Thursday 7 November 2013

How to Get the Lowest Home Improvement Loan Rate

The lowest home improvement loan rate for your home improvement project is out there waiting for you to find it. Of course, there are a number of factors that can affect whether or not you get the lowest home improvement loan rate on the money that you borrow; here are some tips on how to get that low interest rate that you want so you can make the home improvements that you need without paying a fortune for it.

Current Rates
Before trying to find the lowest home improvement loan rate, you should have a good idea of what a good loan rate is. You can check the current loan interest rates at your local bank or a preferred lender, though some rates may vary from one area to another or from one type of lender to the next.
Be sure that you check with as many different lenders as possible, and don't forget to look at the rates available from online lending companies as well. Often, these companies will have special deals that may help you qualify for a lower rate that you might not be able to get otherwise. The more information you have, the better deal you'll find.

Equity
Your lowest home improvement loan rate will be affected by the value of the equity of the house or other real estate that you own. The more equity you have, then the more you can borrow without having to pay a higher interest rate. If you own your home, you'll be much more likely get the lowest home improvement loan rate your lender offers; this doesn't mean that you can't get a good rate without owning your house outright, however.

If you don't own your home yet, be sure you have a good amount of equity built up. Since equity doesn't just affect your interest rate but also can determine the maximum amount that you qualify for, it's important to make sure that you get the most out of the equity that you have.

Other Factors
Many other aspects also help you get the lowest home improvement loan interest rate for your money. A lender may consider any or all of the following items when determining your interest rate:

  1. Credit history - a bad credit history can raise rates, while a good credit history helps lower them. 
  2. Amount requested - larger loans have higher rates 
  3. Collateral - you may be able to include additional collateral to help lower your interest rates even further. 
  4. Payback length of time - a longer payback period means lower rates, but be sure that you don't end up paying more in the long run. 
  5. Current salary - an good salary gives the lender the option to increase the amount loaned and can help you pay it off sooner. 
  6. Age of the applicant - younger applicants may qualify for a longer payback period at lower interest rates.
Research your lenders and discuss the process they use to determine your loan rate. Get plenty of estimates and put work into making yourself a desirable applicant, and you'll be sure to get the lowest home improvement loan interest rate available.