How Do Secured Personal Loans Work?
Secured personal loans are a type of personal loan that you can borrow for your personal needs, but to get your loan, you need to put up collateral. Your asset serves as payment in case you default on your loan, at which point your lender can keep your collateral. For secured personal loans, your lender determines what type of property or asset you can use to secure your loan. Some lenders let you use savings or certificate of-deposit (CD) accounts. For other lenders, you might be able to use art, vehicles, investments, or insurance policies. Common secured loans are mortgages, home equity loans, and auto loans.
Pros and Cons of Secured Loans
Pros Explained
Pathway to eligibility: If your credit score isn’t great or you don’t have a decent credit history, a secured personal loan gives you a chance to borrow. Otherwise, you might not qualify for a personal loan. Many types of lenders: Banks, credit unions, and online lenders offer secured personal loans. This gives you the chance to explore multiple lenders to compare rates, fees, and repayment terms. Lower interest rates: Personal loans tend to have lower interest rates compared to other types of borrowing, like credit cards. The average credit card interest rate is more than 20%. Personal loan interest rates for two-year repayment terms are half that, on average.
Cons Explained
You could lose your collateral: A secured loan means you’re putting up an asset in exchange for a loan. If you don’t repay your loan on time, you could lose your asset, and your credit score could tank if you’re more than 30 days late. Cash-backed loans could limit max loan amounts: If you need to borrow $10,000 but only have $5,000 in a CD, you might only be eligible to take out a $5,000 secured loan. If you don’t have enough valuable assets to cover your loan, you may not be able to borrow what you need. Fewer options compared to unsecured loans: There are banks, credit unions, and online lenders that offer secured personal loans, but you’ll have fewer options compared to unsecured personal loans. If you don’t qualify with the few options you have, you may need to look into alternatives.
Alternatives to Secured Personal Loans
If you don’t qualify for a secured loan, you may want to consider some other options, including:
Credit Card
If allowed, you can make a payment using a credit card you already have. Not every merchant or lender allows credit card payments, but many do.
Peer-to-Peer Loan
Peer-to-peer loans are like personal loans, but instead of having an institution or online lender give you money, your request goes into a marketplace of investors. Depending on how much you need, you could have one lender or many. Collateral isn’t required, but your credit matters.
Cash Advance
You can get a cash advance through a salary advance at your job or through your credit card. Credit card cash advances tend to have more fees and higher interest rates compared to regular credit card interest rates.
Side Hustle
Instead of borrowing money, you can get a side hustle and earn some extra cash. Side hustles are jobs you can do around your day job, usually making money off your hobbies.
Co-Signer
If you don’t qualify for a loan on your own, consider asking a trusted friend or relative to serve as a co-signer.
401(k) Loan
A 401(k) loan is a loan from your future self. You borrow money from your retirement and make payments until your loan is paid in full, usually up to five years. Your interest rate is determined by your plan administrator, and you usually don’t need collateral.
