|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you've got a really unmanageable amount of credit card debt, you might be considering a consolidation loan. A consolidation loan is a loan that you can use to pay off all your debts, meaning that you can pay them off for less money without having to worry about lots of different bills. Like anything, though, consolidation loans have their advantages and their disadvantages, and it pays to take a careful look at what they offer before you commit yourself.
The Interest Rate.
You should always shop around to get the best interest rate you can if you opt for debt consolidation. This interest rate is almost as important as the one on your mortgage, but much harder to change after you've signed on the dotted line. Don't be fooled by any offers that give you a good rate for a limited time ? you're going to have this loan for quite a while.
That said, the chances are that any interest rate you're offered on a debt consolidation loan will be significantly lower than the interest rates you're currently paying on credit cards. If you have lots of cards at a high rate and you've had no luck transferring the balances, then debt consolidation could be a very good idea.
The Length of the Loan.
The most dangerous thing about debt consolidation loans is that the ones with lower payments generally last a very long time ? you could be paying it off for twenty years, or even longer. You should try to find a loan that doesn't last as long, and asks for payments that are as much as you can afford. If you look at what your payments would be and think 'oh, how cheap!', the chances are you'd be signing up to them for a long time to come.
Look Out for More Cards.
One of the most dangerous things about getting a debt consolidation loan is that, since your credit cards have all been paid off, it can be tempting to accept the next few offers you get for new ones. After all, now you're saving all this money, you can afford a few more cards, can't you? Don't fall into this trap! Consolidating your debt and then running up more is an extremely bad idea.
You Could Lose Your Home.
Of course, this is the absolute number one most dangerous thing about debt consolidation. Almost without exception, the loan will be secured on your home. That means that if you start missing payments, the finance company will kick you out, take ('repossess') your house, sell it, and pay back the debt with that money.
There's a whole industry around property developers buying repossessed houses and selling them on for a profit. The chances are that you'll come out of it with nowhere near enough money left to buy even the smallest home, and nowhere to live. Just imagine that. If you do take a debt consolidation loan, you need to read the small print as if your life depended on it (it does), and then be very, very careful. Good luck.
Ken Austin is the webmaster at Debt Consolidation Solutions and Credit Relief Solutions


Comment by Christopher Whalen Managing Director, Institutional Risk Analytics


A secured loan is a loan agreement in which the borrower pledges property as surety for the loan; hence they are also known as homeowner loans. If... Read More
Outlined below are some of the reasons for choosing a Homeowner Loan. A Homeowner Loan is a loan secured against your home. They are also known as... Read More
Payday loans are loans of a small amount, taken for a short duration of time. Payday loans are generally meant to be paid off on the next... Read More
The dynamics of loans borrowing procedure has brought new ways of borrowing in the forefront. Signature loans are remote from traditional forms of loans borrowing which requires... Read More
An Auto loan is basically another name for a car loan. An auto loan is an agreement between a lender and a borrower in which the lender... Read More
Are you wondering why choose a personal loan? One of the main reasons for choosing a Personal loan is the flexibility. There are a variety of Personal... Read More
Payday loans have many names -- cash advances, signature loans and paycheck loans, etc. Payday lenders provide quick and easy short-term cash to those who need money... Read More
Over recent years, personal loans have become a popular solution for many consumers looking to raise finance for a variety of purposes. You can get personal loans... Read More
A $500 payday loan can be a real life saver during one of life's financial emergencies. Whether it is a much needed car repair or an unexpected... Read More
If you're searching for an adverse credit homeowner loan, you might not know where to turn. After all, it seems like no one wants to give you... Read More
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... Read More
The revolution that has affected everyone's financing technique is online loan borrowing. A very remarkable outcome of this loan borrowing is loans for doctors. 'Loans for doctors'... Read More
Instant payday loans are financial loans that are available for anyone who is experiencing an unexpected crisis and is in need of additional cash fast. A lending... Read More
Often in our search for finance options, we are led into a crossroad where we have to make a choice between secured and unsecured loans. Both are... Read More
The long awaited paycheque is finally here. However, the reverie with the paycheque is not expected to last long, because of the various expenses yelling for their... Read More
One of the most enduring myths of loan industry is that secured loans are perhaps the most favorable loan type available. And guess what this myth is... Read More
If you have bad credit and you are trying to get a personal loan or mortgage, it may seem like a difficult situation. However, there is hope.... Read More
