Low rate loans are available from our market leading lenders and the one you choose will depend on how well they satisfy your particular requirements. One way to get the most competitive low rate loans is to look at the loans that offer the lowest APRs or Annual Percentage Rates. This is usually a good indication but should be considered along with the type of interest rate you are being quoted. Firstly, a typical interest rate is only an indication of the rate you may be offered as it is the average rate that over 50% of applicants receive. You will be offered an exact rate from the lender for low rate loans once your specific circumstances, the amount you wish to loan and the length of time you'll need to pay back the loan has been considered. When a lender refers to a set rate then this is the rate offered to all successful applicants regardless of their credit history, loan amount or term.

Generally speaking, secured loans are low rate loans which will have the most competitive interest rates. This is because when you bet your home that you will repay the money borrowed; the lending company is taking a much lower risk lending you money. If you fail to meet your repayments and don't pay back the loan then you will be putting your home at risk of repossession. The lower risk is reflected in the lower interest rates charged by lenders. In the case of unsecured loans, there is no requirement to secure the loan with your home and this means that the lender is taking on a higher risk. The lender compensates for this by charging you a higher interest rate. Unsecured low rate loans are usually processed quicker than secured low rate loans but it is important to make sure that you can comfortably afford the repayments as creditors have been known to act very aggressively in order to protect their money.

Low rate loans could be the answer for you if you are finding it difficult to meet your monthly debt repayments on credit cards, store cards or other loans. A debt consolidation loan could enable you to reduce your monthly payments but you will probably be paying back the loan for a much longer period. Another advantage is that you could find that you are under less pressure with just one creditor instead of many and this can also simplify your monthly budgeting. It is a good idea to take a look at your income and expenditure and the amount you owe and then work out a budget which also takes emergencies into consideration.

Another factor to consider with low rate loans is your method of application. Lenders can offer different APRs for telephone or postal applications with the lowest APRs for online applications. The reason for this is that when applying online the overheads to the lender are lower and this saving is passed on to you.

APRs are a major consideration when looking for low rate loans but you should also be aware that some lenders charge an early settlement fee or redemption penalty for loans which are paid off before the agreed end date. This could be up to two months interest which is why it is wise to consider whether you would rather pay a slightly higher interest rate but with no settlement clause. It is also important to check whether the lender is quoting you a fixed interest rate (remains constant throughout the term of the loan) or a variable interest rate (can fluctuate with changes in the bank base rate).