Getting your current auto loan refinanced can yield a great deal of savings and benefits. With the proliferation of web-based lenders, it is relatively easy to find ultra-competitive auto refinance loans. All that is needed, is for you to fill out some online applications, which will only take a few minutes each, and you will have creditors lining up with great offers in order to get your business. Just look below at some of the possible rewards you’ll gain by refinancing your auto loan.
A Lower Rate of Interest
For many reasons, it is very common for people to get stuck paying a ridiculously high interest rate on their auto loans. Some lending companies can charge 20% or more! This can be the result of financing at a time when general federal interest rates were high, bad credit, or even being suckered into a bad deal. Go over your loan documents or call your auto loan company to find out what rate of interest you are currently paying. If you are paying interest in the double digits, you may want to look into some auto refinance loans with different companies. If you can get pre-approved with them, why pay more on your auto loan than you have to?
Lower Monthly Car Bills
Taking from our example above, the real benefit to paying lower interest is lower monthly payments. For instance, if you are paying 20% on a $10,000.00, 4 year car loan, the monthly payments would be approximately $304.00. If you refinance at an interest rate of 10% (very achievable for most people) on the same loan, the monthly payments would be approximately $254.00. That’s around $600.00 in savings per year…..
By: Blaine B Smith
Posts Tagged ‘Loan Documents’
Auto Refinance Loans – Why Everyone Should Consider Getting an Auto Refinance Loan
February 7th, 2010Refinance Scams – Shady Loan Officer Tactics – Part 1
November 25th, 2009
Refinancing scams are big news lately, and for good reason. If you are considering refinancing your home, I urge you to read this article in its entirety. It might save you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run.
I used to work for a major, US direct lender who specialized in home-loan refinancing. This corporation taught its loan representatives how to manipulate customers into agreeing to loans that were not in the borrower’s best interest. Although we were taught many methods of psychologically coercing customers into signing loan documents, this article will only discuss one of those methods.
Before I discuss this tactic, you should realize that when a lender evaluates your loan application, they are primarily looking at three things:
1) FICO Score
2) Mortgage-related late payments
3) Bankruptcies
Credit-card payment history, car-payment history, student loans, collections, charge-offs, and pretty much any type of credit problem that is not directly related to a mortgage is irrelevant to getting your loan approved. Why are these credit issues irrelevant? Because that is what the FICO score represents. Your FICO score is a numerical value that takes into consideration all of these factors and lumps them into a number that will range from 500 to 800+.
Mortgage-related late payments will typically increase your interest rate. Bankruptcies will also increase your interest rate or (depending upon the lender) make you “un-lendable”.
Here is the tactic that you should be aware of:
Your loan officer may want to talk with you about your credit history. He or she will ask you specific questions regarding credit-card late payments or otherwise non-mortgage related issues on your credit report. Your loan officer will ask that you explain yourself and provide a valid reason why you were late on those payments.
How is this manipulative?
For starters, those credit issues are irrelevant to your loan approval. Your loan officer should not be discussing them. By asking about your credit history and requesting an explanation, your loan officer is accomplishing three things:
1) Making you feel insecure about your credit history so that you will be less likely to request a quote from another lender
2) Forcing you to “open up” about your personal life, which will help develop a stronger relationship between the two of you
3) Make you feel more appreciative of the loan that your loan officer offers you
The more battered your credit history, the more ammunition a ruthless loan officer will have to use against you and try to manipulate you into accepting a loan that is not in your best interest.
Remember, the majority of loan officers know exactly what type of loan you are approved for the moment they pull your credit. There is absolutely no need for them to delve into your past.
If you experience this type of tactic from your loan officer, I strongly suggest you find a more reputable company to work with.
By: Christian Rios
Refinance Home Loan – House Refinancing Do’s and Don’ts Tips
November 12th, 2009
Once you’ve made the decision to refinance home loan on your property, there are still some things that you should be aware of before signing on the dotted line. These simple steps can help save hundreds or even thousands on the final house refinancing loan that you obtain. Most of these tips are common sense ideas that apply to many financial transactions, but extra caution is appropriate when you are dealing with what too many borrowers may be one of the largest financial deals of the lifetime. The refinance in some instances is larger than the original mortgage loan on the home.
Do: Read the fine print
When you want to refinance home loan, just as with any loan, you should make certain that you read and understand the impact of the fine print in the loan documents. If you didn’t realize that you have agreed that the lender can adjust the mortgage upward after two years to match the price index, you could lose your home. If you are agreeing to a balloon payment and refinance yet again in 3 years, make certain that you know about it up front, not after the papers are signed or worse yet, when the balloon payment is due.
Do: Shop for the best rates
When you are looking to house refinancing loan, don’t assume that every lender will have the same rates and costs associated with those rates. It is important to look at the entire package. One lender may have lower rates, but require a balloon payment in six months or two years. Another lender may charge points or added closing costs to obtain the loan. You may not qualify for some programs when you apply at a lender. It is important though, that you don’t apply at numerous lenders at the same time, as this can work against you with bad marks on your credit score.
Don’t: Borrow more than you can afford
Especially in times of uncertain economy, getting a loan with variable or adjustable rates because you want a larger house or a better location is not a smart move. The same thing is true when you refinance home loan. Don’t borrow extra money, just because you can, thinking you will put it back for an emergency. Borrow only what you need with a goal of paying off debt rather than incurring new debt especially if you have nothing to show for the loan later.
Don’t: ignore the fees and closing costs
To refinance home loan can be a daunting process. It is important that you understand your obligations and benefits at each step of the process. Many borrowers are surprised when they find out how much obtaining the housing refinancing loan is costing them and that is before considering the cost of interest on the loan. Fees such as title insurance, document preparation, points, loan origination fees and other costs will inflate the cost of the loan significantly. Don’t spend the proceeds of cash out on your home loan until you have determined without a doubt what the proceeds will be.
By: Julian Lim