Free Auto Loan TipsThe following tips should help increase your chances of getting a car loan at a better rate.Tip #1 - If you just started a... Read More
While looking for adverse credit homeowner loans it can seem like you're fighting a losing battle. You might think that no lender will want to give you... Read More
There are times when a cash advance loan or payday loan may be a good way to get you out of a tight, financial scrape. There are... Read More
1. Property information. The application begins with a section on the property. Questions as to the type of loan sought, the terms of the loan, location and... Read More
Are you paying out too much every month for your credit cards, store cards and loans?If each month you have far too many payments to meet and... Read More
What are the avenues available to businesses with weak credit profiles or to companies pursuing credit transactions that are perceived as too risky by credit providers? Many... Read More
You want to raise a business on your own or you want to expand it further. You have a plan and the vigour to make your mark... Read More
You can use a personal loan for many different things including, but not limited to, paying off bills, taking a vacation, buying a car and much more.... Read More
You can get a payday advance with cheap rates and get up to 30 days to repay your loan. A payday advance is an unsecured loan used... Read More
It has always been an issue for home buyers to save their down payment. Many people, on advice from various people wait to save 10%, rather than... Read More
"All work and no play makes jack a dull boy".The phrase sounds more as a cliché, having been used innumerable times right from the time it was... Read More
What will it take for you to get a low interest, low payment loan? The answer to that question could be an online loan from one of... Read More
If you're in the process of trying to find home owner loans with a good interest rate and acceptable terms, you'll likely find that there are a... Read More
Finding cheap loans isn't always easy? it seems like every time you turn around new rates and fees are added and the loan process becomes increasingly frustrating... Read More
For the individual in need of cheap loans UK, it can sometimes seem like the loan they seek is always just out of reach.The hardest part of... Read More
Borrowing money has become more and more popular in the UK over recent years, and this is partly due to the fact that it has become far... Read More
Have you ever been short on cash? Has an unforeseen event emptied out your wallet? Are you short on funds in-between paychecks? I am sure that many... Read More
Secured Personal Loans are those loans against which you don't have to put your home or other property as security. The path of Secured Personal Loans is... Read More
1. Property information. The application begins with a section on the property. Questions as to the type of loan sought, the terms of the loan, location and... Read More
Trying to find a good homeowner loan UK can end up being quite confusing at first. The commercials and advertisements that you usually see for a homeowner... Read More
If you spend more than you earn on a regular basis, it is a bad practice. To overcome this situation, if you opt for a payday loan,... Read More
Worried about how to apply for a business loan? Although it may seem like a daunting task at first, it can be made less so by careful... Read More
Ever wondered what is credit? Credit is more than just a plastic card you use to buy things - it is your financial trustworthiness. Good credit means... Read More
Have you been trying to find out what bad credit finance options were available? Perhaps you're in the market for a new car or truck, but aren't... Read More
No faxing payday loans are the wave of the future. There are so many no faxing payday loans available to the average consumer, even if they have... Read More
Home improvement loans are loans specifically designed by loans companies to help you fund an essential home improvement projects.Home improvement loans provided by loans companies are secured... Read More
A commercial business loan is designed for a wide range of UK small, medium and startup business needs including the purchase, refinance, expansion of a business, development... Read More
Locating the cheap personal loans that you're looking for isn't always easy? sometimes it might seem as though there aren't any reasonably-priced personal loans to be found... Read More
You need some more money for college expenses this semester. Do you whip out a credit card to pay for your books, or do you apply for... Read More
At some point in your working life, you may find yourself in a situation that requires fast cash. A pay check advance could be the answer to... Read More
You can get a payday advance with cheap rates and get up to 30 days to repay your loan. A payday advance is an unsecured loan used... Read More
If you're looking for a secured loan, there are several options available to you. Most banks and finance companies will issue a secured loan to people with... Read More
Payday loans, also known as cash advance, are a useful tool after bankruptcy. By keeping current on your bills through a payday loan, you can rebuild your... Read More
If you've ever tried finding a loan for people with bad credit, you might think that it's impossible. Everywhere you turn, it seems as though there's nothing... Read More
A secured loan is a loan agreement in which the borrower pledges property as surety for the loan; hence they are also known as homeowner loans. If... Read More