Monday, March 12, 2012

What Remortgages and Secured Loans Have in Common

Remortgages and secured loans, otherwise called homeowner loans, as well as having a lot in common, have many of the same uses.

Only those who are property owners can apply for a secured loan or a remortgage, which is the most important thing that they have in common. They are secured on the equity on a property and that property must already have a mortgage secured on it.

There must already be a mortgage secured on the property, as another name for a secured loan is a second mortgage that ranks behind the first mortgage that was taken out to buy the property initially.

Homeowner loans, which are another name for a second mortgage, are registered at the Land Registry along with the original or first mortgage used to purchase the property.

A remortgage is a mortgage that is taken out to replace the mortgage that is already secured on the property, and remortgages must be taken out with a different provider.

When a mortgage is agreed originally, there is normally a tie on period which can stay in place from one year to normally a maximum of five years, although tie in periods of ten years are not unknown.

During the tie in period, an early repayment penalty would have to be paid if paying the mortgage off early, and this is between 2% to 5% of the outstanding balance which can be a considerable sum, as even on a relatively small mortgage of 100,000 the penalty would be 2,000 to 5,000.

The majority of those seeking to remortgage are out of the tie in time.

Remortgages are sometimes taken out to obtain a better interest rate, as interest rates can vary tremendously between one lender and the other.This is known as a like for like and grants the borrower a lower monthly payment, and of course the existing mortgage is fully repaid.

Sometimes a homeowner applies for a higher figure to enable him to have additional funds which he can then use for many purposes., and that is the second aspect that these home loans have in common with secured loans that can also be used for almost any purpose.

Why we state almost any purpose, is due to the fact that some homeowner loan lenders will not grant advances for the purchase of a time share or a holiday home, while others have no objections whatsoever.

Both of these types of loans can be low interest ways of paying school fees, an expensive holiday to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary, to purchase a vehicle of any kind or are excellent means of adding value, as well as comfort, to a property by paying for home improvements.

At present secured loans are available with interest rates from about 9%, while remortgage rates start at less than 2%..

They both have repayment periods of up tp twenty five years which makes them affordable, as they can be spread over all these years, making the payments affordable to most.

Both remortgages and secured loans are commonly used for debt consolidation which means that all outstanding debts on credit cards, personal loans, etc. are combined into one and a single low interest reapayment monthly replaces a number of high interest debts

. For those in a mortgage tie in period, a homeowner secured loan would be the better choice, and this would also be the loan of choice if speed in receiving the funds was of paramount importance, as a secured loan takes, in general, half the time of a remortgage to arrange.

Secured Loans Vs Unsecured Loans

The difference between secured and unsecured loans is important for corporates as well as consumers since both require loans albeit for different reasons. In other words, loans can be availed for tending to commercial as well as personal needs. Depending upon the terms and conditions of the lender, commercial and personal loans may be further classified as secured or unsecured. The following write-up examines the differences between secured loans vs unsecured loans by delving into the details of the same.

Secured Loans Vs Unsecured Loans

The difference between secured and unsecured loans can be best understood by examining the collateral, the maturity period of the loan, the amount that can be borrowed and the rate of interest on the loan. So, here goes...

Presence or Absence of Collateral

Secured Loans: Secured loans require the borrower to pledge some asset so that the disburser has the option of seizing the asset in case the borrower does not repay the principal and/or interest on the loan. Secured loans may be commercial or personal.

A commercial secured loan is procured by a business by using its assets as collateral. Businesses use fixed assets which are integral to the process of production to meet long term capital requirements. Short term loans are procured by companies by pledging current assets. Unlike fixed assets, current assets can be converted to cash within one accounting year. Hence, they can be used only to procure loans for meeting working capital requirements.

As far as secured personal loans are concerned, the borrower's CD (certificate of deposit) or savings account balance acts as the collateral for the loan.

Unsecured Loans: Unsecured commercial loans or unsecured business loans are administered on the basis of the creditworthiness of the business. In other words, the creditworthiness of the enterprise and its goodwill acts as a security for the lender. It goes without saying that only businesses of great repute can hope to avail these loans.

The borrower's credit score and credit worthiness are of immense significance when it comes to availing unsecured personal loans or signature loans.

