Securing The Best Rate for Borrowing Money When Interest Rates Rise
The cost of borrowing depends on a lot of factors, including the interest rate environment. When the Federal Reserve decides the economy is strong, and the risk of inflation is high, they raise the Federal Funds rate to slow down economic growth. The result for consumers is rising interest rates, which increase the cost of borrowing. The consequences of higher interest rates can impact borrowing new money along with higher rates on existing balances.
Getting the Best Rate for a Vehicle Loan
Key factors in loan approval: Credit drives approvals for car loans and plays a major part in the rate offered. Other factors include job stability, down payment, and other debt you carry.
- Climate for lending: Even with credit increases, car dealers want to attract new buyers and largely do so by offering low rates to their best customers. Zero percent offers on certain models for up to 60 months is not uncommon. However, only a small percentage of buyers qualify for this level of financing. The rest must get approved through partner banks, who often specialize in high-risk These loans, however, require buyers with marginal or poor credit to accept higher interest rates, higher upfront fees, and higher down payment requirements.
To get the best rate, pull your credit before applying and ensure it is accurate. Save for a higher down payment to lower the amount financed, and get a shorter loan term. Taking these steps will ensure you are not paying a higher rate, so you do not pay the high rate any longer than necessary.
When applying for credit, bureaus count multiple applications over a short period as one hit, which will prevent losing points on your credit due to multiple applications.
Credit unions are a good source of lower interest vehicle financing for those with marginal credit.
Getting the Best Rate on Student Loans
Key factors in loan approval: Student loans do not require established credit or regular income for undergraduate students taking out Federal Student Loans. You must complete the FASA and qualify for need-based aid. Congress sets rates by June 30 each year, and the rate is the same for all students taking distributions from July 1 to June 30. Federal loans feature a fixed rate.
Private loans, Parent Plus loans, and other forms of financing can have variable rates based on different lending requirements.
Congress sets the student loan rate for Federal loans each summer based on the 10-year Treasury and the anticipated direction of interest rates over the next year. After completion of school, you can refinance or consolidate the student loans into a single loan and a single rate, which is an average of all the rates you obtained while in school.
- Climate for lending: The government consolidated the process of obtaining student loans, making it consistent across lenders. There is a variety of other educational financing options with different rates and terms, but Federal student loans have standardized in rates and terms regardless of the lender.
To get the best rate, apply early and complete school in four years. The longer it takes to complete your degree the more you will owe at graduation. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while you are in school, which means you will not have a growing balance. Unsubsidized loans accrue interest from the date of disbursement.
To save money on interest, make payments on unsubsidized loans while you are in school and begin repaying the loans immediately, instead of waiting out the six-month grace period.
Getting the Best Rate on Credit Cards
Key factors in loan approval: Perhaps the most credit driven borrowing option is the credit card because most applications do not verify any information, except the credit score. Your interest rate is almost solely decided based on your credit score and debt to income ratio. You state the income and banks compare it to existing debt on your credit report. The automated process of credit applications gives nearly instant decisions, but not always the best possible terms.
- Climate for lending: Despite the high level of defaults over the last decade, credit card lending is still strong. Those with a range of credit quality can find corresponding companies which specialize in credit for those borrowers. You can find companies willing to give credit to those with no or little credit, marginal credit scores, and excellent credit.
To get the best rate on a credit card, call and ask for a rate reduction. Those current on bills and have a good payment history with the company have a high success rate of reducing the interest rate by a point or more. With rates rising, this can be a way to lower the interest you owe each month, giving you a better shot at paying off credit card debt.
Getting the Best Rate on Personal Loans
Key factors in loan approval: Personal loans are another form of unsecured debt, which come with a high rate of interest. Lenders look for other forms of collateral to lower their risk by securing the loan. When the lender can lower the risk by attaching collateral, they lower the rate and rely less on the credit score and more on the value of the collateral. Personal unsecured loans rely heavily on your credit score and have high-interest rates. Those with less than perfect credit, could find it difficult to secure a personal loan at any rate.
- Climate for lending: Lenders are not keen on personal loans because of the high risk involved and difficulty collecting non-payments.
To get the best rate polish your credit file and ensure it is accurate. If you do not have excellent credit, look for a form of collateral to use before approaching a lender. Alternative lenders such as Lending Tree might provide access to money if you do not find success with a traditional bank.
If you are struggling with large amounts of high-interest credit card debt, contact the specialists at Finance Solutions today at (855) 331-4852 to receive a FREE debt analysis. They will review your current situation and develop a customized plan to help you reduce your credit card debt.