Articles Index
Recourse Loans and Non-recourse Loans
Recourse loans are loans that allow the lender to come after you in case you default. You can contrast recourse loans with non-recourse loans, which create more risk for lenders. Let's take a look at recourse loans, how they work, and how to identify them.
How to View Your Annual Free Credit Report
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that U.S. consumers be entitled to a free credit report each year. Don't be tricked into signing up for a subscription service. You can access your annual free credit report online or call to have it sent to you.
Insurance Scores FAQ
Your credit history is important to your financial life in many ways. Insurance scores, based on credit related information, can save you money or cost you a bundle. Find out the details on what insurance scores are, how they work, and what you can do about them.
4 Keys to Successful Debt Help
Seeking debt help is difficult. There are a lot of pressures and promises that can lead you to make a bad decision. Before you go into a debt help program, make sure you know as much as possible about what you’re getting into.
Lending Club
Lending Club is a peer to peer lending service. Instead of borrowing money from a bank, you borrow from individuals that you connect with at the Lending Club Website. This page explains how Lending Club works.
Debt Elimination Basics
Debt elimination is the process of knocking out loans so you stop paying interest. Sometimes borrowing is necessary. However, once you’re financially secure (or if you’re in over your head) you need to start on a debt elimination program. Find out how to go about debt elimination, and what you need to know before starting.
Debt Elimination Program Pitfalls
Debt elimination programs promise to wipe away your debts. Some of them are legitimate, but the debt elimination industry is notorious for scams. Before you sign up with anybody, learn the common pitfalls of debt elimination programs.
What is a Credit Line?
A credit line is an available amount of money that you can borrow. What is a credit line used for? Just about anything. You can get a credit line for personal or business spending. Find out what a credit line is and how they’re used.
Bank Loan Calculators
It’s a good idea to use a bank loan calculator to figure your loan payments. Before you commit to anything, you should know what you’re getting into. Here are several bank loan calculators that help you understand what your payments will be like and how much interest you’ll pay on the loan.
Debt Consolidation Programs
Debt consolidation programs are usually just a big loan that pays off other smaller loans. They can be very beneficial to borrowers, but these programs also have their pitfalls. Read up on how you should use debt consolidation programs and how to find the best deal.
How Universal Default Works
Universal default is a feeding frenzy that your lenders participate in. If you’ve got a universal default clause on one of your credit cards, you may have to pay the default rate even if you always pay on that card as agreed. Make sure you understand how universal default works so you’re not surprised during hard times.
Emergency Cash Loans
Emergency cash can come from a variety of places. Ideally, you’ve got an emergency fund built up. If not, you may need an emergency cash loan. This page covers emergency cash loans, and the best places to find them.
Loan for Title
Getting a loan for title is the process of pledging an asset in exchange for a loan. You should use the loan for title program only if you have no other options. Let’s review what happens when you use a loan for title arrangement.
Auto Title Loans
Auto title loans are short term loans that allow you to pledge title to an asset in exchange for cash. The most common auto title loan is a car title loan. Before you use a auto title loan, make sure you know the pitfalls.
Cash Title Loans
Cash title loans are short term loans that allow you to pledge title to an asset in exchange for cash. The most common cash title loan is a car title loan. Before you use a cash title loan, make sure you know the pitfalls.
No Closing Cost Loans
You may see loans advertised as 'no closing cost loans'. While it may be a good deal, you should understand what it means to use a no closing cost loan. It does not mean you’re getting something for free. Let’s drill down into no closing cost loans and whether or not you should use them.
Car Title Loans
Car title loans are short term loans against your automobile. When you get a car title loan, you pledge your auto as collateral in order to get cash. For people with no other options, car title loans can be a reasonable choice. However, car title loans are also very expensive and very risky.
Alternatives to Title Loans
Title loans are risky loans where you pledge something you own as collateral for a loan. We’ve previously covered the risks of title loans, so let’s see how you can avoid using them. There are several alternatives you should investigate before using a title loan.
Do Loans Affect Credit?
Loans - and how you manage them - are the most important factor in your credit. Using loans and paying them off is the best way to get good credit scores.
Do Purchases Affect Credit?
Credit reporting companies do not know where you use your credit and debit cards. They only get summary information about how much you’ve borrowed and how you’ve repaid. However, they can see some information that will hurt you.
FICO Credit Score - How the FICO Credit Score is Composed
One of the most commonly used scoring tools is the FICO credit score. It’s important to understand how the FICO credit score is determined. There are just a few pieces to the puzzle, and focusing on these pieces can help you improve your FICO credit score.
Government Loans
Government loans come in a variety of flavors. You can get a government loan to go to school, buy a home, run a business, and more. This list shows the most common government loan programs.
Perkins Loans
Perkins Loans are available through schools for students in need. The US Government loans money to the school, which passes it on to select borrowers. This page covers the basics of Perkins Loans.
PLUS Loans
PLUS Loans are available through US Department of Education funding programs. This page covers the basics of PLUS Loans. PLUS loans are unique because you can get really large loans depending on your costs of attendance.
Stafford Loans
Stafford Loans are available through US Department of Education funding programs. This page covers the basics of Stafford Student Loans. A unique characteristic of Stafford Loans is that they're easy to qualify for in most cases.