Maturity Period, Amount Borrowed and Rate of Interest

Secured Loans: In case of a secured loan, the lender feels confident about his/her ability to recover the amount that is lent. The lender may be more amenable to agreeing on a longer maturity period and the borrower may also be able to negotiate a larger loan amount. The rate of interest on any loan is directly proportional to the risk encountered by the lender as a consequence of extending credit. The underlying collateral helps the borrower procure a loan at a reasonable rate of interest on account of less risk as perceived by the lender. Typically, most lenders allow businesses to borrow a secured loan for a period of 30 years with the loan amount ranging between $25,000 and $1,000,000.

In case of secured personal loans, the term of the loan is generally 10 years and the lender is willing to extend sums between $3,000 and $250,000. The rate of interest on a secured personal loan is fixed, thus eliminating uncertainty with regard to paying interest and principal.

Unsecured Loans: Unsecured commercial loans are best suited for companies that have been operational for a long period of time and have built-up quite a reputation for themselves. Goodwill and repute can go a long way in helping the firm avail a large amount of money, as loan, for an extended period of time without having to pay exorbitant interest. Small businesses that do not have a good credit rating and cannot provide the requisite collateral can at best avail a loan to the tune of $200,000.

Unsecured personal loans or signature loans may be availed for a maximum period of 5 years and one may borrow between $3,000 and $100,000. The interest charged on unsecured personal loans is higher than the interest charged on secured personal loans.

The above discussion does not advocate one form of borrowing or lending over another. The intention was to embark on a comparative study of secured loans vs unsecured loans so that prospective borrowers have a clear picture of the benefits and the disadvantages of various lending practices.

Secured Loans for People with Bad Credit

Secured loans for people with bad credit can be procured more easily as compared to unsecured loans for bad credit since the latter is made available by lenders to consumers without any collateral. The absence of a collateral augments the risk that is inherent in lending to people with less than perfect credit. If the borrower defaults, the lender cannot hope to recover the dues by selling the collateral. It can be safely assumed that lending to people with less than perfect credit gives the creditor some cushion in terms of ease of recovery. Secured loans for people with bad credit are also advantageous to the borrower due to the following reasons.

Advantages of Secured Loans for People with Bad Credit

People with bad credit generally find it difficult to avail loans at a reasonable rate of interest since the rate of interest on a loan is inversely proportional to the credit worthiness of the borrower. Since, people with bad credit have a poor credit rating and an adverse credit history, it may be difficult if not impossible for such people to obtain an unsecured loan at a favorable rate of interest. However, a secured loan may be easily availed by people with bad credit since the lender knows that the collateral may be used in lieu of the unpaid amount. For instance, a mortgage lender can always foreclose the home, and sell it off in an auction and recover the dues in case the borrower fails to make good the borrowed sum.

Another advantage of obtaining secured loans for bad credit is that, the borrower can expect to get a relatively large loan despite having less than satisfactory credit scores. For instance, the maximum amount of money that one can hope to avail in the absence of a collateral is around $100,000. This loan is generally repaid over a period of 5 years. However, one can hope to procure around $250,000, if one avails secured personal loans for bad credit. Moreover, the repayment period of the loan is 10 years as against the 5 year repayment period of unsecured personal loans. For people with bad credit, a secured personal loan is definitely a better option.

Disadvantages of Secured Loans for People with Bad Credit

One of the main disadvantages of a secured personal loan is that, one is bound to lose the collateral in case one is unable to repay the borrowed sum. For instance, if one avails a home equity loan (HEL), the chances of losing the home increases especially when the home prices drop. This is because the homeowner already has a mortgage on the house and avails an HEL in addition to the mortgage. Moreover, the consumer has bad credit implying that he/she finds it difficult to make good the financial obligations. Hence, it is only natural that the homeowner will find it impossible to repay the secured loan and end up losing the house. A foreclosure as we all know will result in the credit score of the consumer taking a hit of 350 points. Moreover, a foreclosure will stay on record for 7 years thus, making it impossible for the consumer to avail another loan in the immediate future.

It's evident that there are advantages as well as disadvantages of secured personal loans. For people with bad credit, a secured personal loan may be the only option since lenders have become wary of lending money to people with less than perfect credit. Ultimately, good credit scores hold the key to availing any loan with ease. Hence, people should focus on building their credit scores and improving their credit history.

