What are the best $20k personal loans?
In general, there are two main categories of loans: secured and unsecured.
Secured loans are loans that are backed by collateral. Collateral can consist of your home, vehicle, or other assets, depending on what the lender permits. Some secured loans, such as auto loans, can require collateral and a down payment. While secured loans reduce the risk for the lender, which can allow them to relax requirements in some cases, they can be more complicated and risky for the borrower. However, in some cases they are more cost-effective and can make sense.
Unsecured loans are loans that are not backed by collateral. Instead, they are extended based on your creditworthiness. While secured loans also examine a borrower’s creditworthiness, they are not solely based on it. With an unsecured loan the lender assumes more risk. If the borrower defaults on the loan it can damage their credit score, but there’s no collateral to be seized. For example, if you use an unssecured loan to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), and default on the loan, the lender should not come posses the ADU. While the funds were allocated toward the ADU, it really has no tie to the loan.
When you need to borrow larger amounts, such as $20,000, you usually encounter more options. Some are secured and some are unsecured. Now that you understand the difference between the two, let’s look at a few examples of each.
Types of secured loans:
- Home equity loan: Home equity loans are secured by your home. To qualify, you will need to have equity in your home, usually about 20%. Home equity loans are obtained for a variety of reasons from financing education or investing in home repairs. With real estate being a valuable asset, lenders can offer competitive offers for home equity loans as they can end up working in their favor, whether the borrower defaults or holds up their end of the deal.
- Auto loan: When you use an auto loan, the vehicle being financed usually serves as the collateral. Therefore, the loan is based around the value of the vehicle. Auto loans commonly require collateral and a down payment, since cars are depreciating assets. With the likelihood that your cars value will go down over time, lenders may be more selective when approving auto loans.
- Home equity line of credit: Similar to a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit is secured by your home. To qualify, you will need equity in your home. A home equity line is similar to a credit card with a high spending limit. It’s a revolving line of credit that you can draw on as needed. You will only be required to repay what you borrow, with interest. For ongoing expenses, such as paying for your child’s education, or funding a business, a home equity line of credit can come in handy.
Types of unsecured loans:
- Personal loans: Personal loans are popular due to their generous loan amounts, fast funding times, and convenience. With few spending restrictions, you can use a personal loan for several things. Additionally, a personal loan usually does not require collateral. Often used for home improvements or repairs, personal loans can also be used for debt consolidation, funeral financing, wedding financing, and more.
- Credit card: Credit cards can be easy to swipe, but be mindful that interest can accumulate quickly. If you need to borrow $20,000 for a few days or weeks, a credit card may be an option. However, for short term or long term loans, you may want to consider an alternative option.
- Home improvement loan: From converting your basem*nt into an extra room or office to landscaping your yard for the summer, creating a more livable space can improve your life. Additionally, it can increase the value of one of your best assets. Whether you are a homeowner or renter, you can use a home improvement loan to make home improvements or repairs. Without a collateral requirement, this can be an attractive option. At Acorn Finance, our network of lending partners specialize in home improvement loans. Check offers up to $100,000, depending on credit score today.
How do you compare $20,000 loans?
While you can research lenders independently to see which might be the best fit, this can be time-consuming. We have seen a boom in the online marketplace for personal loans. Lenders and businesses are recognizing the value in working together to help more people. Through platforms such as Acorn Finance, you can check rates and compare loan offers from a network of top national lenders.
As you compare offers, consider the following components of loan offers as applicable. It’s important to look past just the monthly payment or loan amount.
- APR: APR can play a big role in the total cost of the loan. APR represents the yearly interest charge generated by the loan. In most cases, the interest fee for the year will be bundled into monthly payments, so you may not even realize your are paying it. That is, until you do the math or look at the APR. If you take out a $20,000 loan with a repayment period of five years, the APR can add up year over year.
- Fees: On top of APR, you may encounter fees applied to your loan. Origination fees or late payment fees are a few examples of fees. Some loans may have higher fees than others, thus impacting the total loan cost.
- Total loan cost: Note what the loan will cost you over the duration of the loan. If there are no prepayment penalties, you may be able to pay the loan off sooner that the repayment period to save money on the total loan costs.
At Acorn Finance, you can check personal loan offers up to $100,000, depending on credit score. Our network of top lenders wants to earn your business. Check rates in minutes with no credit score impact. With access to multiple offers in one place you can simplify the process of finding the best personal loan offer. We streamline the loan shopping process by providing consumers with a safe and secure platform to shop for personal loan offers. Without commitment or a credit score impact, you can still see what you qualify for.
What are $20k loans?
A $20,000 loan is a loan for $20,000. They can come in various types such as home equity loans, personal loans, home equity line of credit (HELOC), auto loans, and so forth.
How do $20k personal loans work?
The specifics on how a $20k personal loans works can vary, depending on the lender. In general, a personal loan is funded as a lump sum that’s to be repaid over a predetermine period with interest. Most personal loans have few spending restrictions so you can use the funds as needed, as long as you are within the restrictions. Personal loans are a type of installment loan.
When are $20k loans worth it?
Using a loan for a purpose that can benefit your life or increase the value of an asset can make it more justifiable. What you want to avoid is taking out a loan to solve one financial dilemma, but creating another with the new debt. Some examples of uses for a $20k personal loan that might make sense can include:
- Home repairs
- Roof repairs
- Education
- Auto repairs
- HVAC repair
List pros & cons of $20k personal loans:
Pros
- Fixed monthly payments
- Funding in as little as 1-2 business days (although funding times may vary)
- Funded as a lump sum
- Few spending restrictions
- Marketplace of lenders to consider
Cons
- Interest rates and fees
- Risk of default
- Credit score impact
- Increase in project costs
- Increases debt
Why choose Acorn Finance for comparing $20k loans?
Partnering with a trusted platform such as Acorn Finance can alleviate some of the stress associated with taking out a loan. At Acorn Finance, we work to streamline the process of checking personal loan offers with our safe and secure platform. At Acorn Finance, you can check rates in seconds with no credit score impact. Take advantage of our convenient portal with vetted and trusted top lending partners. With well-known names, you can expedite your way to finding the right $20,000 dollar personal loan.
Additionally, we eliminate the frustration of sifting through the internet, verifying lenders, and researching for hours. Whether you are ready to take out a loan today or just shopping around - you have everything to gain by checking offers at Acorn.
Plus, you can sign in and return to them at a later date if the offers are still available. Our lending partners can fund loans in as little as 1-2 business days, although funding times can vary, so when you’re ready to accept an offer, they are ready to help. Upon accepting the offer, you can complete the application and approval process with the lender of your choice.
We take the overwhelming process of shopping loan offers and bundle them up into a nutshell (no pun intended).
Pros and cons of lenders $20k personal loans:
Lenders typically have minimum and maximum loan amounts, but these are not guaranteed for everyone. Applicants will need to qualify. However, if you need to borrow $20,000, you will want to at the least apply with a lender that’s a possibility with. Here are some top lenders for personal loans.
