The student loan industry is huge, and it is expanding as college costs rise. With students looking for ways to get into college and capital holders looking for ways to safely and lucratively invest their money, Great Lakes student loans management helps unite people who want to study with people who want to invest in their education.
Great Lakes offers all the federal loans available through the Federal Family Education Loan Program. This includes Stafford loans, which offer some funding for every year a student is in school. These can be subsidized by the federal government on a need basis, meaning that until the student finishes school, the government pays the interest on the loan, allowing the student to defer payment without capitalizing the interest. Students with unsubsidized loans also have the option of paying off the loan or just the interest while they study to avoid capitalizing the interest later.
Other federal loans include PLUS loans, which are offered to parents of students in any year of college and to graduate students in addition to the Stafford loan. This loan comes with a minimal credit requirement, which can be met using a cosigner. Federal loans are offered through the FFEL as well as directly from the Department of Education, in order to enforce a standard maximum fixed interest rate, but share the burden (and opportunity) of funding student loans between the government and lenders. By managing FFEL student loans, Great Lakes makes it possible for private investors to tap into this market.
Great Lakes also offers private or non-traditional student loans, tailored to meet both the financial needs of students and the investment and security needs of lenders. These loans make it possible for students to pay the remaining costs of their education after federal loans.
Great Lakes offers a number of services for prospective students and lenders which serve to help students plan their education, help lenders increase their business, and to generally promote higher education, which, as a higher education guaranty corporation, serves Great Lakes’ interests. These resources include pamphlets and online resources outlining the benefits of receiving a college education, loan calculators for students, and loan education resources for lenders, borrowers, schools, and counselors and financial aid professionals.
For lenders and borrowers who have already established a relationship, Great Lakes has online resources for borrowers and management software for lenders. Great Lakes offers personal financial management resources for students, as well as mutually beneficial resources for helping students avoid defaulting on loans, including consolidation options.
Great Lakes student loans services help students pay for their education by providing lenders who are interested in investing in their future.
By: Adam Hefner
Posts Tagged ‘Private Investors’
Great Lakes Student Loans Services Manage Loans for Lenders, Borrowers
February 6th, 2010Bad Credit Loans and Lender Questions & Answers
January 15th, 2010
Q: What is a private investor and how do they differ from a hard money lender or a subprime lender?
A: A private investor is an individual who lends out their own funds to borrowers who are unable to obtain a loan from a traditional lender such as a bank. It is also possible for private investors to pool their money into a fund that lends out money on a larger scale. Private investors are often wealthy or retired individuals who want a better return on their investments than they could expect to make in the stock market or other investment vehicles.
A private investor is essentially the same thing as a hard money lender. A private lender differs from a subprime lender in that the latter still funds loan through a lending institution such as a bank, although the interest rate is higher than a traditional conforming loan.
Q: Why would a bad credit lender fund my loan when traditional banks would not?
A: Hard money lenders, sub prime and bad credit lenders are often referred to as “high risk lenders.” These lenders have a unique understanding of specific types of real estate situations and markets. As long as the lending situation fits into the lenders comfort zone, they will usually make the loan. It isn’t that a bad credit lender gravitates towards overly risky loans or situations. Rather, there are additional safeguards in place for a bad credit lender. Namely, a borrower must have a 20% or higher equity stake in a property to qualify for a bad credit loan — the loan is therefore secured by a larger property ownership portion than many traditional loans.
In addition, the bad credit lender receives a higher rate of return than a bank would with a traditional conforming loan. The greater the risk for the lender, the higher the interest rate for the borrower. If one or more traditional lending institutions deny a borrower’s loan because of credit problems or a small level of liquid assets to use as collateral, a borrower will need to apply with a subprime, hard money or bad credit lender.
Q: If I qualify for a hard money loan, is there a way to eventually work into a normal loan?
A: Of course. A bad credit loan should be a short term loan – anywhere from several months to 2 years. After a borrower has spent a year or 18 months paying off their private loan, our mortgage team will try to transition you into a subprime or alt A loan. Hopefully, this is enough time to rebuild your credit and get on a more stable footing financially.
Q: What kind of financial documentation does a borrower have to show to qualify for a bad credit loan?
A: While the type of documentation needed to secure a loan will vary from lender to lender, most require either bank statements or income tax returns. The lender will usually need to see an appraisal of the property, as well as the title to make sure that the borrower is indeed the owner and to see if there are any existing liens or legal issues with the property in question. Each bad credit lender will analyze the necessary documents and then decide whether to provide the loan.
Q: What if I have damaged or bad credit as well as a low FICO score?
A: The majority of bad credit borrowers apply for a bad credit loan due to damaged credit along with a lower than normal FICO score The whole point of hard money or private loans is to provide a loan to an individual with past, recent, or current credit issues so they can rebuild their credit and eventually refinance to a more traditional type loan.
Q: What is my FICO score and how can I find out what mine is?
A: A FICO score is a basic credit score that estimates the creditworthiness of a borrower and is used by financial institutions to determine credit limits and interest rates. FICO scores are held by the three major U.S. credit agencies (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) and all vary slightly depending on the formula used to generate the score.
FICO scores range from about 300 to 850. A score above 720 is considered to be “good credit,” while a score below 600 is considered to be fair to poor. Conforming lenders want to see a credit score of usually 640 and higher. High risk lenders will look at credit scores as low as 500, as long as the borrower has 25% or higher equity in a property for collateral.
Q: How do I Apply for a Bad Credit Loan?
A: Do a search on the internet for “bad credit loans” or “bad credit lenders” and will find different bad credit lenders that offer bad credit loans in various states. Then either call them and explain your situation to them or fill out their short online application to be considered for a hard money loan. Be sure to read the language of the loan documentation carefully to protect your self from predatory lending.
By: Corey Senn
Private Investors and Small Business Financing
January 6th, 2010
To most people the only source of loans are banks and credit unions. However the finance world has many more players than that. Real estate investors have long used private mortgage investors as a way of buying real estate. Small businesses are now learning they can also use private investors to secure the funds they need to expand their businesses.
Private investors are individuals who are willing to lend their money to other people. In return the private lender receives a higher interest rate than they would get if they just put their money in the bank. Every private lender has their own lending criteria, which is often less strenuous than the red tape of a bank. I don’t meant to imply that getting a private loan is easy or guaranteed, rather just that the terms and conditions of a private loan are far more flexible because you only have to convince one person of the merits of your business proposition.
Make sure the business deal is a good one. Don’t waste your time or theirs by approaching them without a business plan or having done your due diligence. You often only have one shot to impress a private investor so don’t go into the meeting unprepared. Be confident but take any critique they offer to heart. They may help you by giving you solid insight into why you should not go forward with the plan you presented them or at least show you where your plan is weak. Listen carefully and take notes on what is said if the person declines to invest. You can tweak your business plan for the next potential investor. Or maybe the investor will say that you should fix the plan and come see them again.
Most private investors are savvy business people themselves and will understand a good business transaction when they see it. They will also be able to see through any scam someone may try to pull. Private lenders are not going to invest in a bad deal. If your business idea has merit then chances are the private lender will discuss terms with you. You are not obligated to take the terms of their loan anymore than the lender is obligated to fund the loan. Negotiate the terms to see if you can get a lower interest rate if you think it is too high. Don’t be afraid to ask for a lower interest rate or a longer period to repay.
By: Rhonda Holland