Although it may be a given for many people these days, it is still important to know something about loans when you are thinking about applying for one. In fact, most people already have one type of loan or another. There are many different kinds of loans offered by banks, credit unions, private lenders, and other financial institutions. Each loan may be subject to the specific requirements of the institution offering it and many loans are actually tailored to the particular applicant. All of this aside, there are four major types of loans that are used by consumers. Each type has a different object or focus attached.



The first major type of loan is the personal loan. These are the loans that you would obtain from a bank or credit union as an individual. At the same time, there is some overlap between personal and small business since the purposes of each may often coincide. For example, you may need a personal loan to fund a new small business opportunity. A personal loan may simply be a loan that you receive in order to pay for a necessary expenditure like replacing a major appliance, paying bills, or getting a vehicle. Personal loans are also used to consolidate debt.

A second type of loan is the home or mortgage loan. This is the category of loans relating to new home purchasing, but may also deal with using your existing home mortgage as a form of collateral to get a loan for other purposes. Like other types of loans, these loans have specific requirements and qualifications organized by the lender, which must be met by loan applicant. Home loans are long-term expenses. You need to keep this in mind and plan accordingly and take other expenses that will be included so you have a clear idea of your payments. Now a mortgage loan may also include those who already have homes but want to take a loan out on the mortgage or house, using this as collateral to secure the desired amount. There are specific requirements involved in these situations as well and there is risk involved since you are putting up your home as collateral.

The third major type of loan is the automotive loan. This is a narrower category since it deals exclusively with the purchase of vehicles. Everyone needs a car or some other means of transportation in today's world. More importantly, they need something that is reliable and will get them where they need to go. Cars, even used cars, are expensive and most of us do not have the money to go and buy one outright. Therefore, auto loans are required to purchase a vehicle. Automobile dealerships typically provide financing options for auto loans via participating lenders. Again, there will be requirements that you must meet like credit rating or income level to qualify for the loan. Different lenders have different policies regarding auto loans so you will have to investigate them individually to find out if you are eligible.

The fourth major type or category of loan is the education or student loan. This category includes both students who have gone from high school to college or university as well as adult professionals who have chosen to pursue further educational opportunities to increase their marketability in their chosen profession. Since education and training can have a direct effect upon financial success, many banks, credit unions, and government-sponsored financial aid programs are growing in numbers to provide opportunities for those seeking educational finance assistance.

These four types of loans are a part of our everyday lives. At some point, most of us will receive one or more of these loans if we hope to have a car, a house, an education, or take care of personal matters beyond our current financial ability to resolve. It can pay to have a better understanding of these different loans so we can make the best decisions when a loan becomes necessary.