What Are Two Common Types of Loans? (2024)

Two common types of loans aremortgagesandpersonal loans. The key differences between mortgages and personal loans are that mortgages are secured by the property they're used to purchase, while personal loans are usually unsecured and can be used for anything. One thing most loan types have in common, though, is that the borrower gets a lump sum of money up front and pays it off over time.

Category

Mortgages

Personal Loans

Used for

To purchase real estate

Nearly anything

Repayment period

Up to 30 years

Up to 12 years

Collateral required

The home's title

Usually none

APR

3% to 6%

2.49% to 35.99%

Credit score required

620 for private, 580 for government-insured

580+


In general, the main types of loans are secured and unsecured loans. Secured loans are backed by collateral, such as a home or a vehicle, which the lender can seize if the borrower fails to repay the loan. On the other hand, unsecured loans do not require any collateral, and approval typically depends on your credit history, income and existing debts.

If you're interested in a personal loan, you can check out the top-rankedpersonal loanoffers andpre-qualifywith multiple lenders for free on WalletHub.

This answer was first published on 04/21/23 and it was last updated on 10/18/23. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.

What Are Two Common Types of Loans? (2024)

FAQs

What are the most common type of loans? ›

Mortgages and auto loans are the most common installment loans. Almost everyone will have one or the other in their life, but you may also encounter personal loans, student loans and buy now, pay later loans. These are also popular — and often necessary — financing options.

Are there two types of loans? ›

Loans are classified into two factors based on the purpose that they are used for: Secured loans. Unsecured loans.

What are 2 types of government loans? ›

Loan Categories
  • Agricultural Loans.
  • Education Loans.
  • Housing Loans.
  • Loan Repayment.
  • Veterans Loans.

What are the two main loan terms? ›

There are several important terms that determine the size of a loan and how quickly the borrower can pay it back: Principal: This is the original amount of money that is being borrowed. Loan Term: The amount of time that the borrower has to repay the loan.

What are the 2 most common types of federal loans? ›

Direct Subsidized Loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school. Direct Unsubsidized Loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but eligibility is not based upon financial need.

What is the most common loan today? ›

Conventional home loans are still the most common type of loan, accounting for two-thirds (66%) of all mortgages. Conventional loans offer borrowers certain protections and advantages, including lower interest rates than alternatives like adjustable rate mortgages.

Which is best type of loan? ›

A personal loan is probably the best way to go for those who need to borrow a relatively small amount of money and are certain they can repay it within a couple of years. A personal loan calculator can be a useful tool for determining what kind of interest rate is within your means.

What are the two main parts to a loan? ›

There are two main parts of a loan:
  • The principal -- the money that you borrow.
  • The interest -- this is like paying rent on the money you borrow.

Can you have 2 different loans? ›

Yes. Many banks and lenders will allow you to take out more than one loan, but they typically have limits. These are a few lenders that cap the number of loans or amount of money you can borrow. Be sure to check the fine print or ask a lender directly if they aren't on this list and you want to know their limits.

What are the two types of government debt? ›

There are two major categories for federal debt: debt held by the public and intragovernmental holdings.

What type of loans are guaranteed? ›

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.

What are two things a lender will want to know about the borrower? ›

Lenders look at your income, employment history, savings and monthly debt payments, and other financial obligations to make sure you have the means to comfortably take on a mortgage.

What are the two major types of financing? ›

There are two types of financing available to a company when it needs to raise capital: equity financing and debt financing.

What are the two main types of mortgages? ›

There are two main types of mortgages: fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. Each mortgage comes with its own set of features and benefits for you to consider. Fixed-Rate Mortgage: This mortgage type has an interest rate that stays the same for the life of the loan.

What are the two types of short term financing? ›

The main sources of short-term financing are (1) trade credit, (2) commercial bank loans, (3) commercial paper, a specific type of promissory note, and (4) secured loans.

What is the most common type of personal loan? ›

Unsecured personal loans are common among lenders and don't require collateral. Secured personal loans are less common as they require collateral and usually offer lower interest rates.

What is the most common home loan? ›

Conventional mortgages are the most common type of mortgage. That said, conventional loans may have different requirements for a borrower's minimum credit score and debt-to-income ratio (DTI) than other loan options.

What is the most common type of finance used? ›

Debt financing is the most common type of business finance and encompasses traditional and alternative funding sources. You don't need to offer any equity in exchange for funding with debt financing, but you will typically need to repay the sum borrowed plus interest.

What is the most common type of consumer loan? ›

Here is a list of some of the most popular varieties of loans:
  • Debt consolidation.
  • Student.
  • Mortgages.
  • Auto.
  • Veterans.
  • Small business.
  • Payday.
  • Borrowing from friends and family.

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