Secured Loans And Remortgages Can Even Be Used As Consolidation Loans

Most homeowners have heard of secured loans and remortgages, and also have basic knowledge about these loans, believing them to be a way by which homeowners can borrow money.

However many know very little more than this, and when they need money they are unsure of whether a remortgage or a secured loan is better for them, what interest rates they both have, or how to proceed to make an application.

The fact is, that there are many similarities between remortgages and secured loans, and which one is better depends on a person's own particular circumstances.

The major feature that secured loans and remortgages have in common is the fact that both need an asset to form security for the loan, and in the case of these two homeowner loans, the asset required is normally the property in which the borrower lives.

Some secured loan and remortgage lenders do however grant their products to owners of buy to lets, second homes etc.

Secured loans are available from 5,000 to 100,000, although certain lenders have a minimum value of 10,000 or even 20,000 in some instances, and it all depends on the available equity.

Equity is the sum that remains when the mortgage balance is deducted from the property value.

Remortgages can be for any sum what so ever, providing there is sufficient equity, but there are some mortgage lenders who do place a limit on the maximum mortgage that they will advance.

Many mortgage lenders will only grant remortgages up to 75% loan to value when the remortgage is being used for debt consolidation.

On most occasions however, remortgages up to 90% are now available.

The rates for remortgages vary considerably with the most important element being the equity available, with rates available from as low as 1.65% at 60% LTV.

Some remortgages are taken out with the sole purpose of getting a better mortgage deal, but on other occasions additional funds are requested to provide extra cash for almost any purpose, from buying a car, paying for wedding, debt consolidation or even for buying another property.

As a remortgage is nothing but a new mortgage arranged by a different lender, like mortgages they are registered as a first charge.

While secured loans can also be used for almost any reason, including being used as consolidation loans loans, they never replace the exsisting mortgage, but stand alone ranking as a second charge.

If a homeowner is in a tie in period with his mortgage, and settling the mortgage earlier would result is a large earlier repayment penalty, a secured loan would most likely to be the better alternative.

The best advice that can be given to any homeowner contemplating borrowing money is to go to a mortgage or a secured loan broker who can provide him with all the information and arrange everything for him.

Secured Loans And Remortgages Are Homeowner Loans For Every Purpose

Every homeowner is conversant with the word, "mortgage."

Although every homeowner knows the meaning of this home loan, many have also heard the words, secured loans and remortgages without being completely aware of the meaning of these two homeowner loans.

Most are of the opinion that a secured loan and remortgage are both something to do with owning your own property, and in this they would be correct, as exactly like mortgages, secured loans and remortgages are also only available to homeowners, as all three must be secured on the collateral of a property.

In spite of this very major similarity between the three, these home loans are used for different purposes.

Before anyone can apply for a secured loan or a remortgage, they must already have a mortgage in place, as neither of these homeowner loans can be granted on an unencumbered property.

The only purpose of a mortgage is to buy a property, but the other two loans have a multitude of purposes.

The meaning of the word remortgage is fairly self explanatory, as it is simply the replacing or reworking of one mortgage for another which means that to remortgage, the applicant must take out a new mortgage with a different lender without changing his address, as these loans simply take the place of the existing one.

The majority of homeowners no longer stay with the same old familiar lender as they used to do in the past, when many property owners did not change their existing product for it's full term, which meant that they remained with their existing provider for up to twenty five years.

This was rather unwise, and could have cost the homeowner thousands of pounds over the course of their property owning life, as there are so many mortgage deals available with so many interest rates etc. that small fortunes can be saved by moving from one lender to another.

Now a days most homeowners move from one lender to another as soon as their current deal expires.

Sometimes a person remortgages for the same amount but only wants to get a better deal, while on other occasions a larger sum is sought to raise money which can be used for any number of reasons, such as arranging debt consolidation, funding home improvements etc., etc.

Secured loans are often referred to as second mortgages, as they are a second charge that can also be used as all purpose loans that can be used for almost any reason, like holidays, weddings, and they also make very good debt consolidation loans.

These are only a few simple facts about the meaning of and the uses of mortgages, remortgages and secured loans, and for those interested in finding out more, a reputable mortgage or secured loan broker will be able fill in any gaps.

