Loans: how they work and what they really cost

Check your borrowing options

Explore 60 borrowing guides on credit scores, eligibility, funding, rejection, lender verification and alternatives. Use worked payment examples and the calculator finder to understand cost assumptions.

Understand the records before you compare

Explore 50 loan research and planning guides on historical data, complaint categories, provider verification and using the free resources. For actual paperwork, explore 50 loan document guides covering disclosures, aid offers and payment records.

Find loan and housing resources

• Mortgage reporting institutionsLook up 4,782 published HMDA reporter names, LEIs and institution-address locations.
• PPP business loan historyResearch 11.47 million historical disbursed PPP loans, with lender, year and reported forgiveness fields.
• Consumer finance complaintsSearch 18.97 million public financial complaints by company, product and response. Complaints are not findings.
• Flood insurance historySearch official FEMA data covering 7.28 million policy transactions effective in 2024–2025.
• Disaster assistance historySearch official FEMA coverage of 6.83 million valid registrations for disasters declared in 2016–2020.
• Mortgage application historyExplore 13.5 million public 2025 HMDA loan and application records by county, lender and reported outcome.
• CDFI community lendersSearch Treasury-listed community finance organizations by headquarters state and institution type.
• Debt collection complaintsResearch public complaint records and reported company responses, with source context.
• SBA loan historyResearch over one million historical SBA approval records by lender, city, industry and year.
• Banks & branchesSearch institution and bank-branch records, with current and historical records labeled.
• Assistance programsFind homebuyer and repair programs by location and published intake status.
• Housing counselorsFind HUD-listed agencies and check local appointment options.
• SBA microlendersFind microloan intermediaries by SBA-listed service state.

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Student loans and business borrowing: compare the details

Compare the costs hidden behind a monthly payment

Browse personal, home, student, auto, business and specialist borrowing. Filter by question or provider, compare worked examples and check the source disclosures.

