Installment loans explained
If you need a quick and easy way to get cash, an installment loan may be just the thing for you. With loans as small as $1000, $1500, or even $2000, and ranging in many cases as high as $10,000, installment loans are the way to go. Many lenders accept a broad range of credit scores, so you very likely have a chance to qualify, even if you have poor credit.
Relatively new to the public eye, installment loans have been around for a long time. If you’ve taken out a long term loan like a mortgage, car loan, or student loan, then you understand the basics of installment loans. You have a specific loan term (length of time you’ll be making payments) and a set amount you pay each month. In most cases, your interest is fixed, and so a portion of each monthly payment goes towards both principal and interest. As far as other fast money loans, installment loans are much more easily managed and can be as short or long as you need.
Why not a Payday Loan instead?
For years people in need of a quick turnaround for cash have gone to payday lenders. The problem with payday loans, however, is the large lump sum you’re expected to fork over on your next paycheck. Many people can’t afford it, and will get caught in cycle after cycle of indebtedness — or as the old saying goes, ‘Robbing Peter to pay Paul.’ You’re really stuck between a rock and a hard place when you have to take out a loan to pay a loan.
To make matters worse, many payday lenders secure the loans by either gaining access to the borrower’s bank account, or the title to their car. If you can’t make your payment, you risk losing savings or even your own vehicle. These types of lenders aren’t concerned with the borrower’s ability to repay the loan, but rather their ability to collect the debt. That’s a big difference. Why wait for someone to give you something when you can simply take it from them?
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. Installment loans are often unsecured, meaning you don’t need to provide any collateral. Many lenders also allow you to apply with no credit check. Instead of performing a hard pull on your credit report, which is then listed for two years and dings your score, they may just do a soft pull. Even better, some installment lenders only require proof of income as part of the application process.
Another perk with installment loans? You can oftentimes get same day deposit. You may need to meet a few requirements and can increase your chances by pulling together your supporting documentation before you apply. That expedites the entire process so you can get your cash as soon as possible.
Payback your loans without the stress of payday loans.
Payday loans have balloon payments at the end that many borrowers are unable to pay. Rather than paying little by little, you have to set your own pace at saving a large amount of money over a short period of time. Installment loans don’t do this, and are much easier to handle during the repayment process. Although monthly payments are based off of the loan amount, APR, and selected loan term, they are almost always more manageable than a payday loan.
It should be no surprise, then, that a majority of borrowers who have taken out both kinds of loan vastly prefer installment loans over payday loans. The stress of payday loans simply isn’t there with installment loans. Plus, you can look at different repayment options during the application process to make sure you choose terms that fit your monthly budget. You can usually get pre-approved with no hard check on your credit report.
Use installment loans to build a better credit score.
Though payday loans can help build your credit score in some instances (and incrementally at best), they don’t have nearly as much impact as installment loans. Plus, many payday lenders don’t report on-time payments to the credit bureaus anyway!
Even if they do, just think about it: if you have to repay an entire loan in two weeks or less, you’re not going to have the same kind of payment history as you would get with an installment loan. Installment loan payments are much easier to handle, and you have plenty of time to pay them off over regular increments. Make those payments on time, and you’ll have a slew of positive marks in your credit history that can build upon themselves.
You’ll also get points for adding to your credit diversity. Credit scores and credit reports are nothing but ways to illustrate to lenders that you are a responsible borrower. They show that you have both the ability and the will to pay back your debts. Boosting your credit doesn’t happen overnight, but it can happen over a few months. Pay back your installment loan on time without any delinquent payments, and your score will begin to improve. There are few other ways that can have such positive results in a relatively short time period.
Don’t jump on the bandwagon just yet.
There a lot of direct lenders out there these days offering installment loans with quick turnaround times and low monthly payments, but they don’t all deserve your business. Many former payday lenders have simply shifted their business models to accommodate public demand, so just because they’re offering installment loans doesn’t mean it’s in your best interest to go with them.
Many installment loan companies significantly lengthen their loan terms, but they’re not doing so to lower payments. All that interest collected over months and months can really start to add up. In fact, this can cause the cost of normal loans to increase by as much as four times!
Another thing many companies are doing is offering borrowers the chance to refinance. Rarely is this ever in the borrower’s best interest with a small loan. Why are they doing it? They’re charging fees to borrowers to refinance, most of which are rather large and increasing the borrower’s debt even more. So begins another cycle of indebtedness. Do your due diligence when it comes to finding the right installment lender. While there are some predatory lenders, there are also very reputable lenders offering fair loan terms to borrowers like you.
We can help.
Wondering where to find the best installment loans? We’ve gone through the installment lenders in each state, and have read through and compared all of their rates and fees. This means if we’ve listed them on our site, we consider them safe for business.
Taking out a short term loan doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. With a bit of research and a good partner standing behind you, you can meet any financial emergency with an installment loan that truly works for you.
