When you’re applying for a loan, one of the most important factors to consider is the interest rate that you’ll be charged. The interest rate determines how much you’ll have to pay back over the life of the loan, so it’s essential to understand how lenders determine what interest rate to offer you.
Here we’ll review some of the main factors lenders consider when determining what interest rate they’ll offer you.
Credit Score
One of the most important factors that lenders consider when determining your interest rate is your credit score. Your credit score is a numerical representation of your creditworthiness, based on your credit history. Lenders will look at your credit score to determine how risky it is to lend you money.
Typically, the higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate you’ll be offered. Conversely, if you have a low credit score, you’ll likely be offered a higher interest rate.
Loan Amount and Term
The loan amount and term also play a role in determining your interest rate. Generally, the larger the loan amount and the longer the term, the higher the interest rate. This is because larger loans and longer terms represent a greater risk to lenders, so they need to charge a higher interest rate to compensate for that risk.
Collateral
If you’re applying for a secured loan, such as a mortgage or a car loan, the collateral you’re offering can also affect your interest rate. Collateral is the property or asset that you’re offering to secure the loan. If you default on the loan, the lender can take possession of the collateral to recoup their losses.
The value of the collateral can affect your interest rate. If the collateral is worth a lot of money, the lender may be more willing to offer a lower interest rate, since they have a valuable asset they can take possession of if you default. On the other hand, if the collateral is worth very little, or if it’s difficult to sell, the lender may need to charge a higher interest rate to compensate for the increased risk.
Income and Debt-to-Income Ratio
Finally, your income and debt-to-income ratio can also affect your interest rate. Lenders want to ensure that you have enough income to cover your monthly loan payments, so they may look at your income to determine how much they’re willing to lend you.
They’ll also look at your debt-to-income ratio, which is the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward paying off debt. If you have a high debt-to-income ratio, it may be more difficult to qualify for a loan, or you may be offered a higher interest rate to compensate for the increased risk.
Conclusion
Lenders consider a variety of factors when determining what interest rate to offer borrowers, including credit score, loan amount and term, collateral, income, and debt-to-income ratio. By understanding these factors, you can take steps to improve your credit score and your chances of getting a lower interest rate, which will ultimately save you money over the life of your loan.
Before applying for a loan, we highly recommend asking a few lenders to do a soft credit pull to determine what rate they will offer you. Many banks and lenders offer this quick and easy service online or over the phone. Soft credit inquiries require minimal information to generate the same results as a hard credit inquiry, however, it won’t affect your credit score. Once you’ve found a lender with a rate that works for you then you can move forward with the application process.
Lenders or mortgage brokers looking to improve their customer lifecycle with a fully-customizable loan prequalification solution should contact FPN to learn more about PreQual.