Start with the number that matters

• Appraisal Gap Cash CalculatorEstimate how a lower appraisal changes the loan and buyer cash at a fixed modeled loan-to-value ratio.
• Mortgage Price Cut vs. Closing Credit CalculatorCompare a purchase price cut with a confirmed usable closing credit at a fixed down-payment percentage.
• Buyer Property Tax Proration CalculatorSplit an entered property tax bill by the buyer and seller days in the billing period.
• Earnest Money Two-Deposit Timing CalculatorTrack two deposits before closing and the balance of the closing contribution still due.
• Home Insurance Premium and Deductible Trade-Off CalculatorCompare two insurance quotes with no claim and with a single modeled covered claim.
• Post-Closing Housing Reserve Months CalculatorSee how many months of housing costs your remaining cash covers after closing and immediate expenses.
• Joint Mortgage Contribution Split CalculatorDivide a monthly housing bill between two contributors using an agreed percentage.
• Home Sale Minimum Price for Payoff CalculatorEstimate the sale price needed to cover mortgage payoffs, selling expenses and a target net amount.
• Closing Disclosure Cash Change CalculatorCompare the earlier cash-to-close estimate with the latest amount and your available funds.
• FHA Mortgage Payment CalculatorEstimate an FHA mortgage payment with upfront and quoted monthly mortgage insurance, tax, insurance and dues.
• VA Funding Fee and Payment CalculatorCompare paying a quoted VA funding fee upfront with financing it into the same mortgage.
• Mortgage Loan Estimate Comparison CalculatorCompare two fixed-rate Loan Estimates by cash to close, monthly housing budget, borrowing cost and remaining balance.
• Los Angeles Retrofit Assessment Loan CalculatorEstimate an installment for an assumed share of a Los Angeles building retrofit.
• San Diego Condo Master Deductible Reserve CalculatorModel cash to reserve for a hypothetical share of a San Diego association deductible.
• Houston Flood Policy Cash Comparison CalculatorCompare premiums and modeled deductible cash under two Houston flood insurance quotes.
• Dallas New Build Escrow Tax Budget CalculatorCompare housing cash using earlier and completed-home tax amounts for a Dallas new build.
• Miami Condo Assessment Cash vs Loan CalculatorCompare a cash assessment payment with a separate installment loan on a Miami condo.
• Tampa Percentage Deductible Reserve CalculatorTurn a quoted percentage deductible into a monthly savings target alongside a Tampa mortgage.
• Chicago Two-Flat Turnover Loan Reserve CalculatorEstimate turnover and mortgage cash to reserve during a modeled Chicago two-flat vacancy.
• Aurora Condo vs House Loan Budget CalculatorCompare two Aurora purchase budgets using quoted loan payments, dues and upkeep assumptions.
• Philadelphia Transfer Tax Buyer Allocation CalculatorEstimate the buyer share of transfer tax using the verified base, effective rate and allocation.
• Pittsburgh Repair Overrun Credit Gap CalculatorStress-test a Pittsburgh repair bid after a confirmed usable closing credit.
• Seattle Sewer Capacity Charge Payoff Choice CalculatorCompare a quoted sewer capacity-charge payoff with remaining scheduled charges when buying in Seattle.
• Spokane Heating Replacement Loan CalculatorEstimate a separate loan payment after confirmed heating project credits and cash in Spokane.
• Boston Condo Closing and Reserve CalculatorEstimate cash remaining after Boston condo closing costs and a chosen housing reserve.
• Worcester Energy Loan Annual Cash Change CalculatorCompare annual cash outflow for a Worcester energy upgrade loan with assumed bill savings.
• Charlotte HOA Upfront Closing Cash CalculatorEstimate cash due when an association charges entry fees or prepaid dues on a Charlotte purchase.
• Raleigh New Build Deposit Credit CalculatorTrack builder and design deposits separately from their confirmed credit at a Raleigh closing.
• Newark Tax Treatment Transition Loan Budget CalculatorCompare monthly housing cash before and after a user-modeled Newark property tax change.
• Jersey City Condo Move and Closing Budget CalculatorCombine Jersey City condo closing cash with move and storage costs for a selected move window.
• Denver District Mill Levy Mortgage Budget CalculatorEstimate a monthly equivalent for an entered district mill levy on an entered assessed value.
• Colorado Springs Insurance Prepaid Loan Budget CalculatorEstimate closing cash after adding a verified insurance premium and initial escrow amount.
• NYC Co-op Board Cash Reserve CalculatorModel a New York City co-op purchase budget after closing and a buyer-entered cash reserve.
• NYC Mortgage Recording Tax Buyer Share CalculatorEstimate buyer cash for an NYC mortgage recording tax using an independently confirmed effective rate and allocation.
