What Is a Guaranteed Loan?
A guaranteedloanis a loan that a third party guarantees—or assumes the debt obligation for—in the event that the borrower defaults. Sometimes, a guaranteedloan isguaranteed by a government agency, which will purchase the debt from the lending financial institution and take on responsibility for the loan.
Key Takeaways
- A guaranteed loan is a type of loan in which a third party agrees to pay if the borrower should default.
- A guaranteed loan is used by borrowers with poor credit or little in the way of financial resources; it enables financially unattractive candidates to qualify for a loan and assures that the lender won't lose money.
- Guaranteed mortgages, federal student loans, and payday loans are all examples of guaranteed loans.
- Guaranteed mortgages are usually backed by the Federal Housing Administration or the Department of Veteran Affairs; federal student loans are backed by the U.S. Department of Education; payday loans are guaranteed by the borrower's paycheck.
How a Guaranteed Loan Works
A guaranteed loan agreement may be made when a borrower is an unattractive candidate for a regular bank loan. It is a way for people who need financial assistance to secure funds when they otherwise may not qualify to acquire them. And the guarantee means that the lending institution does not incur excessive risk in issuing these loans.
Types of Guaranteed Loans
There are a variety of guaranteed loans. Some are safe and reliable ways to raise money, but others involve risks that can include unusually high interest rates. Borrowers should carefully scrutinize the terms of any guaranteed loan they are considering.
Guaranteed Mortgages
One example of a guaranteed loan is a guaranteed mortgage. The third party guaranteeing these home loans in most instances is the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Homebuyers who are considered risky borrowers—they don't qualify for a conventional mortgage, for example, or they don't have an adequate down payment and have to borrow close to 100% of the home's value—may get a guaranteed mortgage. FHA loans require that borrowers pay mortgage insurance to protect the lender in case the borrower defaults on their home loan.
Federal Student Loans
Another type of guaranteed loan is a federal student loan, which is guaranteed by an agency of the federal government. Federal student loans are the easiest student loans to qualify for—there is no credit check, for example—and they have the best terms and lowest interest rates because the U.S. Department of Education guarantees them with taxpayer dollars.
In order to apply for a federal student loan, you must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, each year that you want to remain eligible for federal student aid. Repayment on these loans begins after the student leaves college or drops below half-time enrollment. Many loans also have a grace period.
Payday Loans
The third type of guaranteed loan is a payday loan. When someone takes out a payday loan, theirpaycheck plays the role of the third party that guarantees the loan. A lending organization gives the borrower a loan, and the borrower writes the lender a post-dated check that the lender then cashes on thatdate—typically two weeks later. Sometimes lenders willrequire electronic access to a borrower's account to pull out funds, but it's best not to sign onto a guaranteed loan under those circ*mstances, especially if the lender isn't a traditional bank.
Payday guaranteed loans often ensnare borrowers in a cycle of debt with interest rates as high as 400% or more.
The problem with payday loans is that they tend to create a cycle of debt, which can cause additional problems for people who are already in tough financial straits. This can happen when a borrower doesn't havethe funds to repay their loan at the end of the typical two-week term.In such a scenario,the loan rolls into another loan with a whole new round of fees. Interest rates can be as high as 400% or more—and lenders typically charge the highest rates allowed under local laws. Some unscrupulouslenders may even attempt to cash a borrower's check before the post date, which createsthe risk of overdraft.
Alternatives to payday guaranteed loans include unsecured personal loans, which are availablethroughlocal banks oronline, credit card cash advances (you can save considerable money over payday loanseven with rates on advances as high as 30%), or borrowing from a family member.
