Loans
Plain-English guides to personal and debt consolidation loans.
LoansDebt Consolidation Loans, Explained: How They Work
One loan, one payment, one fixed end date. Here's what a consolidation loan actually does — and what to watch for before you apply.
By Marcus Ellery · 8 min read
Loans5 Signs You're Ready to Consolidate Your Debt
Consolidation isn't for everyone. These are the signals that it might be a smart move for you — and a few that suggest waiting.
By Dana Whitfield · 5 min read
LoansHow Personal Loan Rates Are Set (and What Moves Yours)
Lenders don't pick a rate; they price your risk. Here's the handful of inputs that decide whether you see 8% or 28%, and which ones you can change before you apply.
By Dana Whitfield · 6 min read
LoansPersonal Loan vs. Credit Card: Where $10,000 Costs Less
Same $10,000, two ways to carry it. The difference isn't only the rate. It's that one of them ends.
By Marcus Ellery · 7 min read
LoansOrigination Fees: Why a 7.99% Loan Can Cost More Than a 9.49% Loan
The interest rate is the headline. The APR is the price. Origination fees are the gap between them, and they're deducted before you ever see the money.
By Dana Whitfield · 5 min read
LoansSecured vs. Unsecured Personal Loans: When Collateral Makes Sense
Pledging a car, savings account, or CD can cut your rate by several points. It can also cost you the asset. Here's the trade in plain terms.
By Marcus Ellery · 6 min read
LoansWhat Lenders Look at Beyond Your Credit Score
A 720 doesn't guarantee approval and a 640 doesn't guarantee a decline. Four other things on your file decide the outcome, and most borrowers never look at them.
By Dana Whitfield · 6 min read
LoansPrequalified vs. Preapproved: Why the Soft-Pull Rate Can Change
The rate you see after a two-minute form is an estimate built on a soft credit pull and your own reported income. Here's what happens between that screen and the final offer.
By Marcus Ellery · 5 min read