• Buffalo Home Repair Loan Payment CalculatorBudget a separately financed repair alongside a Buffalo home purchase payment.
• Buffalo Down Payment Assistance Timing CalculatorCompare Buffalo homebuyer cash due at closing with confirmed assistance at closing and later receipts.
• Rochester Assistance Lien Resale Proceeds CalculatorEstimate sale proceeds for a Rochester home with a first mortgage and a confirmed assistance payoff.
• Rochester Owner-Occupied Duplex Vacancy CalculatorStress-test owner cash flow on a Rochester duplex under different vacant-month assumptions.
• Syracuse Winter Utility Mortgage Budget CalculatorCompare annual average housing cash with a peak-utility month for a Syracuse purchase.
• Syracuse Homebuyer Deposit Before Aid CalculatorTrack the Syracuse purchase deposit and early fees separately from later closing assistance.
• Albany Inspection Credit Repair Cash CalculatorEstimate remaining repair cash after an Albany purchase using a confirmed usable closing credit.
• Albany Home Repair Reimbursement Cash CalculatorModel upfront cash for an Albany repair with a user-entered reimbursement percentage and cap.
• Yonkers Condo Assessment Loan Budget CalculatorCombine current Yonkers housing costs with a modeled installment loan for a special assessment.
• Yonkers Refinance New Principal Recording Tax CalculatorCompare a Yonkers refinance tax scenario using a confirmed taxable amount or confirmed exclusion.
• New Rochelle Buyer Assistance Post-Closing Reserve CalculatorEstimate the reserve left after a New Rochelle purchase, confirmed assistance and moving costs.
• New Rochelle Condo Dues Increase Budget CalculatorStress-test monthly costs for a New Rochelle condo when common charges rise.
• White Plains Mortgage Prepaid Reserve CalculatorEstimate closing cash after adding selected tax and insurance reserve deposits for a White Plains purchase.
• White Plains Renovation Temporary Housing Budget CalculatorEstimate the cash needed for a White Plains renovation that requires temporary relocation.
• Utica Rehab Draw Peak Cash Gap CalculatorEstimate peak cash need across two Utica rehab invoices and an intervening reimbursement.
• Utica Energy Upgrade Loan Savings Budget CalculatorCompare the installment for a financed Utica home energy upgrade with a user-entered savings estimate.
• Binghamton Flood Insurance Loan Budget CalculatorBudget a Binghamton housing payment with quoted flood insurance and a separate deductible reserve.
• Binghamton Rent-to-Own Purchase Credit Gap CalculatorCompare a modeled Binghamton purchase contribution with confirmed option and rent credits.
• Mortgage Seller Concession Usable Credit CalculatorEstimate how much of an offered seller credit can cover entered eligible closing costs.
• Rent to Mortgage Overlap Budget CalculatorBudget rent, mortgage payments and moving costs that overlap around a home purchase.
• Mortgage Property Tax Reassessment Budget CalculatorCompare an entered post-purchase property tax scenario with the previous annual bill.
• Mortgage Closing Delay Out-of-Pocket CalculatorEstimate lodging, storage and one-time costs if a mortgage closing moves.
• Replacement Car Two-Loan Overlap CalculatorEstimate the short-term carrying cost of financing a replacement before the original car sells.
• Lease Return Mileage Charge CalculatorEstimate excess mileage charges before returning a leased vehicle.
• Financed Car Repair Second Payment CalculatorCompare an existing car payment with the combined payment after financing a repair separately.
• Auto Purchase Fees Cash or Finance CalculatorCompare paying vehicle purchase fees at signing with adding them to the loan balance.
• Two-Year Student Borrowing Budget CalculatorEstimate borrowing across two academic years with a modeled tuition increase.
• Student Award Delay Cash Shortfall CalculatorEstimate the cash gap if a scholarship or grant arrives after near-term school bills.
• Student Loan Shared Payment Backup Reserve CalculatorBudget your share of a student loan payment and cash for covering the full installment if a contribution stops.
• Student Supplies Bridge Interest CalculatorEstimate short-term borrowing and simple interest for supplies purchased before other cash is available.
• Financed Inventory Sale Cash Recovery CalculatorEstimate cash recovered from units sold by the date an inventory draw is repaid.
• Business Line Two Draw Interest CalculatorEstimate carrying interest on two business credit line draws with different holding periods.
• Business Two Week Cash Draw CalculatorFind the minimum draw needed to cover two weekly cash checkpoints.
• Equipment Lease vs Loan Horizon Cash CalculatorCompare lease payments with financed ownership over a shared equipment-use window.
