Should I Get a Consolidation Loan?


If you've got a really unmanageable amount of credit card debt, you might be considering a consolidation loan. A consolidation loan is a loan that you can use to pay off all your debts, meaning that you can pay them off for less money without having to worry about lots of different bills. Like anything, though, consolidation loans have their advantages and their disadvantages, and it pays to take a careful look at what they offer before you commit yourself.

The Interest Rate.

You should always shop around to get the best interest rate you can if you opt for debt consolidation. This interest rate is almost as important as the one on your mortgage, but much harder to change after you've signed on the dotted line. Don't be fooled by any offers that give you a good rate for a limited time - you're going to have this loan for quite a while.

That said, the chances are that any interest rate you're offered on a debt consolidation loan will be significantly lower than the interest rates you're currently paying on credit cards. If you have lots of cards at a high rate and you've had no luck transferring the balances, then debt consolidation could be a very good idea.

The Length of the Loan.

The most dangerous thing about debt consolidation loans is that the ones with lower payments generally last a very long time - you could be paying it off for twenty years, or even longer. You should try to find a loan that doesn't last as long, and asks for payments that are as much as you can afford. If you look at what your payments would be and think 'oh, how cheap!', the chances are you'd be signing up to them for a long time to come.

Look Out for More Cards.

One of the most dangerous things about getting a debt consolidation loan is that, since your credit cards have all been paid off, it can be tempting to accept the next few offers you get for new ones. After all, now you're saving all this money, you can afford a few more cards, can't you? Don't fall into this trap! Consolidating your debt and then running up more is an extremely bad idea.

You Could Lose Your Home.

Of course, this is the absolute number one most dangerous thing about debt consolidation. Almost without exception, the loan will be secured on your home. That means that if you start missing payments, the finance company will kick you out, take ('repossess') your house, sell it, and pay back the debt with that money.

There's a whole industry around property developers buying repossessed houses and selling them on for a profit. The chances are that you'll come out of it with nowhere near enough money left to buy even the smallest home, and nowhere to live. Just imagine that. If you do take a debt consolidation loan, you need to read the small print as if your life depended on it (it does), and then be very, very careful. Good luck.

Ken Austin is the webmaster at Debt Consolidation Solutions and Credit Relief Solutions



RELATED LINKS

Accept Credit Card Payment Online

Accept credit card payment online and increase sales by 400% or more.... Find out how ...

 

Advanta Credit Cards

Apply for an Advanta credit card with 0% APR, rewards and cash back.

 

American Express Credit Card Application

Apply online for a new AMEX rewards credit card. See special offers.

 

Best Airline Miles Credit Card

Earn Frequent Airline Miles for Every Dollar Spent with No Annual Fee.

 

Best Cash Back Credit Card

Earn Up to 5% Cash Back on Every Day Purchases. Apply for Yours Today.

 

Best Reward Credit Card

Compare & Apply for the Best Reward Credit Cards with Up to 5% Cash Back Rewards and more.

 

Business Credit Card Online Application

Compare Business Credit Cards from All Major Banks. Apply Online Now

 

Chase Credit Card Application

Find Credit Card Applications from Chase & Apply Online in Seconds.

 

Citi Credit Card Application

Citibank offers credit cards that have 0% APR balance transfer options, Rewards, Cash Back, and much more

 

Credit Card Application For Bad Credit

Great card for bad credit just got better. 8.9% APR, instant decision.

 

Credit Card Balance Transfer Deal

Great Rates: Balance Transfers and Purchases. Capital One Credit Card

 

Debit Cards

Control Your Spending with a debit card. Guaranteed Approval.

 

Discover Credit Card Offer

Discover Credit Card Offers with 0% for 12 months, no fees & cash back.

 

Gas Credit Card Application

Save money at the gas pump with a new gas credit card. Apply now.

Fast Easy Payday Loan

Get the fast cash you need with an easy payday loan. Compare and apply

 

Hotel Rewards Credit Card

Earn Free Stays with a Hotel Rewards Credit Card. Apply Online Now.

 

HSBC Credit Card Application

Get 0% Intro APR, No Annual Fee, Great Service, Benefits. Apply Now.

 

Low Interest Credit Card List

Compare & Apply for Credit Cards w/ 0% Intro APR for Up to 15 Months

 

Master Card Application

Apply for MasterCard Credit Cards with 0% APR, Cash Back & No Fees.

 

No Annual Fee Credit Card

0% APR with No Annual Fee. Compare No Fee Credit Cards & Apply Online.

 

Online Car Loan Application

Loans and Refinancing for New and Used Cars. Online Approval.

 

Online Debt Consolidation Services

Consolidate your debts today - ease the strain of monthly bills.

 

Online Foreign Currency Trading

FOREX is a serious game. Play it with the pros. Start with just $50. The best trading platform available today. Start Trading and see why.

 

Online Mortgage Application

Apply online for a mortgage for your home. It's fast and easy. Great Rates!

 

Online Visa Credit Card Application

Compare & Apply for Visa Credit Cards with 0% APR and No Annual Fee.

 

Prepaid Credit Card

Get a Prepaid Credit Card with Free Direct Deposit. No Credit Check.

