Getting a $5000 personal loan might in fact be easier than you think. You do not need to have an excellent credit score before you can qualify for a personal loan of $5000.
In most cases, lenders will take into consideration certain factors like credit history and debt-to-income ratio, before offering to give out loans. However, since $5000 falls under the category of less risky loans, lenders may be able to grant it without much hassle, especially if you consent to make monthly payments on the loan.
There are some reasons why you may need to take a $5000 personal loan. If you need to make a major purchase or payment, and you require a lump sum, or if you have unexpected expenses, then a personal loan might be smarter than racking up charges with your credit card. There is also the possibility of getting lower interest rates with a loan than with credit cards.
Personal Loan Terms
If you are going to get a loan, then you certainly need to be familiar with some loan languages. Here are some terms you are likely to hear repeatedly during this process, and their implications;
- Principal amount: This is the total amount of the lump sum of money you are borrowing. In this case, the principal amount will be $5000. At the end of the loan term, you will be expected to pay back the principal amount. Most lenders have an upper limit of $35,000. Some others will extend to $50,000 and even $100,000. They mostly have a lower limit of $1000.
- Interest rate: This is the amount charged by the lender on the principal amount. These rates could be fixed and they could be varying, all dependent on the source of the loan.
- Collateral: This is an asset that is pledged by the borrower as a security for the repayment of a loan, which could be forfeited in the event of an inability to follow through. Some lenders request collateral for a $5000 loan.
- Prepayment penalty: If you choose to pay your loan before the end of the loan term, some lenders might attach a small fee (usually between 2% – 5% of the principal amount).
- Origination fee: Some lenders request a fee to process the loan. This could be anywhere between 1% and 10% of the loaned amount.
- Lateness fee: This is usually attached to late payment. If a loan is paid a month later than expected, a lateness fee of about $25 -$50 is added.
- Repayment term: This is the period within which you have to repay the loan and interest. A $5000 loan will have a repayment term of between 12 months and 7 years, depending on the factors surrounding the loan.
- Loan grace period: This is a short extra period after the repayment term expires that a lender can give a borrower to pay up without adding a lateness fee.
It is safe practice to properly review the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) disclosure that is provided by your Lender before entering into the deal. Ensure that you confirm the total payment which includes the principal amount and all interests and charges.
Where can you get a $5000 personal loan from?
There are several options available for getting a personal loan. It is a smart decision to compare loan rates from several lenders before making a choice. Here are some places where you can get a personal loan from;
- Online Lenders:
Most people prefer this option since the digitalized application process makes it very convenient. From the confines of your home, you can simply fill out an application form and if all qualifications are met, funding will follow briefly, usually within 1-2 business days. Since there are no additional costs from physical branches, the interest rates from online lenders tend to be lower.
- Banks:
Banks are one of the most reliable financial institutions to get a loan from. Not all banks offer personal loans. The application process might be a bit more tedious than that of the online lenders. An existing customer of a bank might be offered a lower interest.
- Credit Union:
It might be easier to get a loan from credit unions than from some large banks. Credit unions are usually smaller sized and offer better customer services. They are usually non-profit and owned by members. You must be a member of a credit union before being eligible to get a loan from it. There are some membership requirements that you must also fulfill before having access to loans.
How much will it cost to get a $5000 loan?
The cost of a loan will depend on the interest rate and repayment terms. For instance, a longer repayment term will reduce the monthly payments you get to make, but increase your interest rate while a short repayment term will increase your monthly payments, but reduce your interest rate.
Let’s consider this brief example; a lender offering 6% interest on a 2 years repayment term will yield a monthly payment of $222 and an interest of $318. Another lender offering 9% interest over a 5 years repayment term will yield a monthly payment of $104 and a total interest of $1228.
Personal Loan Alternatives
There are other options that you can consider in place of a personal loan. If you have multiple credit cards, or your credit card limit is high, then you can consider using the card to get the money, especially if it is within a low range like $5000 and below. However, you must ensure that you clear off your balance monthly to avoid having a lot of accrued interest to pay. If you are not sure about being able to pay up immediately, it is best to stick with personal loans. Both options have pros and cons, and it is best to assess your finances and financial abilities and make the best decision with what you have.