• Cash Secured Loan Accessible Funds CalculatorSee how pledged savings and an upfront fee change the amount of cash available after a secured loan funds.
• Loan Payment Two Paycheck Allocation CalculatorDivide one loan payment between two paychecks when the first can only cover part of it.
• Loan Fee Rebate Conditional Cost CalculatorCompare total modeled borrowing cost with and without an entered conditional fee rebate.
• Weekly Loan Payment Calendar Budget CalculatorCompare average monthly savings with cash due in a five-payment month for weekly debt.
• Mortgage Recast Cash Reserve CalculatorCompare a modeled mortgage payment reduction with the cash left after a recast.
• Mortgage Gift Funds and Buyer Reserve CalculatorSeparate confirmed outside funds from buyer cash due at closing and estimate cash left afterward.
• Mortgage Repair Holdback Cash Timing CalculatorEstimate how much cash a repair reimbursement arrangement requires before a release arrives.
• Auto Add-On Cancellation Principal Credit CalculatorEstimate the balance reduction when an add-on cancellation refund is credited to a car loan.
• Financed Vehicle Future Sale Equity CalculatorEstimate net equity at a possible vehicle sale date under an assumed decline in value.
• Financed Car Deductible Reserve CalculatorBudget monthly car payments and premiums while building cash toward an insurance deductible.
• Student Aid Credit Balance Cash Timing CalculatorEstimate the aid remaining after school charges and distinguish it from cash available today.
• Student Loan Fixed Payment Gap CalculatorEstimate a payment reserve for a fixed-rate student loan during a period with no income allocated to the installment.
• Student Borrowing Personal Cap CalculatorTrack prior borrowing and planned fall and spring amounts against your own borrowing target.
• Late Invoice Payroll Bridge CalculatorEstimate a temporary draw for bills due before an invoice is collected.
• Equipment Deposit and Delivery Financing Gap CalculatorEstimate cash due at a supplier deposit and again at delivery when financing funds later.
• Business Credit Renewal Fee and Carry Cost CalculatorEstimate combined interest and a fixed renewal fee over a selected draw period.
• Partial Debt Consolidation Payment Budget CalculatorCompare monthly debt obligations when a consolidation loan leaves some accounts outside the payoff.
• Loan Due Date and Paycheck Timing Gap CalculatorFind the cash gap when loan and other bills fall before the next paycheck.
• Loan Payoff Savings and Reserve CalculatorSee how much payoff cash is still needed after separating protected reserves from spendable savings.
• ARM Next Adjustment Rate CalculatorEstimate the next adjustable mortgage rate using an index, margin, periodic limits and lifetime limits.
• Home Sale Bridge Overlap Budget CalculatorEstimate bridge interest, fees and the carrying costs of owning two homes during a sale delay.
• Mortgage Escrow Low-Balance CalculatorProject an escrow balance over 12 months and find its lowest point using actual bill months.
• Auto Down Payment Cash Reserve CalculatorFind a vehicle down payment that leaves room for upfront costs and a cash reserve.
• Auto Cash vs Finance Investment CalculatorCompare buying a car in cash with financing and investing the cash you keep.
• Financed Car Mileage Budget CalculatorEstimate monthly car costs including fuel, insurance, maintenance and the financing payment.
• Student Loan Staged Disbursement Interest CalculatorEstimate simple interest on two disbursements with different dates and one shared checkpoint.
• Student Semester Funding Gap CalculatorEstimate semester borrowing and any remaining gap after confirmed aid, cash and deducted fees.
• Student Loan Extra Payment Rate Spread CalculatorCompare simple interest avoided by applying the same extra principal to two different rates.
• Vendor Early-Pay Discount Financing CalculatorCompare an early-payment vendor discount with the cost of financing the discounted invoice.
• Financed Equipment Downtime Budget CalculatorEstimate lost contribution margin, repair costs and loan payments to fund during downtime.
• Business Line Renewal Limit Gap CalculatorMeasure remaining credit and working-capital gaps if a business line renews at a lower limit.
• Deposit Bridge Loan Timing Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of borrowing temporarily to cover a deposit until cash arrives.
• Loan Payment Income Gap Reserve CalculatorEstimate the cash reserve needed to cover living costs and a loan payment through an income gap.
• Consolidation Loan Direct Payoff Cash CalculatorEstimate how much consolidation loan cash remains after deducted fees and direct creditor payoffs.
• Mortgage PMI Removal Break-Even CalculatorCalculate and compare mortgage pmi removal break-even scenarios.
