If you want to create a win-win situation for you and the car dealership you purchase your car from, there are five steps to take before you sit down at the negotiation table: get your credit report, surf before buying, go local, speak the language and be prepared to negotiate.

1.) Get Your Credit Report
You can’t pick up a personal finance article, magazine or book that does not refer to the importance of knowing what is on your credit report. Despite the fact that modern media has been beating us over the head with this advice for the past couple of decades, most people do not know their credit score or check their credit report on a regular basis. You can get a copy of your report by directly contacting the three credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian (formerly TRW).

Not knowing your credit score and the details of your credit report before applying for a car loan is a monumental mistake. You want to have any blemishes on your report resolved before you apply for a car loan, because the results of your lender’s credit inquiry directly impact your interest rate.

Your credit report includes: basic information about you – name, address, social security number, etc.; your late payments, any outstanding debts you have, the amount of credit available to you; any public records on you such as judgments and bankruptcies; and inquiries into your credit from potential employers or lenders.

And just because you have caught up late payments, cleared outstanding debts or cleared up any judgments does not mean these blemishes are automatically removed from your credit report. Sometimes, you need to follow up with the creditors to make sure they report your reconciliation of debt to all three credit bureaus.

In addition, identity theft and/or fraud can result in false, unfavorable records on your credit report. In January 2006, the Federal Trade Commission reported that more than 686,000 people reported identity theft and fraud complaints in 2005. Stolen identity and fraud can result in major credit report issues.

2.) Surf Before Buying
You’ll be far less tempted to impulse buy, driving away from the car dealership with a car you can’t afford if you have established boundaries in your mind before you begin.
You can save big money on your car loan if you have a budget and type of car in mind before you go shopping. One easy way to accomplish this is to go online and check out different car dealership websites.

You can compare and contrast vehicle makes, models, styles, features and pricing.

3.) Go Local
There are many national auto websites, but did you know that many local car dealerships are now online as well? The advantage of working with a local car dealership can outweigh working with the manufacturer or a national website when you want the best in quality customer service, a relationship for the lifetime of your car and the best deal on your auto loan.

The advantages of getting a loan through a local dealership is similar to the reason every town in America has a locally-owned restaurant that has regulars: local businesses have a sincere investment in the community. That interest often leads to better customer service, a more customized approach to selling, and the ability to get you a better loan than you will receive from a lender who doesn’t know – or care – who you are.

Lastly, the local dealership may have more than one location, increasing your options for finding the car you need but offering the same uniform auto financing options. For example, Conklin Cars Salina, a car dealer in Kansas, is also a Hutchinson car dealer and a Newton car dealer. So, if a customer goes to one dealership and does not find what they need, they can visit another location and expect the same quality customer service.

4.) Speak the Language
There’s nothing more frustrating than going through the entire car-buying process, thinking you have a good deal, and learning down the road that you were taken advantage of – simply because you had no idea what your sales rep was talking about.

From dealer holdback to Rule of 78s , make sure you have an understanding of some of the basic industry terms that could be thrown at you during your transaction. With this knowledge, you won’t misunderstand the details or find yourself being signing a contract or paperwork that you don’t understand.

5.) Be Prepared to Negotiate
If you’ve followed the four previous steps in this article, you will be armed with the necessary tools to negotiate the best rate possible for your car loan. There’s nothing wrong with shopping around and checking with other lenders to see what kind of rate they can offer you, but you must remember that numerous inquiries into your credit report may go against you.

And, when you go through the dealer for your auto loan, the sales rep wants a long-term relationship with you. This motivates them to work harder to get the best rate possible for you. In contrast, an online or off-site lender’s interests begin and end with the loan – but the car dealer wants you to: come back and have your car serviced, return when you want to purchase your next car, and tell your friends about them, further strengthening the dealership’s reputation in the community and increasing business.

Before you sit down to get your next auto loan, take the time to do a little homework so that you can feel confident about securing the best deal for your auto loan. Investing a little time and effort before making the deal can go a long way in creating a win-win situation for you and the car dealership.

5 Tips To Save Big On Your Next Car Loan is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com

1) Shop Online – Shopping for auto loan online is a great time saver. By comparing from different sites you can get the best deals. Applying also is easy and even some sites will give you information you need within minutes.

2) Know Thyself! – You must know the basic criteria for applying for an auto loan. Basic criteria includes that you must be above 18 years of age. Best if you earn at least $2000 a month. Also needed is residence and employment history.

