the total cost of the car. Not everyone has the amount to pay the entire amount by him or herself. There are companies that offer 100 per cent finance. But then, the interest is too high. Another option is to go for the small auto loans. You pay part of the car's cost and the rest of the payment is taken care of by the lending company.

There are many companies that help you finance your cars: both land based, and on the internet. Even the car dealers offer you the advantage of finances. But instead of being carried away by the luring promises they make, it is better to understand what the different entities have to offer.

Land based, that is, your local bankers will ask you a whole lot of questions that should be supported by unlimited number of papers. They will also ask you for the quotation/estimate from the car dealer, other than focusing on your credit record. They may also need some surety. Too tedious task! Isn't it? Why go for such lengthy process if you have much easy options available. Yes. We are talking about the small auto loans.

It is not hard to find a lender who will finance your car, whether in full or in part. If you can afford part payment, you need not take huge amount. Thus you save on the interest.

The process is quick as there are no credit checks, no collaterals, and, not much personal verifications. It is easy as all you need to do is to apply online with the required details. Small auto loans are the best option for people who do not want to take up big loan but need some help in buying a car. Go get your dream car now.

There are basically two types of Student Loans: Federal Student Loans and private loans. Federal loans are based on the financial need of the applicant [student] and are backed by the US government. They can be refinanced at far lower interest rates than private loans. Private loans are personal consumer loans.

Just as in other refinances, the main aim of Student Loan Refinancing is to reduce monthly payments to the lender. If the student has borrowed more than one loan, as in other types of refinance, the easiest way to accomplish this is to consolidate the loans [known as `debt consolidation’]. But before debt consolidation, the student has to see that federal and private loans are not combined. If they are combined, the interest on the combined principal may turn out to be more than the total interest of the accrued loans considered separately. Consolidating federal loans and private loans separately is most economical. Student Loan consolidators can be consulted to work on this important aspect.

Private loans are based on the credit history of the student or the student’s parents or guardians. Parents or guardians are the co-signers [also known as `co-endorsers’] in the Refinance agreement and assume equal responsibility for repayment of the loan, though they are not the beneficiaries.

Students with good credit histories stand a better chance than others. Here too, the students and the co-signers should see that their credit histories are in good shape. It is best to review their credit reports, and fix any problems. They should also compare interest rates from different lenders, so that they get the best deal.

Most Student Loans allow monthly repayments that stretch over 12-30 years, usually, and come due after the student graduates from the program or the course for which the loan was sought. The longer the period of repayment, more expensive it turns out to be. Hence, it is very important to speed the loan repayment as much as possible. There are numerous instances where students have saved thousands of dollars in interest.

Settlements are the option considered by students who find it very difficult to repay the loans taken by them for their education. Settlements involve an intermediate agency that negotiates with the lender to provide the student borrower an ease in repayment.

Settlement agencies charge some fees upfront when one enrolls for their settlement program. Once a student is enrolled, the settlement agency collects some money every month from the student and accumulates it into a temporary escrow account. This money is accumulated until it is deemed suitable enough by the settlement agency to negotiate with the lender. The negotiations result in the student having to pay a reduced amount, even on the principal, and thus settle the loan. A settlement may, on the face of it, save the student even up to 50% of the loan amount.

Settlement agencies are more an advantage to the lenders than to the borrowers. They collect money from the borrower, and thus the lender is assured that they will be paid their due amount. If the student were to file for bankruptcy, then the lender would not have got anything of the due. Thus, settlement agencies work hand-in-glove with lending companies, though on the face it may seem that they exist for the borrowers’ benefit.

The option of settlement must be considered by the student only in the most extreme of cases. In actuality, a settlement makes the student pay more than bargained for. Since there are no payments to the lender for several years, the loan becomes a default, incurring late charges and even interest upon interest. When the settlement company finally wishes to settle the loan, the loan has to be revived and this attracts more charges. These charges are usually hidden from the borrower. Also, settlement companies charge monthly maintenance fees from the student. Thus, a student must very carefully consider the wisdom of settlement before approaching the agency. It must also be considered if filing for bankruptcy is a better option.

The facility of settlement loans is provided for economically unstable students who cannot afford to pay the huge monthly interests. However, there are several others who avail of this facility, attracted by the lucre of getting something for nothing.

Federal Student Loans are easier to pay and brings less long term hassle and panic if these debts are converted into Federal Student Loan Consolidation. Consolidating your loan means that all the different types of student loans you acquired will be combined in one loan. Doing so has many advantages. Since federal student loan interest rates are currently at their lowest, loan consolidation actually means that the interest rate used for the whole duration of your loan is fixed.

However, there are also disadvantages when one avails student loan consolidations. It all depends on you, really. If you think it would take you a longer time to pay off your student loan, you will then consequently pay more interest during the course of your whole loan repayment. However, since in consolidating your loans, there are really no penalties in prepayment and if you continually pay the same amount of payments before actually consolidating your loans, the interest you will incur would not increase. You will be able to pay the student loan off faster than when you did not consolidate your loans.