• Mortgage Float-Down Fee Break-Even CalculatorCalculate and compare mortgage float-down fee break-even scenarios.
• Mortgage Escrow Refund Timing Gap CalculatorCalculate and compare mortgage escrow refund timing gap scenarios.
• HELOC Annual Fee Waiver CalculatorCalculate and compare heloc annual fee waiver scenarios.
• HELOC Rate Cap Interest CalculatorCalculate and compare heloc rate cap interest scenarios.
• Personal Loan Net Proceeds CalculatorCalculate and compare personal loan net proceeds scenarios.
• Personal Loan Prepayment Fee Comparison CalculatorCalculate and compare personal loan prepayment fee comparison scenarios.
• Personal Loan Extension Cost CalculatorCalculate and compare personal loan extension cost scenarios.
• Auto Deferred First Payment Interest CalculatorCalculate and compare auto deferred first payment interest scenarios.
• Auto Trade-In Negative Equity CalculatorCalculate and compare auto trade-in negative equity scenarios.
• Student Loan Grace Period Interest CalculatorCalculate and compare student loan grace period interest scenarios.
• Student Loan Tax Reserve Scenario CalculatorCalculate and compare student loan tax reserve scenario scenarios.
• Inventory Financing Cost Per Unit CalculatorCalculate and compare inventory financing cost per unit scenarios.
• Business Balloon Sinking Fund CalculatorCalculate and compare business balloon sinking fund scenarios.
• Business Variable Rate Reserve CalculatorCalculate and compare business variable rate reserve scenarios.
• Mortgage Escrow Shortage Options CalculatorCompare a one-time shortage payment with spreading the shortage over a stated number of months.
• Mortgage Servicing Payment Buffer CalculatorEstimate cash needed to cover a mortgage payment while transfer posting is verified.
• HELOC Draw Cost Timeline CalculatorEstimate simple interest for two HELOC draws over their own day counts.
• Home Equity Loan Fee Ratio CalculatorMeasure how upfront fees affect the cash received and financed principal.
• Loan Due Date Shift Interest CalculatorEstimate simple daily interest added by shifting a payment date.
• Auto Total Loss Loan Gap CalculatorCompare a lender payoff with insurance settlement, deductible and entered GAP payment.
• Auto Lease Buyout Financing CalculatorEstimate a financed lease buyout including tax and fees.
• Student Loan Payment Allocation Impact CalculatorEstimate simple interest difference if a payment reduction was delayed.
• Business Loan Covenant Headroom CalculatorCompare entered cash flow and debt service with a user-specified DSCR threshold.
• Equipment Financing All-In Cost CalculatorEstimate financing payment plus recurring required equipment insurance.
• Mortgage Lender Credit Break-Even CalculatorCompare a lender credit with a lower-rate mortgage by modeling upfront credit, payments and a simple break-even.
• Mortgage Rate Lock Extension CalculatorEstimate a rate-lock extension fee and compare it with a higher-rate fallback scenario.
• HELOC Repayment Shock CalculatorEstimate the change from an interest-only draw-period payment to an amortizing repayment payment.
• Personal Loan Fee Refund CalculatorEstimate net early-payoff cost after an entered refundable portion of an upfront fee.
• Auto Loan Negative Equity Break-Even CalculatorEstimate the payment and interest impact of rolling trade-in negative equity into a replacement auto loan.
• Student Loan Payment Pause Interest CalculatorEstimate simple interest growth during a payment pause and a later amortizing payment.
• Business Line Unused Fee CalculatorEstimate annual and monthly unused-line fees from a credit limit and average outstanding balance.
• Equipment Loan Down Payment CalculatorCompare equipment-loan payments and interest at two down-payment amounts.
• Invoice Financing Effective Cost CalculatorConvert a stated invoice advance fee and collection period into a simple annualized cost estimate.
• Commercial Balloon Refinance CalculatorEstimate a commercial loan balloon balance and a hypothetical refinance payment at maturity.
• Loan Payoff Quote EstimatorEstimate daily interest and a simple payoff amount through a chosen posting date.
• First Payment Interest CalculatorEstimate accrued interest before a first payment and the amount left for principal.
• Student Loan Grace Period InterestEstimate grace-period interest and optional payments before repayment begins.
• Cosigner Payment Risk CalculatorStress-test a cosigned payment against the cosigner's own monthly cash flow.
• Mortgage Recast CalculatorEstimate the payment after a lump-sum principal reduction and lender recast.
• Land Loan Payment CalculatorEstimate payment and total interest for a fixed-rate land loan scenario.
• Manufactured Home Loan CalculatorModel a manufactured-home financing payment and total interest.