 

Shopping Reward Credit Card

Shopping Reward Credit Card. Fast Online Credit Card Application ... You have found the best shopping reward credit card site on the Internet!

 

Student Credit Card Application

Pay 0 Interest for 6 Months & Earn Rewards with a Student Credit Card.

 

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Apply Now and Start Earning Miles.


MORE RESOURCES:

Regulating Wall Street A window to a new world
Economist, UK - Jul 3, 2008
Even Goldman Sachs, Wall Street’s sole surviving muscleman, sees the loan facility as systemically crucial. Though the amount borrowed has fallen to a daily ...
Wall Street firms reduce, banks step up Fed loans The Associated Press
Wall Street firms reduce, banks step up Fed loans | KXNet.com ... Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck
Wall Street takes less from Fed Houston Chronicle
Middle East North Africa Financial Network - The Associated Press
all 193 news articles


SBA Disaster Loan Deadline is July 28; Small Business Owners Still ...
FOXBusiness - Jul 3, 2008
Under this declaration, SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to farm-related and nonfarm-related small business concerns and ...
Deadline to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans is July 25 Stamford Plus Magazine
Loan deadline looms for victims of October flood WTNH
SBA's Deadline to Apply for Physical Damage Disaster Loans Is August 5 Earthtimes (press release)
New York Times - Trading Markets (press release)
all 51 news articles


Provision for bad loans to sink M&I to loss
Bizjournals.com, NC - Jul 3, 2008
Marshall & Ilsley Corp. said Thursday that it plans to increase its allowance to cover bad loans and leases by up to $900 million because of continuing ...
M&I expects loss in 2nd quarter Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Provisions to Hit Marshall & Ilsley Wall Street Journal
UPDATE 1-Marshall & Ilsley sees loss, more bad loan charges Reuters
CNNMoney.com - Business Wire (press release)
all 47 news articles


Calcutta Telegraph

Banks encourage prepayment on home loans, waive penalty
Business Standard, India - Jul 3, 2008
With rising interest rates and inflation taking a toll on home loan customers, banks are beginning to encourage them to partly prepay their loans. ...
SBI home loan rates move up Calcutta Telegraph
SBI hikes home loan interest rates by 50 bpts Thaindian.com
South Asian Syndicated Loans - news in brief, July 4, 2008 Euroweek.com
Economic Times - Expressindia.com
all 111 news articles


Loans industry welcomes takeover plan
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 17 hours ago
By Stephen Johnson The Federal Government's plan to take over all state-based consumer credit laws will weed out dubious home loan brokers, ...
COAG credit deal 'a coup for consumers' Sydney Morning Herald
Deal on consumer credit The Age
Consumer credit goes Federal Money Management
Broker News Australia - InvestorDaily
all 34 news articles


BusinessWeek

To Pick-A-Pay loans: Goodbye, good riddance
Charlotte Observer, NC - Jul 3, 2008
Wachovia's Pick-A-Payment loans allowed payments that didn't cover all the interest, permitting balances to grow rather than shrink. ...
Wachovia eliminates pick-a-payment loans Bizjournals.com
Pick-A-Pay's Had Its Day Forbes
Wachovia Ends Option Arms a Year Too Late Seeking Alpha
Wall Street Journal - CBS 5
all 348 news articles


GSIS loans for typhoon-hit members
Inquirer.net, Philippines - 7 hours ago
By Michelle Remo MANILA, Philippines -- The Government Service Insurance System said it would provide loans to members who were seriously affected by ...


Best Syndication

Bad Credit Loans: Hassle Fee Finance Despite Having Bad Credit
Best Syndication, CA - 4 hours ago
The reason being lenders are now offering Bad credit loans, through which you can access the monetary assistance to fulfill any need of yours. ...
Debt Consolidation Loans: Manage your Multiple Debts Best Syndication
Simple And Steady Loan Option Best Syndication
Loans For People With Bad Credit: Improves The Credibility Best Syndication
Best Syndication - Best Syndication
all 11 news articles


RTE.ie

Mortgage loans o get tighter as credit crunch really hits home
Mirror.co.uk, UK - 14 hours ago
Credit card limits are also likely to be cut and there will be less cash available for overdrafts and car loans. The report comes just days after the Bank ...
Bank of England says lenders expect further reduction in secured ... International Herald Tribune
Consumers use loans and credit cards to bridge the mortgage gap Fair Investment Company
Mortgage drought to worsen on lenders' concern Times Online
BBC News - Bloomberg
all 174 news articles


Jamaica Gleaner

Digicel awaits IFC decision on two new loans
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - 18 hours ago
Denis O'Brien's Digicel Group has gone back to the International Finance Corporation with a request for at least two new loans of up to US$145 million ...

Loans - Google News

home page | article index | site map
Credit  |  Currency Trading  |  Debt Consolidation  |  Debt Relief  |  Insurance  |  Investment  |  Leasing  |  Loans  |  Mortgage and Refinance  |  Personal Finance  |  Real Estate  |  Stocks and Mutual Funds  |  Taxes

 

© Copyright 2006 - SmarteCredit.Com. All rights reserved