One category you could take into consideration regarding federal student loans is availing of the FFEL consolidation loan. This loan program helps any borrower via multiple repayment schedules. Through the FFEL loan consolidation program, only one payment is made each month. In the FFEL program, the student loan consolidation you will be acquiring will be made by a commercial lender, after which credit bureaus will tell you that you already have a zero balance in your account, after doing so you will then sign a fresh promissory note indicating that you will have a new interest rate and schedule of repayment. But, in order to avail of the FFEL student loan consolidation, you must currently be in repayment on the loan you defaulted or that you have been able to make at least three voluntary and on time monthly payments in full.

Again, refinancing student loans depends on the borrower. The United States Department of Education does not in any way allow any borrower to refinance a student loan consolidation. But if in case a borrower has an additional federal loan that is not originally included in the loan consolidation, these debts may then be added and calculated again into a another Federal Consolidation Loan. Another advantage when one avails of student loan consolidation is that there are no fees or charges incurred. The United States Department of Education does not in any way make charges or collects any fees to any borrower who avails of the student loan consolidation.

So now that the details and advantages have been outlined, the following is a basic list of some student loans that are eligible to be consolidated: PERK - Federal Perkins Loans, formerly Nations Defense/National Direct Student Loans (NDSL), PLUS - Federal PLUS (Parent) Loans, SCON - Subsidized Federal Consolidation Loans, UCON- Unsubsidized Federal Consolidation Loans, SLS - Federal Supplemental Loans for Students (formerly Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students (ALAS) and Student PLUS Loans), SS - Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans & Guaranteed Student Loans (GSL), DSS - Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans, DUS - Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, DPLUS - Direct PLUS Loans, DUCON - Direct Unsubsidized Consolidation Loan, including Direct PLUS Consolidation Loans.

Student loan consolidation has another advantage. A borrower is still entitled to avail of the same Federal benefits. This is because student loan consolidation is a federal program. And being it a federal program, a borrower is more than welcome and is entitled to various benefits such as deferment, interest that is tax deductible and forbearance. Plus, the student loan is guaranteed by the government and is insured federally.

A government student loan consolidation is a program that allows students to consolidate outstanding education loans into a single new loan. This is not limited to only one lender. Even if many lenders hold the loans, you can still opt for the consolidated loan. The government student loan consolidation is beneficial because it will lower your monthly payments since the terms of payment will be extended. The government student loan consolidation is convenient to students and parents since it simplifies the repayment of loan. The monthly amortization will also be lower since the repayment can be spread at a longer period. The interest rate will also be reduced since the borrower will have a lot of benefits plan options. The best time to consolidate loans is right after graduation before the grace period ends. This will allow the borrower to lock in the lowest interest rate possible on the loans.

Government consolidation loans have lower monthly payments and have flexible terms and conditions for repayment. The rates may be as low as 3.5% and are computed at a fix rate. This will also benefit you if you would like to get rid of releasing many checks. With the government consolidated student loans, you will have a single and easy repayment since you only have to sign one check each month. Students with more than $10,000 outstanding student loans are eligible on this program. The borrower should also no longer be in school halftime or even more. There are many types of loans that can be consolidated with this program. They are Stafford Loans, Federal Consolidation Loans, Perkins Loans, Parent Plus Loans, HEAL/HPSL Student Loans, Federal Direct Consolidation Loans and many more.

Private student loans can also be consolidated. However, you should not consolidate federal and a private student loan. That is because you are not able to defer payments on private loan consolidation but you can with the federal loan consolidation if you want to go back to school. With the private loan consolidation, you cannot forbear payments if you ever have economic hardships. Private loans are not eligible in claiming for tax deductions. Also, if the borrowers passed away, federal loans are forgiven while with the private loans, loans are passed to the next kin.

It is important to consolidate federal student loans since it reduces the number of credit loans you may have. This will also create a good credit score that will enable you to better terms for private loan consolidation. Credit check is also not required with the government student loan consolidation since the US government guarantees federal student loans. Application for government student loan consolidation is very easy. Loan Counselors on your schools will be able to advise you of the procedures. You may apply online, via mail or telephone. It will only take 1 to 3 months to consolidate.

If however, you will not be eligible you may consider refinancing your home or investment property to pay off your loans. You may also consider a personal line of credit from the bank or consider a private loan consolidation. Repayment has different terms. For borrowers with $10,000 to $19,999 loan balances have a repayment period of 15 years. Twenty years is allotted for those with $20,000 to $39,999 loan balances. There is a 24 year repayment term for those with $40,000 to $59,999 loan balances. If your loan balance is $60,000 or more, the 30 year program will cover it.