3) Get Approved First – Don’t have make the mistake of looking for a car before being approved. Get approved first then they will give you a voucher of how much you are allowable to loan. Doing this will save you future frustration and disappointments.

4) Down Payments – This varies from lender to lender, and some don’t even require. But typically its about 10% of the price or $1000 whichever is the lower number.

5) Interest Rate – Interest rate is not fixed as most people think, and yes it can be negotiated. If you have a good credit score and good negotiating skills you can have a lower interest rate. But some factors are way out of you’re control such as the state of the economy.

There you have it. We’ll that’s not all, there’s lot of other things you need to know. But what I’ve enumerated are the vital essentials before applying for that auto loan. One thing also is ask advice from an authorized dealer or loan official. They’re there to help you. If there’s something you don’t understand, ask them now or you’ll might face lots of headaches later.

5 Things You Should Know Before Applying For Auto Loan is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com

Firstly, as just alluded to, it’s an inescapable fact that taking out a loan that’s secured on your home could potentially put your home at risk. Should you fall behind on your repayments, the lender can apply to seize your property, evict you from it, and then sell it at less than market value to clear the debt. Scary, huh?

This is, of course, a fairly rare outcome, and most lenders are happy to work with you if you do get into trouble, using repossession as a last resort, but you should consider this carefully before taking out a loan, especially if you’ll be converting existing unsecured debt into secured though debt consolidation.

The second problem with secured loans is that they tend to be for fairly high amounts, and repaid over a fairly long term. This means that the amount of interest you’ll pay over the entire term may be substantially higher than you might think. Even with a low APR, secured loans aren’t necessarily a cheap option.

Thirdly, if you use a secured loan to wipe out some existing unsecured debt, you may get the illusion that your debt levels have lessened. There’s then always the temptation to use your credit cards etcetera to build up fresh debts, so you now have secured AND unsecured debt hanging over your head, and you’ll be in a worse position than ever before.

A fourth problem with a secured loan is that you’ll by its very nature be removing equity from your home. In other words, the value of your home and the amount of debt secured on it will be much closer. Considering that today’s property prices are at record highs, and that many experts are predicting a fall in the near future, you could then be left in the unenviable situation of owing more than your home is worth – that is, you could fall into negative equity.

The fifth problem we’ll cover is also related to the removal of equity from your home. Should you in the future wish to take advantage of a refinancing offer to reduce your mortgage costs, it helps to have as much equity available as possible in order to secure the best deal. A secured loan now could harm your remortgage prospects in the future.

So has all this put you off the idea of getting a secured loan? It shouldn’t do, as you may still benefit greatly from the financial restructuring one will allow you to do. However, it’s a big decision, and this is why you need to be aware of the possible problems first, so that your decision can be as informed as possible.

5 Reasons To Stop And Think Before Taking Out A Secured Loan is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com

Having bad credit history can be like carrying a backpack full of worries. You don’t only have to face the elevated rates on credit cards and loans, but acquiring any type of credit can seem like an unbearable obstacle to overcome.
Some people with bad credit think that all odds are against them when trying to apply for credit or loans. However there are those who are willing to take the plunge in risky waters for you provided that you pay them back in the end. Secured loans use an item of monetary value as a safe keep known as collateral. The information that follows has reference to requesting a secured loan w/unfavorable credit.

SECURED LOANS

Secured loans use personal property to secure the repayment of a loan. This means that the possibilities of getting a secured loan with bad credit are much higher than an unsecured loan. Their characteristics are that of being much more common and have lower interest rates. The interest rate that accompanies a secured loan depends on the value of the collateral being used and its´ place in the stock exchange should the lender have to sell it.

COLLATERAL

A kaleidoscope of items can be used as collateral for a secured loan. But those that have a higher monetary value then the loan amount itself tend to be the best collateral. Some items that are purchased with loans serve as their own collateral as in the case with mortgage and automotive loans. Nonmaterial collateral such as capital built up in real estate often fulfills the duties for better collateral for a secured loan than any other item.

SHOPPING FOR A LOAN

It’s just as important to look around for a secured loan as it is to get a second opinion from a doctor. When shopping around for a secured loan, the following suggestions should never be overlooked.

*Take the time to investigate different banks, finance companies and lenders in your area who offer the best interest rates or loans.

*Online lenders which can often feature better interest rates

*Once you have all the information, make comparisons to see which loan suits you the best.

