Mortgages

DragonImages/Getty Images Key takeaways To make a budget, you’ll need to know your monthly income and monthly expenses. You’ll need to categorize your expenses and evaluate where you can find opportunities to save. A monthly budget is a plan for how you’ll spend your money each month. It can help…

Key takeaways Interest rates for business lines of credit range from 3% all the way up to 60% or higher, depending on the lender and the borrower’s creditworthiness. The best rates are offered to established business owners with good-to-excellent credit. Business lines of credit may come with additional fees, such…

fizkes/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Coming up with a down payment on a home — especially if it’s your first — can feel impossible. But you don’t have to do it by yourself: There are many first-time homebuyer grants that can help. These programs are offered by banks and…

Key takeaways Popular SBA 7(a) lenders include Newtek Small Business Finance, Live Oak Bank, Huntington National Bank and Readycap Lending. SBA 504 lenders have provided over $6 billion in funding to small businesses. SBA 7(a) and 504 lenders approved more than 76,000 small business loans combined. The Small Business Administration…

Key takeaways Many lenders state their credit score requirements, helping you narrow down small business loans for bad credit. Some lenders focus more on future sales or revenue from invoices than on business credit history. Offering assets or collateral can make you less risky and improve your chances of approval…

Moment Makers Group/Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways To get a personal loan, you’ll need good credit, a stable income and a steady employment history. Bad credit loans are available, but rates can be high and loan amounts may be limited. You’ll qualify for a lower, more competitive…

Key takeaways Refinancing your mortgage typically costs between 2% and 6% of the new loan amount. These closing costs can include fees for origination, a home appraisal and more. You can save on the cost of refinancing by boosting your credit score, comparing mortgage terms and rates, and negotiating closing…

PM Images/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Personal loan amounts of $50,000 are offered by banks, credit unions, online lenders and marketplace lending sites. Because they’re unsecured, they can be funded quickly and come with higher interest rates. Maximum repayment terms are typically seven years, which could…

Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways Unsecured loans aren’t backed by collateral, making them a higher risk for lenders. Unsecured business loan rates vary, ranging from 7% to 75% APR. With good credit, you could secure a low interest rate on an unsecured loan — between…

Key takeaways You typically cannot return a car unless the dealership has a return policy. To avoid being in a position where you need to return the car, research the history of the vehicle and the dealership’s policies. If you cannot return the car, look into refinancing your auto loan,…