Chapter 8

Copyright ©2004 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 8

Personal Loans

Copyright ©2004 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 8-2

Chapter Objectives

• Provide a background on personal loans

• Outline the types of interest rates that are charged on personal loans

• Describe home equity loans

• Discuss car loans


Chapter Objectives

• Explain how to decide between financing the purchase of a car and leasing a car

• Describe the key features of student loans


Background on Personal Loans

• Usually obtained to finance a large purchase

• Has a specific repayment schedule

• Sources of loans– Commercial banks, savings institutions,

finance companies, credit unions, some automobile manufacturers, friends, or family members



• The personal loan process– Application process

• Personal balance sheet

• Personal cash flow statement

– Loan contract: a contract that specifies the terms of a loan, as agreed to by the borrower and the lender

• Amount of the loan

• Interest rate



– Loan repayment schedule• Amortize: to repay the principal of a loan

through a series of equal payments

• Each payment includes part of the principal and part of the interest

– Maturity: the life or duration of the loan• Longer maturity equals lower payments, but

more interest is paid over the life of the loan



– Collateral: assets of a borrower that back a secured loan in the event that the borrower defaults

• Secured loan: a loan that is backed or secured by collateral which could be repossessed if the lender defaulted on the loan

• Unsecured loan: a loan that is not backed by collateral

– Cosigning is sometimes required if credit history is weak



Exhibit 8.1: An Example of a Loan Application


Financial Planning Online:Loan Request Online

• Go to: http://www.lendingtree.com

• This Web site provides a set of questions that you can answer to specify the type of loan that you desire. You will then receive up to four loan offers from various financial institutions within the next business day.

http://www.lendingtree.com/





• Focus on Ethics: Predatory Lending– Beware of illegal lending practices

• Lender charging high loan fees

• Lender provides home equity loan with the expectation of default so he can take ownership

• Lender ties other products to loan approval

• Lender includes balloon payment at end of loan

• Loan agreement includes confusing information

– Shop around for best loan terms


Interest Rates on Personal Loans

• Annual percentage rate (APR): a rate that measures the finance expenses (including interest and other expenses) on a loan on an annualized basis

• Add-on interest method: a method of determining the monthly payment on a loan


Interest on Personal Loans



• Simple interest: interest on a loan computed as a percentage of the existing loan amount (or principal)– Size of payment depends on size of loan,

interest rate and maturity

– The higher the interest rate, the higher the payment

– The longer the maturity, the lower the payment



Exhibit 8.3: Example of a Loan Repayment Schedule


Home Equity Loan

• Home equity loan: a loan where the equity in a home serves as collateral for the loan

• Equity of a home: the market value of a home minus the debt owed on the home

• Credit limit on a home equity loan– Limit based on equity invested

– Financial institutions usually loan up to 80% of the equity in a home


Home Equity Loan

• Interest rate is typically variable– Rate is usually tied to an interest rate index

and adjusted periodically

– Interest on most home equity loans is tax deductible


Financial Planning Online:Applying for a Home Equity Loan

• Go to: http://www.bloomberg.com

• Click on: Mortgage Calculator, then Online Home Equity

• This Web site provides access to home equity loan applications.

http://www.bloomberg.com/




Car Loans

• Selecting the car — things to consider– Personal preferences

– Price

– Insurance

– Resale value

– Repair expenses

– Financing rate


Car Loans

• Negotiating the price– Negotiating by phone may be beneficial

– Trade-in tactics can be misleading

– No-haggle dealers can save time and stress

– Information is valuable – shop around

– Purchasing a car online is possible, but not yet a streamlined process


Car Loans

– Financing decisions• Estimate dollar amount of monthly payment you

can afford before shopping


Financial Planning Online:Prices of New Cars

• Go to: http://autos.yahoo.com/

• Click on: “New Car Guide” under “New Cars” heading

• This Web site provides estimates of what you should pay for any new car, based on the car’s features and options that you specify.

http://autos.yahoo.com/


Car Loans

Exhibit 8.4: Stephanie Spratt’s Car Analysis


Car Loans

Exhibit 8.5: Stephanie’s Possible Monthly Loan Payments


Financial Planning Online: Trade-In and Retail Value of Used Cars

• Go to: http://www.kbb.com

• This Web site provides trade-in and retail values for a used car, based on the condition of the car, its age, and other characteristics that you specify.

http://www.kbb.com/

http://www.kbb.com/

http://www.kbb.com/


Financial Planning Online:Car Loan Interest Rate Quotation

• Go to: http://autos.yahoo.com/buy.html

• Click on: “Car Financing,” then “Get An Auto Loan”

• This Web site provides a car loan interest rate quotation based on your desired car, the amount you need to borrow, and the term of the loan.

http://autos.yahoo.com/buy.html


Financial Planning Online:Prevailing Car Loan Interest Rates

• Go to: http://biz.yahoo.com/b/r/a.html

• This Web site provides average car loan interest rates across the United States and in various states, which provide a useful benchmark for you to consider before obtaining a car loan.

http://biz.yahoo.com/b/r/a.html


Financial Planning Online:What Is the Optimal Loan Maturity?

• Go to: http://www.financenter.com/products/sellingtools/calculators

• Click on: “Auto,” then “What term of loan should I choose?”

• This Web site provides a comparison of what your car loan payments will be based on loan maturity.

http://www.financenter.com/products/sellingtools/calculators






Purchase versus Lease Decision

• Leasing is a popular alternative to buying a car

• Advantages of leasing– Lower down payment

– Just return the car at the end of the lease period



• Disadvantages of leasing– You build no equity in the car

– You are still responsible for maintenance and damages

– Additional charges may be imposed• Too many miles

• Ending the lease before the specified period


Financial Planning Online:Should You Lease or Buy?

• Go to: http://www.bloomberg.com

• Click on: Tools, then Lease/Buy calculator

• This Web site provides a comparison of the cost of leasing versus purchasing a car.






Exhibit 8.6: Stephanie’s Comparison of the Cost of Purchasing versus Leasing



Exhibit 8.6: Stephanie’s Comparison of the Cost of Purchasing versus Leasing


Student Loans

• Student loan: a loan provided to finance part of the expenses a student incurs while pursuing a degree

• Loan may be provided to either the student or the student’s parents

• Repayment typically deferred until student is out of school

• Interest may be tax deductible


How Personal Loans Fit within Your Financial Plan

• Key personal loan decisions for your financial plan are:– How much money can you afford to borrow

on a personal loan?

– If you obtain a personal loan, should you pay it off early?


Integrating the Key Concepts


Integrating the Key Concepts

• Part 1: Financial Planning Tools

• Part 2: Liquidity Management

• Part 3: Financing– In Chapter 8 we learned about personal loans

– Chapter 9 teaches about purchasing and financing a home

• Part 4: Protecting Your Wealth

• Part 5: Investing

• Part 6: Retirement and Estate Planning

Documents

Chapter 8