A debt consolidation loan might be just what you need if you are over extended and can't seem to make ends meet. Nowadays more individuals are learning how to live within financial boundaries that they have never had to before. Irresponsible consumers and lenders have allowed themselves to be put in tough financial situations.
Most Americans are finding themselves with more month at the end of their paycheck than paycheck at the end of their month. There is no money left over. And even scarier, some are trying to maintain a dangerous balance of paying one credit card with another or sending in payments at the last possible moment, before a late charge is assessed. A debt consolidation loan is a way to get your finances back on track.
No judgment or condemnation is intended here. The truth of the matter is that most consumers know they are in a rough situation. They don't need someone to point out their mistakes and remind them of their past. Consumers need someone to help them get their finances back on the right track. A debt consolidation loan is one option for overextended Americans to consider.
Getting a debt consolidation loan is a way of accessing a pot of funds to pay off overdue credit cards and other debt. People use this as a way to reduce monthly payments to a manageable amount that is only one payment per month, rather than having to juggle five or ten companies. Most major financial institutions offer a debt consolidation loan that you can apply for. These entities include banks, credit unions, and finance companies.
Do not use a payday loan company as a source of debt consolidation! While they might advertise themselves as part of the group offering a debt consolidation loan option, this is only a marketing ploy.
If you are thinking about applying for a debt consolidation loan, you should know the types if loans available and terms to look for. You cannot rely on the loan officer to provide you with the best option for your situation. They will be able to help you with the specifics though.
Typically, there are two types of loans that you can apply for:
1. Unsecured Loan
More commonly referred to as a personal loan or signature loan, this type of debt consolidation loan is unsecured because it has no collateral attached to it. Most financial institutions approve these loans only for people with outstanding credit and a low debt to income ratio. So if you are already behind on your monthly payments, chances are your credit score has already taken a substantial hit.
Also, if you are applying for a debt consolidation loan because you can't make ends meet, chances are your debt to income ratio is already beyond the approval range. In other words, they will not just give you money. Banks want to be sure you are going to be able to pay them back. And they look at the numbers on paper. Gone are the days when your word was good enough to get a loan.
2. Secured Loan
It might be easier for you to get a secured loan to pay off your outstanding debt. A secured loan uses your house or some other type of valuable property as collateral. Banks use collateral as a way to encourage you to repay your debt to them. Also if you fall behind in repaying your debt consolidation loan, they reserve the right to take possession of said collateral and sell it as a means of repaying your debt.
The common terms used for this kind of debt consolidation loan are home equity loan, second mortgage, and cash-out refinance. All of these use your home as collateral and allow you to pay off you overdue bills. While you may be able to get a lower payment and interest rate, over time you could end up paying more if it takes you 15 to 30 years to pay off the debt consolidation loan. One benefit of this type of loan is that all the interest is tax deductible. You simply need to weigh your options.
Should you apply for a debt consolidation loan?
Ultimately the decision of whether or not to apply for a debt consolidation loan is yours. But you should consider if you are really in a desperate enough situation. A trained debt counselor can help you discuss you options. Maybe all you need is to negotiate with your credit card companies for a lower interest rate and repayment plan.
There is no denying that you probably need to take some type of debt consolidation action if you can't make ends meet. But do it cautiously and don't fall prey to debt consolidation scams. Use a reputable source that is approved by the national foundation for credit counseling to help to figure out the best debt consolidation loan option.