APPLYING FOR YOUR LOAN

Once you’ve found your loan, the application must be submitted. Even though a great looking shoe doesn’t always secure a perfect fit, it’s essential to have other proposals at hand. If all fails and you still haven’t found your match, it may be time to expand your horizons & undertake other options to facilitate the quest for the best loan that suits your needs.

5 Facts You Must Know When Applying For a Loan is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com

1. Student loan interest rate hike
After July 1st, the interest rate on new Federal Stafford loans will jump from a variable 4.7 percent to a fixed 6.8 percent while PLUS loans will increase from a variable 6.1 percent to a fixed 8.5 percent. The way to avoid these skyrocketing interest rates is to lock into today’s low fixed rate by consolidating your loans.

2. Last chance for “in school” consolidations
Under the new legislation, students that are still in school won’t be able to consolidate their loans after July 1st, 2006. It’s more important than ever for current students and those who are in their post-graduation grace period to seize this current window of opportunity to refinance and lock in the current rate before July 1st.

3. The 1st of July means the end of spousal consolidations
Another student loan consolidating restriction will be imposed on the spousal consolidation loan. For years, married couples have enjoyed the simplicity and financial benefits of consolidating their student loan payments. Married couples still have the chance to take advantage of this opportunity by applying for a spousal consolidation loan before July 1st.

4. You’re stuck with your lender
Starting on July 1st, borrowers will no longer have the opportunity to consolidate existing Consolidation loans with a different lender. Unless the current lender does not offer a consolidation loan with income sensitive repayment terms, borrowers won’t have any options when it comes to shopping around more attractive offers and companies.

Steps to take on or before July 1st
If you haven’t already consolidated your student loans, contact a student loan consulting and refinancing lender as soon as possible. Go online and compare various online loan companies, read up on loan terminology, use online calculators to understand your potential savings, and get in touch with a student loan consolidation expert with a list of questions.

Student loan consolidation already offers a wealth of benefits, not to mention the newest benefit as a safe haven from the July 1st interest rate hikes. Because payments are combined and spread out over a longer period of time, monthly payments are reduced, freeing up cash flow for young adults who are just beginning their careers. Additionally, having only one open loan is more beneficial in terms of credit rating as opposed to numerous open loans that can lower an overall FICO score.

Refinancing before July 1st still gives students one last chance to lock in low interest rates and take advantage of other soon-to-be cut money saving opportunities and programs.

4 Reasons to Consolidate your Student Loans On or Before July 1st 2006 is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com

Shop around!

When you decide to take out a home equity loan, you don’t have to get if from the loan department of your bank. You actually stand a better chance of getting a lower interest rate at a bank that you don’t normally do business with. This bank will be looking to get you as a new customer and might be willing to beat your bank’s offer.

Manage Your Credit Score.

Banks don’t just look into your credit history, when deciding whether or not to give you a loan, they also look at your potential for debt. If you have 5 credit cards, each with a zero balance, but with a total credit limit of $100,000 a bank views that as a risk. You have the potential to go into a large amount of debt and that means that you might miss a payment to them. Weed down the amount of credit cards that you use and cancel the cards that you don’t use.

Think outside the box.

You don’t have to go to a bank to get a home equity loan. You might be able to find a lower interest rate at a credit union or mortgage broker. Take advantage of online mortgage lenders and research which companies offer the lowest interest rates. Some lending brokers even make comparisons for you and then get back to you with the name of the company that will save you the most money.

Home equity loans are a great way to get extra cash to pay off debts, pay college tuition, or do a few remodeling projects around the house. Just make sure that you do your homework before you talk to a lender, so that you will get the lowest interest rate around.

3 Ways To Get The Lowest Rate On Your Home Equity Loan is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com

Clean up your credit

Lenders use your credit score as one tool for determining your interest rate. In general, the better your score, the lower your rate. Before applying to refinance your mortgage, check your credit report and look for any errors. If you find a mistake that’s negatively affecting your score–such as a payment marked as “late” when you sent it on time, or a line of credit that doesn’t belong to you–be sure to correct those errors.

Shop around

You might not necessarily get the best deal from the same finance company that holds your mortgage loan. Make sure you check out offers from other lenders. You can do this by submitting your application to multiple lending companies, or by hiring a mortgage broker that will check out numerous lenders for you. To get the largest variety of offers, try different types of companies, such as banks, credit unions, online mortgage lenders and local mortgage brokers.

