What are secured cheap homeowner loans? A secured loan is a type of loan that requires the borrower to furnish a security to the lender. In case of a secured homeowner loan the security is the borrower's property. Secured homeowner loans are available in varying amounts can be used for different purposes. The loan amount usually is £3,000 - £50,000 but some lenders may lend up to £100,000.
Repayments are made monthly and over a period that is agreed at the outset which can range from 3 years to 25 years. A penalty could be charged for pre-paying the loan so the borrower should check the lender's policy regarding the same.
Term to know: Home equity
Home equity is a key thing that separates Secured homeowner loans from standard personal loans. It is based on the equity that a homeowner has in their house or real estate.
Equity is the portion of borrower's home that he/she actually owns. If the borrower pays off more mortgage then the home equity increases. So, the more equity the borrower has, the more money he/she has invested in the house and hence the more of it can be converted into a secured homeowner loan.
Home equity becomes the collateral for the loan and hence larger amounts of equity usually translate into larger maximum loan amount available to the borrower.
About interest rate
The interest rate charged by the lenders is referred to as the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). The APR quoted by the lender acts as a guide to find the exact rate offered on an individual basis.
Borrowers in their own interest should compare the APRs of different loans, as this is a good way to determine how competitive they are. The amount a borrower can borrow depends on the term available and the APR depends upon the equity that the borrower has in the property, the lender's view of borrower's ability to repay the loan and other personal circumstances like adverse credit history. A borrower may be able to borrow up to 125% of the property value if the lender finds the other conditions satisfying.
More advantages:
Since it is a secured loan it is much easier to obtain than unsecured loans. The reason is that the lender has the added benefit of security, which provides protection in the event of a customer's inability to repay. It is very helpful for the self-employed, people with an adverse credit history etc. to take a loan. They are very useful when the borrower wants to take a loan of a large amount. Through these kind of loans the applicants can take the loan for a longer period.
How is a borrower protected?
A secured home owner loan is subject to The Consumer Credit Act 1974. The Act contains regulations about how money should be lent and covers loans up to £25,000. Loans for sums more than £25,000 are not regulated. Lenders offer insurance policies and payment protection schemes to cover the borrower's monthly repayments in the event of an accident, sickness, unemployment and death. Both the cover as well as the cost varies from one lender to another so the borrower should check the loan terms and conditions.
Since the home of the borrower is at stake it would be wise on the part of the borrower to be proactive and know as much as possible about the loan product.
How can the loan be used?
There is no limit on what use the loan is put to by the borrower. It can be used like most personal loans: buying a new car, paying for education expenses, making home improvements or repairs, debt consolidation etc.
Shopping for a loan
The main things that a borrower needs to know in order to find the best deal is to know how the loans work and the process of researching loans and loan rates. In order to simplify the search for UK secured homeowner loans, it's best to get several loan quotes from a variety of sources and then take a decision. |