The Pros and Cons of Personal Loans (2024 Guide) (2024)

FAQs

Will personal loan rates go down in 2024? ›

Lower personal loan rates may be on the horizon in 2024 after the Fed made progress curbing inflation at the end of 2023. That progress came after four more Federal Reserve rate hikes in 2023.

Fees and penalties can be high

Personal loans may come with fees and penalties that can drive up the cost of borrowing. Some loans come with origination fees of 1 percent to 6 percent of the loan amount.

Typically, you need a good credit score (670 or better) to qualify for a $70,000 personal loan. $70,000 is a lot of money, and since the loan is unsecured, your lender needs assurance through a positive credit history.

Taking out a personal loan can make more sense than tapping credit cards or home equity in some cases – but it's not always a good idea to borrow one. There are situations where this could be a good idea, but always remember that taking out a personal loan increases your overall debt.

"[W]e expect mortgage rates to remain elevated through most of 2024," Freddie Mac said in a Thursday housing outlook report.

You might get a better deal in 2024

While interest rates are up right now, things could start to change in 2024 if the Fed decides to cut rates. So next year might be a better time to put a personal loan in place. Let's say you're looking to borrow $10,000 and pay it back over a five-year period.

While personal loans may be helpful in several situations, they can also come with high interest rates and major repercussions for your credit score. Even so, the benefits of these loans may outweigh the risks—especially if you qualify for a competitive rate and need quick access to cash.

You should avoid using a personal loan to pay for college tuition, investments, basic living expenses, vacation, discretionary purchases and gambling, as well as a down payment and the costs associated with starting a business.

The monthly payment on a $70,000 loan ranges from $957 to $7,032, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $70,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $7,032.

What credit score do you need to get a $500000 loan? ›

SBA 7(a) Express Loans

Usually, lenders will want to see a minimum credit score of 640. Unlike standard 7(a) loans, SBA 7(a) Express loans have a loan limit of $500,000, but they can be approved in a much shorter period of time, making them ideal for businesses that need a quick source of financing.

The required credit score to buy a $300K house typically ranges from 580 to 720 or higher, depending on the type of loan. For an FHA loan, the minimum credit score is usually around 580.

When evaluating personal loan lenders, you can choose from traditional banks and private online lenders. Bank lenders typically offer better rates and the added security of working with a well-established lender, but loans from private online lenders are often quicker and easier to get.

Yes, paying off a personal loan early could temporarily have a negative impact on your credit scores. But any dip in your credit scores will likely be temporary and minor. And it might be worth balancing that risk against the possible benefits of paying off your personal loan early.

A good personal loan interest rate depends on your credit score: 740 and above: Below 8% (look for loans for excellent credit) 670 to 739: Around 14% (look for loans for good credit) 580 to 669: Around 18% (look for loans for fair credit)

While waiting to buy a home could mean a lower interest rate, there's no guarantee that rate drop will happen. If you have the budget to buy a home now, another option is to purchase today, but refinance later once rates drop further. The MBA projects a 5.5% rate by the end of 2025.

Here are the latest trends in personal loan interest rates from the Credible marketplace, updated weekly. During the week of May 6, 2024: Average personal loan rates* on 3-year loans were at 14.43%, down from 15.10% last week and up from 14.16% a year ago.

At this time, 10% is a good interest rate for a personal loan for a borrower with good credit. Anything below the national average personal loan interest rate, set by the Federal Reserve, is considered a good personal interest rate. Borrowers with poor credit scores will likely be offered a higher interest rate.