• Boat Loan CalculatorEstimate a boat-loan payment, total payments and interest.
• Medical Financing CalculatorModel installment payments and upfront financing fees for medical costs.
• Joint Loan Affordability CalculatorStress-test a proposed joint payment against combined household cash flow.
• Principal-Only Payment CalculatorEstimate payoff time and interest savings from a one-time principal payment.
• Simple vs Precomputed Interest CalculatorExplore how early payoff timing can differ across interest structures.
• Loan Maturity Balance CalculatorEstimate the remaining balance at a stated maturity using your actual payment.
• Loan Extension Cost CalculatorCompare monthly relief with the added interest from extending a loan term.
• 2-1 Temporary Mortgage Buydown CalculatorCompare first-year, second-year and full note payments with the subsidy needed for a hypothetical 2-1 mortgage buydown.
• Construction Draw Interest CalculatorEstimate interest across three drawn-balance phases and compare it with a separate cash reserve, including a 30-day delay scenario.
• Borrowing Base Availability CalculatorApply a clearly defined sample customer-concentration adjustment, advances, reserve and credit limit to estimate business line availability.
• Business DSCR CalculatorCompare debt-service coverage before and after new borrowing, with a cash-flow stress test and your own scenario target.
• Daily Loan Interest CalculatorEstimate simple interest for a stated number of days and show how an end-of-interval payment affects interest and principal.
• Interest-Only Mortgage Reset CalculatorEstimate the payment change when an interest-only period ends and the unchanged principal amortizes over the remaining term.
• Piggyback Mortgage Comparison CalculatorCompare two simultaneous fixed-rate mortgages with one fixed-rate loan using fees, assumed PMI and remaining balances at the same horizon.
• In-School Student Loan Interest CalculatorCompare unpaid school interest, a single capitalization event and later repayments under partial interest payments.
• Student Loan Rate Stress CalculatorCompare a fixed student loan quote with a variable-rate scenario that changes once during repayment.
• Financed Add-On Cost CalculatorSee the payment increase and interest cost of optional products or negative equity added to a loan.
• Mortgage Discount Points CalculatorCompare cash-paid points with a zero-point quote, including payment savings and remaining balances.
• Lump-Sum Loan Payoff CalculatorEstimate the payoff date and net interest savings from one extra principal payment, including an early-payment charge.
• Loan Autopay Discount CalculatorCompare loan payments and total interest with a percentage-point autopay discount using your actual contract terms.
• Balance Transfer vs Personal Loan CalculatorCompare a true 0% balance transfer promotion with a personal loan, including fees and the post-promotion balance.
• Car Rebate vs 0% Financing CalculatorCompare equal-term car financing offers: a cash rebate with interest versus a hypothetical zero-interest loan.
• Extra Payment Loan CalculatorSee how an extra monthly principal payment changes your payoff time and interest, with a downloadable schedule.
• Loan Origination Fee CalculatorFind the principal needed to receive your target cash after a deducted fee, plus the payment and full cost.
• Loan Refinance Break-Even CalculatorCompare payments, upfront costs and remaining balances before deciding whether a refinance saves money.
• Personal Loan Affordability CalculatorUse take-home income, living costs and a buffer to estimate a loan payment budget without an approval promise.
• Balloon Loan Payment CalculatorEstimate regular installments, the final balloon balance and a monthly savings goal to prepare for maturity.
• Debt-to-Income Ratio CalculatorCompare your DTI before and after a proposed loan using gross monthly income and your own scenario target.
• EMI CalculatorMonthly installment, total interest and a full amortization schedule.
• Loan ComparatorPut two or more loan offers side by side and see which costs less.
• Car Payment & In-House FinancingDealer or bank financing: payment, APR and total cost of the car.
• Private Student Loan PaymentPayments during and after school, plus total repayment.
• Wedding Loan CalculatorWhat borrowing for the wedding really adds to the bill.
• Payday Loan True CostTurn a flat fee into its real APR and rollover cost.
• Customer Financing CalculatorPoint-of-sale and store financing payments and fees.
• House Painting FinancingFinance a paint job: payment, interest and project budget.
• Truck Accident Lawsuit LoanHow pre-settlement funding grows before your case settles.
• Debt Payoff CalculatorSnowball vs. avalanche: your debt-free date and interest saved.

