Thursday, August 23, 2007

Debt Consolidation Loan

If you are stressed by the sheer number of bills you receive each month, a debt consolidation loan may be a very useful tool. A debt consolidation loan gives you money to pay off your existing debt, resulting in just one monthly payment and a lot less stress. A debt consolidation loan makes it much easier to manage your budget since you only have to worry about a single payment schedule.

Secured Debt Consolidation Loan vs. Unsecured Debt Consolidation Loan

There are two types of debt consolidation loans: secured and unsecured. A secured debt consolidation loan may allow you to find lower interest rates and borrow more because they are backed up by something that holds high value: usually your home. An unsecured debt consolidation loan does not have anything valuable backing them, and therefore are considered more risky than a secured debt consolidation loan. An unsecured debt consolidation loan often come with a list of restrictions on what the money you borrow can be spent on.

The number one factor that will determine how much your debt consolidation loan costs is your credit score. If you have poor credit, you may have trouble finding a debt consolidation loan with low interest rates. However, by making payments on time, you can help improve your credit score.

Getting a Debt Consolidation Loan if You Have Bad Credit

While many lenders will not give a debt consolidation loan to people with poor credit, some lenders specialize in working exclusively with these types of situations. Generally, poor credit scores will mean higher interest rates and strict limitations on spending. While these may seem like unattractive qualities, the benefits of getting your debt consolidated and paid off outweighs the extra money you may be forced to spend.

Finding a Debt Consolidation Loan

While there are now a huge selection of lenders to apply for a debt consolidation loan from, this also means you must be cautious before signing anything and make sure you understand all the terms of your debt consolidation loan. Never be rushed into signing anything without fully understanding the contract first. If you cannot determine whether the paperwork is fair or not, enlist the services of a lawyer who can review the documents for you.

There are a host of companies that are internet-based which now offer the entire process of debt consolidation from the convenience of your personal computer. Use the internet to shop around for different interest rates and try and find the best debt consolidation loan for you. Not only does the internet make it easier to get many quotes from many sources, most online companies also have an application right on their web site that makes it very easy to apply for a debt consolidation loan.

If you are not confident in your ability to locate a good debt consolidation loan, consider hiring a broker that will perform the search for you. A debt consolidation loan broker will sort through hundreds of lenders to find debt consolidation loans that are right for your situation.


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