A direct loan is a form of low-interest student credit administered by the Department of Education. A student may have more than one direct loan at a time. In addition, direct loans are divided into subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Under subsidized loans, the borrower is partially exempt from paying the interest rate.

A bridge loan is a type of short-term lending in which a loan is granted for a fairly short period of up to 1 year at a high interest rate to pay the current obligations of the borrower.

A loan pre-approval is an agreement in principle by a particular lender to lend a specified amount to a particular borrower on exact terms and conditions. In fact, a loan pre-approval is a preliminary stage prior to the lender's final approval and signing of the loan agreement.

Loan security is a mechanism for guaranteeing the repayment of a loan, which protects the rights of the creditor. A borrower can leave some tangible assets (such as a car or real estate) as security for a loan, which then becomes a secured debt to the creditor who issues the loan. Thus, the loan is secured, and if the borrower defaults, the creditor takes possession of the asset used as its security.

A recourse loan or debt entails personal liability of the borrower. A non-recourse loan does not allow the lender to claim anything other than collateral. For example, if someone fails to repay a non-recourse mortgage loan, athe lender may only foreclose on the real estate that was the collateral.

A bridge loan is an interim or auxiliary loan issued by a bank for a period of up to 1 year at a fairly high interest rate to cover the borrower's current obligations. Usually such a loan is a temporary measure until funds are available from the main source of financing. Such a loan can be taken out by both individuals and legal entities. It is especially widespread in the field of venture capital financing, which is an investment in a business in order to receive a percentage of the total profits in the future.

By saying 'bad credit loans' we mean loans for people with bad credit history or no history at all. As a rule, they involve higher interest rates and more restrictions when compared to regular loans. The reason is that bad credit history means more risks creditor. Yeah, that simple. By the way, 'bad credit loan' is an unofficial name for such type of loans, so don't expect to find them among credit companies' services.

Most companies try to maintain a positive reputation in the market and conduct a transparent lending policy. However, there are some that are interested only in increasing profits. Often under the guise of favorable programs they use hidden fees, additional commissions and unreasonable fines, which lead customers to a debt pit. There are many parameters that may underline such companies. Among the main ones are the following: solvency and sufficient liquidity reserve, size and structure of equity capital, quality of the loan portfolio, information on the management, reputation and information transparency. You should also check for information on the company at Better Business Bureau and similar resources.

A PPP abbreviation means Paycheck Protection Program which is a governmental initiative to support business. To participate in the program, you must represent a small business or a non-profit organization with up to 500 employees. Almost forgot: You have to prove that getting a loan is really necessary for your company.

In order to qualify for a FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loan you must meet certain requirements. First of all, you must have a sustainable income. Then, you should have at least 3.5% of the total cost of the house as a down payment. Your FICO score should be no less than 580. Finally, your credit history must be normal and the house you are going to buy should cost no more than the amount you applying for.

The minimum amount of down payment for a conventional loan is 3% of the loan amount. However, as a rule, this figure is higher, because credit history and other factors are taken into account, which increase the risks for the lender and require appropriate compensation.