to-value (LTV) ratio is an assessment of lending risk that financial institutions and other lenders examine before approving a mortgage. Typically, loan assessments with high LTV ratios are considered higher-risk loans. Therefore, if the mortgage is approved, the loan has a higher interest rate....
What is a purchase APR? A card’s purchase APR is the yearly interest rate that your issuer applies to purchases you make with the card. Along with other factors, this number encompasses the interest that a balance would accrue over a year based on the card’s pay periods. If you need...
As their name suggests, the interest on variable-rate loans, including some types of mortgages and car loans, is tied to prime interest rates. When the prime rate goes up or down, the interest rate on your loan changes accordingly. Note that if your lender’s prime rate increases, it ...
Yourcredit scoreis one of the most important factors in getting a good home equity interest rate. The higher your score, the more likely you are to qualify for a lower rate. So, check your credit score before applying for a home equity loan or HELOC. If it's less than stellar, taking...
Though the current average monthly payment for a new and used car is $737 and $520, respectively, car payments are based on more than just the cost of the vehicle. You cancalculate your car paymentbased on theamount you borrow, yourannual percentage rate (APR)andloan term. Because car pr...
A balance transfer is when you take debt you’ve built up (perhaps it’s debt on a credit card or a car loan) and transfer it to a new credit card. If your current credit card has a high interest rate, it may make sense to transfer the balance to a card with a lower interest ...
The federal funds rate has far-reaching effects across various sectors of the economy: Automotive industry: Car loan rates typically follow trends in the federal funds rate, impacting vehicle sales. Banking: Banks use this rate as a basis for setting interest rates on loans and savings accounts,...
A home equity loan is a loan taken out against the equity in your home. Equity is the difference between the current market value of your home and the amount you still owe on your mortgage.
While a loan’s interest rate and APR may look similar, there are some key differences you should understand before you finance a car. An interest rate is the percentage banks charge you for borrowing money. When you makemonthly paymentson a car loan, your payment will go toward bo...
With a construction-to-permanent loan, once the house is complete and you move in, the loan morphs into a traditional mortgage. Typically, you can choose your term of 15 to 30 years, and you can opt for a fixed rate or an adjustable rate. ...