|
Check the Situation That Best Applies to You... And Then Click the Button Below to Get Your Free Debt Analysis I need help with credit card debt I need help with unsecured loans, personal loans, lines of credit I need help with medical bills I need help with collections or repossessions I need help with business debt (Click the button above to get your free debt analysis) |
A debt consolidation loan is a type of a personal loan that allows consolidating multiple credit card debts or other debts into one. The new loan may be subject to a lower interest rate, thus reducing the interest payments. Moreover, the borrower makes only one monthly payment which makes household budgeting an easy task.
There are many advantages to unsecured debt consolidation loans, but obtaining such a loan is easy only if you meet the requirements of the crediting institution. The monthly income should be over a specified amount, proving to the creditor that the loan will be paid off. To that purpose, the applicant for a debt consolidation loan should be working, prove another source of income, or both. The bank or credit union assesses the borrower’s ability to service the new loan based on his financial situation. The borrower should bring last year’s tax returns, together with the most recent pay stubs when applying for a debt consolidation loan. The applicant’s financial situation may require that a cosigner guarantees the loan. He/ she will be responsible for the repayment of the loan if the original borrower is unable to service it. In other cases, collateral may be required such as a house, car, or another valuable.
In Canada, debt consolidation loans for non homeowners are offered for different types of loans – personal loans, credit card debt, and others. Typically, only unsecured loans are consolidated as opposed to mortgage loans, which are secured ones. The debt consolidation loan may be offered with a fixed or variable interest rate. The interest rate will be lower, but the loan is to be repaid over a longer period of time. The borrower may end up paying more in the long run. Moreover, if he/ she continues using multiple credit cards, the risk of incurring more debt is high. In this case, the crediting institution will not be as sympathetic to late and missed payments.
Debt consolidation loans are typically offered to trustworthy borrowers, meaning that the latter have serviced their debts in a timely manner. Homeowners are considered more stable compared to borrowers who rent. Even if the borrower is unable to pay off the loan, the creditor can foreclose on the property. The crediting institution has the right to sell the house and then pay off the loan from the proceeds. Without collateral, borrowers can consolidate some of their loans, but the consolidated amount will be minimal. Those who have $40,000 of equity in their home will not have a problem to consolidate $25,000 of debt.
Some creditors also prefer applicants who have a specified debt to income ratio. The borrower’s monthly disposable income should be between ten and fifteen percent of his gross income.
