Loans : A True friend in bad times

 

We may not always have the money we require to do certain things or to buy certain things. In such situations, individuals and businesses/firms/institutions go for the option of borrowing money from lenders.  When a lender gives money to an individual or entity with a certain guarantee or based on trust that the recipient will repay the borrowed money with certain added benefits, such as an interest rate, the process is called lending or taking a loan. A loan has three components – principal or the borrowed amount, rate of interest and tenure or duration for which the loan is availed. A loan is essentially money borrowed with a promise of return within a specific time period or tenure. The lender decides a fixed rate of interest that one must pay on the money one borrow along with the principal amount borrowed.

Types of Loans

Based on the Security Provided

Secured Loans : These loans require the borrower to promise the  collateral for the money being borrowed for a time period. In case the borrower is unable to repay the loan, the bank reserves the right to utilize the promised collateral to recover the pending payment. The interest rate for such loans is much lower as compared to unsecured  loans.

Unsecured Loans : An Unsecured loans are those which do not require any collateral for the loan disbursement. The bank analyses the past relationship with the borrower, the credit score, and other factors to determine whether the loan should be given or not. The interest rate for such loans can be higher as there is no way to recover the loan amount if the borrower defaults.

Based on the Purpose

Education Loan : Education loans are financing instruments that aids the borrower to pursue education. The course can either be an undergraduate degree, a postgraduate degree, or any other diploma/certification course from a reputed Institution/University. One must have the admission pass provided by the Institution to get the financing. The financing is available both for Domestic and International courses.

Personal Loan : Whenever there is a liquidity issue, you can go for a personal loan. The purpose of taking a personal loan can be anything from repaying an old debt, going for vacation, funding for the down payment of a house/car, and  medical emergency to purchasing big-ticket furniture or the gadgets. Personal loans are offered based on the applicant’s past relationship with the lender and credit score.

Vehicle Loan : Vehicle loans finance the purchase of two-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicles. Further, the four-wheeled vehicle can be a new one or a used one. Based on the on-road price of the vehicle, the loan amount can be determined by the lender. One may have to get ready with a down payment to get the vehicle as the loan rarely provides 100% financing. The vehicle will be owned by the lender until full repayment is made.

Home Loan : Home loans are dedicated for receiving the funds in order to purchase a house/flat, construct a house, renovate/repair an existing house, or purchase a plot for the construction of a house/flats for a certain time period and interest rate. In this case, the property will be held by the lender and the ownership will be transferred to the rightful owner upon completion of repayments.

Based on the Pledged Assets

Gold Loan : Many Financers and lenders offer cash when the borrower pledges physical gold, as it may be jewellery or gold bars/coins. The lender weighs the gold and calculates the amount offered based on several checks of purity and other things. The loan must be repaid in monthly installments as agreed with the Financers/Lenders  so that the loan can be cleared by the end of the tenure and the gold can be taken back to custody by the borrower. If the borrower fails to make the repayments on time, the lender reserves the right to take over the gold to recover the losses.

Loan Against Assets : Similar to Gold Loan, Individuals and Businessman  promises Property, Insurance policies, FD certificates, Mutual funds, Shares, Bonds, and other assets in order to borrow money. Based on the value of the promised assets, the lender will offer a loan with some margin at hand. The borrower needs to make repayments on time so that he/she can get custody of the promised assets at the end of the tenure. Failing to do so, the lender can sell the assets to recover his/her defaulted money.

Important Factors in which Lenders Look at to Approve the loan Application :

• Credit Score : Credit score plays an important role in deciding whether the lender would like to go ahead with your application or drop it off at the initial stage.
  Since a credit score represents the credit history of the borrower, the lender analyses the repayment history of the borrower and concludes whether the borrower can repay on time or will he default on payments. 

• Income and Employment History : One’s monthly or annual income and employment history plays a crucial role in loan approval as well. Based on one’s income and income stability in the form of consistent and stable work history, the lender may or may not get convinced that one will be able to repay the loan or not.
  Even if you are self-employed, the lender assumes that your business is running well for the past few years and your business’s turnover is satisfactory for the said loan.
  
  
• Debt-to-Income Ratio : Its not just having a good income, your debt-to-income ratio is also important for loan. In case you have an income of Rs.1 lakh  per month and if your debt repayment commitments exceed Rs.75,000 already, a new loan will not be provided to you as you will need the remaining income to take care of your domestic expenses.
  Therefore, irrespective of your income, you must have a low debt-to-income ratio so that the lenders can think that you have enough cash at hand every month to make the repayments as well as handle the family expenses.
  
  
• Collateral : Based on the collateral you provide and  its current market value, the lender may decide on the interest rate applicable to your loan. Providing the collateral will make the deal more secure from the lender’s perspective, which may result in more trust and less interest rate. An unsecured loan is infamous as it includes a higher interest rate comparatively.
  
  
• Down Payment : The money you have saved and the effective execution of your saving plan towards a down payment will increase the lender’s trust in you. The higher the down payment, the lower is the loan amount requirement.