Secured Loans Against Car - Obtain Required Money Against Your Car

Do you want funds for your important financial demands? Looking for a hassle free loan scheme? Are you a car owner? Yes if you are a car owner it will be easy for you to get a sufficient financial support. Wondering how? This can be possible by simply applying for secured loans against car. These loans are secured against the logbook of your car. Here you need to pledge the logbook of your car to the lender till you pay back the loan in full. A logbook refers to a legal document issued by Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency in the UK. Logbook contains details like owner of the car, registration keeper of logbook, model number, engine number, car color and current registration mark.

Secured Loans Against Car is a perfect financial tool that can help you to fetch good amount of finance for meeting your several unavoidable needs. The needs can be like home renovation, paying off old debts, home improvement, education, wedding expenses and so on.

Depending upon the value of your car you can procure funds in between 500 to 50,000 till the repayment duration of 5 to 7 years. You can enjoy the pleasure of driving your car anywhere without any lender restriction. You must keep the car in good condition.

You are required to fulfill the following eligibility criteria for the approval of secured loans against car:-

You must be over 18 years of age You must have full-time employment and must have stable source of income Your car must not be less than 8 years old Your car should be clear from all dues and financial claims Your car must be taxed and insured The logbook of your car must be in your name

Those people with blemished credit score can also apply for logbook loans without facing any obstacle. This is because these loans are free from any credit verification process.

Secured Loan Calculator

Getting secured loans has always been easy than getting unsecured loans. Many people are seen using secured personal loan calculator to find out the exact monthly installment to be paid in repaying a secured loan. In this article, you will find a secured loan calculator which will help you compute your interest payment, total payment made to the bank or financial institution by considering the total number of months for which the amount has been borrowed. Now, among the secured loan repayment calculator, the Barclay's secured loan calculator and the CD secured loan calculator are the most standard ones. Given below is a personal secured loan calculator, later we will try and understand why one should prefer secured loans over unsecured loans.

Calculator for Secured Loans

SIMPLE AND SECURED LOAN CALCULATOR

Loan Amount:

Rate of Interest Per Year:

Tenure in Years:

CALCULATING YOUR LOAN

Your Monthly Installment will be of Actual Amount with Interest will be and Total Interest to pay will be Disclaimer: Secured loan calculator is based on certain assumptions, which may not come true in every case. It is advisable to consult your financial advisor before taking any decision. Buzzle disclaims any responsibility for any decisions taken by the user based on this calculator.

Getting a secured loan is possible by having a good credit score. The credit scores depend on your repayment history and you can view your credit score details by asking the concerned authorities to give you a detailed credit report. Proper financial planning and financial discipline can surely help to build a good credit score in the future. So, avoid taking loans beyond your capacity of repayment, and making excessive credit card usage to keep your scores intact and improve them.

Advantages of Secured Loans

First of all, getting secured loans is much easier than getting unsecured loans because of the simple reason that banks, and other private lenders, get a collateral against the loan granted to the borrowers. In case the borrower is not able to pay the monthly installments regularly, then the bank will have the right to sell off the collateral to recover it money. The are low and attractive because of this very reason. Mostly, home loans and car loans are secured loans and in this case, the car or home itself, is taken as collateral. are hard to get, yet if you approach your lenders with the right attitude and manner, you will surely be successful in getting them sanctioned. Unsecured loans, on the other hand, do not require borrowers to place any collateral and hence, banks aim at gaining maximum profits by charging high rate of interests on such loans. You will find that these loans are always expensive, as compared to secured loans, in spite of attractive schemes by lenders. Unsecured loans may be very har d to get, in times of an economic recession or credit crunch. Now, having understood the comparison, let us know the significance of the secured loan calculator in the next paragraph.

By entering appropriate data, the calculator will give you the monthly payment to be made by you and also the total interest payment which you will be making at the end of the total period. These calculations will help you to understand whether the loan will be putting unnecessary stress on your finances or it is completely affordable for you. The secured loan rates, according to the industry experts are around two to five percent lesser than the rates charged by banks for sanctioning unsecured loans.

From the content on secured loan calculator given above, you must have understood that a secured loan is a better option than unsecured loan. When we take a secured loan, we pay monthly installments more seriously, as we have to protect our collateral or asset, under any circumstances. This timely payment improves our credit score and credit worthiness, in general. So, think over it and act smartly. All the best!