Loan is a kind of debt which has to be paid off to the lender over a period of time. Money is lent to the borrower for a specified period of time after which it has to be returned to the lender along with suitable interest. The money to be returned is termed as the principle. To this the interest which is the cost of the loan actually, has to be added and paid back in installment. The lender earns through the interest.
What are the types of loans?
There are different types of online loans like secured loans, unsecured loans, subsidized loans etc for commercial and personal use. In the case of a secured loan, a particular asset like property, car, jewelry etc is pledged by the borrower.
Interest rate for this loan is lower as compared to a loan that is not secured. The item that has been pledged is termed as collateral. Till the loan is paid off the mortgage or the collateral is retained by the lender in this arrangement. In case there is a default then the lender possesses the legal right to sell off or repossess the asset or the collateral. This money is utilized to recover the loan. For example if a car is secured against the loan then the lender has the right to sell it and recover the loaned out money.
Direct and Indirect Loans
Direct loans and indirect loans are the two types of loans offered by the lenders. In the case of a direct loan, the lender offers the loan directly to the consumer.
In the case of an indirect loan there exists an intermediary between the lender and the borrower. In the case of an unsecured loan, there is no asset that needs to be pledged. The only thing is that interest is higher in an unsecured loan.
Besides the direct and the indirect loans even short term loans or demand loans are available which can be secured or unsecured. Repayment rates are not fixed and the floating rate of interest is charged in these loans.
Many of the financial institutions offer the unsecured loans but the rate of interest is high since there is no collateral involved. Secondly the duration of loan is shorter as compared to the secured loan. In case the borrower does not repay the lender, then the lender has the right to sue the borrower. For the unsecured lender the risk is higher and hence the rate of interest charged is more.