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.

An installment loan is a very broad term that essentially includes any loan with a clear repayment schedule and number of payments (installments). Therefore, in this sense, a standard mortgage contract is also an installment loan.

Principal debt is the money that the client receives directly from the lender to solve the tasks of the loan. It does not include interest, penalties in case of late repayment, other types of charges due to changes in the terms of the agreement. When the contract is signed, payment requirements are spelled out. Borrowers usually make monthly payments in equal installments. The fee includes the body of the loan, bank interest and other payments that are part of the principal amount owed to the bank.

The key difference between secured and unsecured loans lies in their very name. Secured loans are guaranteed by the borrower's property or assets, which protects the lender to a much greater extent. Unsecured loans do not require collateral, so there is more risk for the lender. These risks need to be compensated somehow, so the terms and requirements in unsecured loans are tougher than in secured loans.

An FHA loan is a Federal Housing Administration guaranteed low down payment mortgage loan that allows you to purchase your first home. FHA loans help families become homeowners by lowering the cost of financing and reducing the size of the down payment that makes it difficult to purchase a house. According to the Mortgage Reports website, approximately 20 percent of eligible buyers apply for and receive an FHA loan due to moderate credit history and income requirements.

A USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) loan is a mortgage loan with no down payment issued to U.S. citizens for the purchase of real estate in rural and suburban areas. As a rule, the target audience of USDA loans are people with incomes below average, who cannot afford to buy a house in urban areas, as well as people who, for some reason, are unable to conclude a standard mortgage agreement.

A HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) is a loan with an agreed repayment period, in which the borrower's real estate or his share in the real estate is pledged as collateral. In this case, the borrower does not receive the entire amount, as in a conventional loan, but gets access to a credit line, which may be then used at his or her own discretion and in any amount.

APR or annual percentage rate is the sum of the monthly interest rates listed in the terms of your loan agreement. For example, if the interest rate is 3%, the annual percentage rate would be 3*12=36%. Therefore, the lower the APR, the lower the monthly interest rate will be.

A personal loan is a credit with the purpose of using money for personal purposes that are not related to entrepreneurial activity. For example, it can be a loan to purchase cell phones, furniture, household appliances, cars. It is also possible to take out a personal loan in order to pay for various services (medical, educational, tourist). A cash loan can be provided for the borrower to use at his or her own discretion. The lender can be either a trade organization or a credit organization. The borrower is an individual (person).

Predatory lending is the practice of issuing loans with extremely high interest rates. Predatory lending methods include direct deception of borrowers, aggressive sales techniques, taking advantage of borrowers' financial unawareness, confusing contractual terms, and so on. In some countries, predatory lending is illegal.

A consolidated loan is a form of debt refinancing that involves taking one loan to pay off many others. It usually refers to individuals facing consumer debt problems. The consolidation process can provide a lower overall interest rate for the entire debt load and provide the convenience of servicing only one loan or debt.