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.

A credit line loan is a method of lending in which a borrower is entitled to receive and use the funds within an allocated period of time, with a disbursement limit and/or a debt limit. The credit line agreement includes an obligation of the bank to provide a loan to the borrower within a certain period of time under agreed terms and conditions.

A loan to value (LTV) ratio shows how much of the value of the property a borrower acquires a creditor is ready to lend him or her. Since this is usually a mortgage loan, the LTV essentially shows how much of the value of the property you already own and how much you are able to pay as a down payment. This will directly affect the interest rate and terms of the loan. Moving to specific numbers, a good LTV ratio would be 80% for conventional loans and 95% for FHA loans.

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.

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 finance charge on a loan is the sum of all interest and other charges and costs, including one-time charges, that the borrower will pay over the life of the loan agreement, that is, from the time the loan is signed until the last payment is made and the loan is closed. Thus, a finance charge on a loan includes not only the interest rate, but also origination fees and insurance.

Although the range of interest rates offered by U.S. lending institutions in 2021 varies from 3% to 36%, the average interest rate for personal loans has remained about the same for the past 2-3 years, namely 11-12%. Of course, this figure is purely theoretical, because in practice everything depends on a variety of factors and criteria.

A personal unsecured loan is a personal loan issued by a lender without any collateral from the borrower's side. Of course, unsecured loans are accompanied by an increased risk of the borrower's default, so the interest rate is much higher and the maximum loan amount is much lower than for secured loans.

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.

A loan margin is defined as the difference between the appraised value of a product or service and the amount of the loan issued by the bank for the purchase of that product or service. These two figures are fixed in the loan agreement at the time a borrower applies for a loan.

A VA loan is a mortgage loan secured by Veterans Benefits Administration that is designed for U.S. military veterans and certain members of their families. It is important to understand that the Veterans Benefits Administration is not a lender, it only supervises terms and conditions of VA loans issued by private lending institutions, including banks.