Negotiate

Once you’ve received a few offers, take the time to negotiate with lenders. Let them know that you have other options and that you’re looking for a great deal. Mention their competitors so they know you’re serious about your loan, and be prepared to walk away if the loan company won’t give you the best rate. However, once you find a deal you like, ask the lender to “lock it in.” Interest rates change daily, and locking it in guarantees that you still get a low rate even if rates soar the next week.

Remember: the interest rate is only part of the expense of refinancing. In many cases you’ll have to pay fees, points and other extra charges. You can lower the cost of your loan by asking to have these fees waived or lowered.

3 Ways To Get The Lowest Interest Rate On Your Home Refinance Loan is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com

Getting your loan before you shop!

If you wait until you get to the car lot to think about financing, the dealer will try and push “dealer financing” on you. That’s because his financing usually comes with extra “padding” to make you pay more–and to boost his bottom line. The interest rate on dealer financing is often 3% higher than financing from a bank, credit union and or online loan company. So get a loan before you shop for a car. Another bonus: you’ll have more negotiating power for the price of the car since the dealer knows you’re a financially stable customer.

Knowing the current rates!

You’ll never know if you’re getting a good deal unless you know the going rates for car loans! Search the web, call around to local banks and ask friends or family what the current interest rates are for car loans. Be sure to compare apples to apples by considering things like loan term, since longer term loans often have lower rates. Your credit history will have an effect on your rate, too.

Comparison shopping!

Get quotes from as many lenders as possible. Check with your current bank, credit unions, online lending services and other loan companies. Get at least 3 or 4 different loan quotes so you can compare rates, terms and fees. Let them know you’re shopping around and that you’ve received better offers. It’s possible they’ll lower your rate or drop your fees to get your business.

You may also want to consider an online lending service that allows you to compare rates between multiple banks and loan companies at one time, since they’re a convenient way to shop around without getting multiple hits on your credit report.

3 Ways To Get The Lowest Interest Rate On Your Car Loan is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com

How high are the fees to refinance?

Taking out a home equity loan usually costs less in fees than a refinance. Refinancing your home can cost you quite a bit when you consider higher loan fees and the possibility of points. If you already have a good interest rate on your loan, refinancing so that you can get a cash out option, might mean paying a higher interest rate on a new loan. In that situation, you might want to consider taking out a home equity loan instead of a cash out refinance mortgage loan.

How fast do you need the money?

When you take out a home equity loan, it takes less time to see your money. Often, it only takes 5 days to close. Cash out refinance mortgage loans can take a lot longer, so if you need the money immediately, it probably isn’t the best option.

Protect yourself from scam artists.

There are lenders that practice something called loan flipping. They convince you to refinance your house, taking out a bit of equity for a project or two. A few months later they approach you to refinance again, convincing you to take out more cash from the equity in your house. Their scheme is to keep having you refinance, tacking on large fees and possibly increasing your interest rate until you are so far in debt that you end up losing your house. This particular scam has been played against many elderly homeowners with devastating results.

Taking cash against the equity in your house can be a wise move, but always compare taking a cash out refinance mortgage loan against the option of taking out a home equity loan and choose the plan that is best for you.

3 Things To Watch Out For With A Cash Out Refinance Mortgage Loan is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com

Watch out for subprime lending.

Subprime lending is when a lender offers to give you a lone for an extremely high interest rate and tacks on excessive fees. Usually these loans are given to high risk individuals who are so desperate for a loan that they don’t take the time to shop around for a company that will work with them despite a bad credit rating.

Watch out for equity stripping.

Equity stripping is when a loan is based solely on the value of your home, and doesn’t take into consideration your ability to repay the loan. The usual result of these loans, is the borrower can’t repay it and the lender ends up acquiring the home and all the equity in it.

Watch out for predatory lenders.

Predatory lenders thrive on setting up loan situations in which the borrower is destined to default, consequently losing his home. Some of the signs that you might be dealing with a predatory lender include a broker that requires you to put false information on the loan application, apply for a larger loan than you need, or sign blank loan papers, saying they will be filled in later. You also want to avoid lenders that promise you one set of terms when you first apply and then change the terms when it comes time to sign or refuse to give you copies of the forms once you have signed. Predatory lenders often misrepresent the type of credit you are being given and fail to provide the required loan disclosures.

There are a lot of reasons to apply for a home equity loan online. The process is fast, easy, and convenient, as long as you take care to avoid the pitfalls of dealing with unscrupulous brokers.

3 Things To Watch Out For When Getting A Home Equity Loan Online is a post from: Finance Blogs | Cycapei.com