By: Loans Canada
Many Canadians find themselves in a financial predicament from time to time, and you might be one of them. Luckily, there area variety of different loan products available to help when an unexpected expense pops up or a large purchase is required.
At the same time, there are plenty of lenders available that offer such loans, but how do you choose the right one to work with? After all, it’s a big commitment to make, so you want to be sure that the lender you team up with is able to give you exactly what you need.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to choose the right lender and offer tips on how to make the right choice for you.
How to Research a Lender Before Applying
Once you’re in the market for a loan, whether you’re looking for a car loan, a simple personal loan, or a mortgage to purchase your first home, one thing remains the same: the more research you do the better the result.
There are plenty of lenders to choose from, but not all of them may necessarily be best suited for your particular situation.Different lenders work with different types of borrowers. They also offer different types of loan products, which is why a little due diligence on your part isalways a good ideabefore you settle for one specific lender.
Here are some tips to help you narrow down your search for the right lender.
Decide on your wants and needs: When it comes to choosing the right lender to work with, you first need to decide what feature you want from your loan. Not all lenders offer all types of loans or features, so deciding what you want and also what you can live without will help you narrow down the lenders you’re looking at.
Try a loan comparison site: A loan comparison site is a great way to see what options are available to you. You can filter based on your unique needs and directly compare two or more lenders.
Check out the lender’s website: Most reputable lenders will have a live website that details all the loan options they offer and the features of each. This is a great place to gather all the information you need to make your final decision.
Look for online reviews: These days, you can find reviews online on just about everything, including lenders. Whether they’re Google reviews or those found on review websites, it should be easy to find out what a lender is like based on what previous clients have to say.
Check out their BBB page: The Better Business Bureau offers a website filled with information about businesses – including lenders – and offers unbiased ratings and consumer reviews to help you narrow down your search for a trusted lender to work with.
How to Compare Loan Offers for the Best Results
Comparing loan products and lenders may seem like a daunting taskbut it doesn’t have to be. Comparing the pros and cons of several lenders can bestreamlined by staying as organized as possible and keeping the following features in mind:
- Interest rates
- Fees
- Loan terms
- Payment options
- Credit score required
- Whether or not the lender reports payments to the credit bureaus
- Customer service
- Whether or not security is required (such as collateral or a cosigner)
- Total cost of the loan after it’s fully repaid
The Benefits of Researching Before You Apply for a Loan
When you shop around for a car, you likely won’t just settle for the first one you see. Considering the magnitude of this cost, you want to take the time to do your homework and make sure the vehicle you’re spending your hard-earned money on is worth the cost.
In much the same way, you want to make sure that you choose the right lender who can offer you the right loan. You’ll be making a commitment to the loan and the lender for a certain period of time, so you want to make sure that you’re comfortable signing a contract with the lender you ultimately choose. That’s why doing your homework before making this choice is so important.
Find a lender who meets your needs: Settling for a lender, whether it’s the bank that holds all your accounts or the first alternative lender whose ad you see, is never a good idea. When you take your time and find a lender that can offer you exactly what you need, your chances of success increase.
Find the best interest rate: Your interest rate is one of the biggest contributors to the overall cost of your loan. Comparing lenders can help you find the one that is best suited for your finances, whether that is the lowest rate available or one that is associated with a loan that has more options.
No unpleasant surprises: Researching a lender before you apply with them will help you make sure you’re not met with any unexpected surprises like extra fees.
Peace of mind: Knowing that your choice was based on your needs and not pressure from a lender will give you peace of mind.
Educating yourself for future reference: Going through the research and comparison process now will only make you more prepared for future financial decisions.
Avoid loan scams: While falling victim to a loan scam is something no one ever sees happening to them, it can. Research will give you the information and tool necessary to spot a loan scam before it’s too late.
Be Wary of Applying for Too Many Loans Within a Short Period of Time
If you’re in dire need of financial assistance in the form of a loan, you may be eager to start applying for different loans with different lenders in hopes of getting approved sooner rather than later. But applying for too many loans in a short time frame can actually do you more harm than good.
One of the key factors that lenders look at before they determine whether or not to approve a loan application is the borrower’s credit score. This score is very telling when it comes to the type of borrower an applicant would make. A higher credit score is looked at much more favourably than a lower score.
A history of timely payments, low debt loads, and prudent credit card spending will generally translate into a higher score. But a history of missed payments, huge piles of debt, and excessive credit card spending can do the opposite. With a lower credit score, your chances of getting approved for a loan with a lower interest rate will dwindle.
While there are a few things that factor into a credit score’s calculation, hard inquiries are one of them. A hard inquiry occurs when a lender checks a loan applicant’s credit score before determining whether or not to approve or deny a loan application. Hard inquiries can cause a temporary dip in your credit score, and if you apply for several loans within a short time period, your credit score can be pulled down even further.
If you’re serious about taking out a loan, resist the temptation of applying for too many loans at once, as this can have a negative effect on your credit score and show potential lenders that you may be struggling financially or have been rejected by other lenders over the recent past.
Research for Success
Many consumers find themselves needing a little financial help every so often, which is why loan products exist and why lenders do what they do. But not all lenders are necessarily suited for each borrower.Researching and comparing lenders before you apply will help make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