New worksheets cover home, student, auto, personal and business borrowing—from missing documents to costs that do not appear in the monthly payment.

• Mortgage Servicing Transfer: Verify the First Payment
• Mortgage Escrow Shortage: Pay Now or Spread It Out?
• In-School Student Loan Interest Capitalization
• Extra Student Loan Payments During Grace Period
• Dealer Add-On Cancellation After Auto Financing
• Trade-In Loan Payoff Shortfall at Closing
• Personal Loan Origination Fee Deducted From Proceeds
• Personal Loan Early Payoff Fee Break-Even
• Business Loan Origination Fee Financed vs Cash
• Business Loan Payment Buffer for Seasonal Revenue

More US borrowing decisions, explained

Understand application questions, compare the cost of alternatives and check the protections that can change when you replace a loan.

• Co-Signer vs Co-Borrower on a Personal Loan: What Changes?
• Personal Loan Denied? Read the Adverse Action Notice First
• Is a 0.25-Point Personal Loan Autopay Discount Worth It?
• 0% Balance Transfer vs Personal Loan: An 18-Month Test
• Using a Bonus for One Lump-Sum Personal Loan Payment
• Cash Rebate or 0% Car Financing? Compare the Full Deal
• Credit-Builder Loan vs Secured Card: Which Problem Do They Solve?
• Can a Personal Loan Affect Your Mortgage After Preapproval?
• Payday Alternative Loans: PALs I vs PALs II in the US
• Self-Employed Personal Loan Documents: Build a Clear File
• Applying for a Personal Loan With a Credit Freeze
• Guaranteed Approval and Upfront Fees: Loan Scam Checks
• Refinancing Federal Student Loans Privately: What You Lose
• Personal Loan Forgiven? What to Check on Form 1099-C
• Deferred Interest vs 0% APR: Read the “If Paid in Full” Term

Specific questions before you borrow

• What Does an Extra $100 a Month Do to a Personal Loan?
• Should You Refinance a Loan if You Will Pay It Off Next Year?
• How to Budget a Personal Loan on Irregular Income
• How to Save for a Balloon Loan’s Final Payment
• Calculate DTI With Car and Student Loan Payments
• Is an Origination Fee Worth Paying if You Repay Early?
• Fixed vs Variable Personal Loans: Stress-Test the Payment
• Why a Delayed First Loan Payment Can Still Cost Interest
• Loan Payoff Quote vs Statement Balance: What to Check
• Emergency Fund or Extra Personal Loan Payments?

Before you borrow: a checklist

1. Write down the exact amount you need, not the amount a lender offers.
2. Get the APR, fees, term and prepayment rules for at least two offers in writing.
3. Run the payment and total repaid with a calculator, using each offer's real numbers.
4. Check that the payment fits your budget with room for an emergency.
5. Read the late-payment and default terms before you sign.

Loan questions, answered