Most people could use a cash injection at some point in their lives. Perhaps they need to cover major home repairs, a big-ticket purchase, or emergency expenses. Whatever the reason, a personal loan may be a good idea, especially for borrowers with a strong credit history.
Read on to learn about $50,000 personal loans. Find out why they might be right for you (and when they may be wrong), how the terms are decided, and possible alternatives to a personal loan for $50K.
What Are Personal Loans?
Personal loans are a convenient way to fund a short-term cash flow problem or consolidate credit card debt. In many cases, once the loan is approved, the funds are deposited to your account within a day or two.
Banks, credit unions, or online lenders can all provide personal loans. The amount of a personal loan typically ranges from $1,000 to $100,000. Payback terms are flexible, running from 12 months to several years, and loan payments are due monthly. Personal loan rates vary depending on the credit score of the borrower: A higher credit score will be rewarded with better terms and a lower interest rate.
Despite their flexibility and convenience, there are pros and cons to personal loans that a borrower should be aware of before they opt for this financing option.
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Pros and Cons of Getting a $50,000 Personal Loan
One of the biggest advantages of an unsecured personal loan is that no collateral is required, which means you don’t risk losing your home or car. On the other hand, interest rates can be high if your credit score is low, and fees and penalties often apply.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Funds received in a lump sum, often within a day or two | If you have poor credit, the interest rate could be higher than other financing options, even credit cards |
| No collateral required if it is an unsecured loan | Few lenders available to borrowers with no financial history |
| Funds can be used for any purpose, unlike a mortgage or auto loan | Potentially high fees and penalties for paying it off early |
| Excellent credit score not required | Interest and fees may be high if your credit score is low |
| Interest rates often beat credit card rates | Adds to your debt and is one more payment to make each month |
| Higher borrowing limits | Monthly payments are higher than minimum payments on a credit card |
Considerations When Looking for a $50,000 Personal Loan
Borrowers should pay special attention to these factors when comparing loans.
Types of Lenders
Three types of lenders offer personal loans: traditional banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Each lender will offer different loan terms, interest rates, and fees.
Online lenders will deliver funds faster, and they may offer lower rates because they have fewer overhead costs, such as physical branches to maintain. Banks and credit unions may offer discounts to their customers who hold checking or savings accounts.
Interest Rates
The biggest consideration for a $50,000 personal loan is the interest rate, because the rate and the length of the loan will determine the total cost of the loan. The shorter the loan, the less interest you will pay, and the lower the total cost.
In most cases personal loans have a fixed interest rate, but some do have variable rates. Variable rate loans often start out with a relatively low interest rate, but the rate can rise significantly later, increasing the monthly payments.
Fees
Origination fees can be hidden in the fine print, so make sure you understand how they impact the annual percentage rate (APR) that you are charged. Also check if there’s a prepayment penalty for paying off your loan early.
Total Repayment Cost
The total repayment cost of a $50,000 loan will depend on the interest rate and the length of the loan. You will make more payments over a longer term, racking up more interest and increasing the total cost of the loan. A shorter term will lower the total repayment cost. To minimize total repayment costs, select a loan with the biggest monthly payment you can comfortably afford and the shortest repayment term.
Monthly Payment Amount
The monthly payment is critical. If a monthly payment offered by a lender seems like a stretch, try to negotiate a longer repayment period. For instance, if a five-year loan is extended to a seven-year loan, you’ll make 84 smaller payments compared to 60 larger payments. Just remember, you’ll pay more interest over the life of the loan.
Credit Score
The minimum credit score to qualify for a $50,000 personal loan will depend on the lender. For such a significant loan amount, a traditional bank or credit union may require a credit score of 650 or more, which is considered a fair credit score. Other lenders may require a credit score of 600. Take steps to improve your score by removing any inaccuracies before you shop for a loan.
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Debt to Income Ratio
A lender will consider your debt-to-income ratio when qualifying you for a personal loan. This ratio shows what proportion of your income is already used for existing debt, and whether you have enough income to pay the additional personal loan monthly payments. According to Investopedia, a debt-to-income ratio of around 36% or lower is desirable. A higher ratio may mean you’ll pay a higher interest rate.
Collateral
A personal loan is usually “unsecured,” which means that it doesn’t require collateral, such as your home, car, or savings account. If you have bad credit, however, the lender may ask you to provide collateral for a large loan.
Cosigner
One option for a borrower with bad credit is to apply with a cosigner that has good credit. This balances out the credit score calculation. The cosigner agrees to make the payments if you cannot.
How To Qualify for a $50,000 Personal Loan With Bad Credit
A $50,000 loan will be expensive if you have bad credit (read more on the bad credit score range). The best thing to do is to boost your credit score to at least 650. Check for any errors on your credit report, use credit cards sensibly, and pay bills on time.
It is possible to get $50,000 with a lower credit score, but you may have to resort to a secured loan, such as a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or find a cosigner.
Questions To Ask Yourself Before Taking Out a Large Personal Loan
A $50,000 personal loan is a huge financial commitment. Ask yourself the following questions before signing on the dotted line.
How Much Do I Really Need?
Minimizing your debt load means you pay less to lenders in fees and interest. Consider whether you can borrow money from another source at a lower cost and reduce the amount that you need from a personal loan.
Can You Afford the Monthly Payment?
If the monthly payment is going to take a big bite out of your paycheck each month, you may find yourself unable to meet the payments. Make sure your cash flow is sufficient to meet your monthly payments.
Is a Personal Loan Your Best Financing Option?
Look at other options before you settle on a $50,000 personal loan. If you have equity in your home, refinancing your mortgage or obtaining a HELOC might be a better choice. Credit cards and borrowing from family or friends are also good alternatives.
How Will the Loan Affect Your Credit?
When you are shopping for a loan, whether it be for $5,000, $10,000, or $100,000, a lender may pull a soft credit check to prequalify you. This will not affect your credit score. When you formally apply for your loan, the lender will do a hard credit check. This may reduce your credit score by around five points for one year.
Aside from credit checks, personal loans can help build your credit history or seriously hurt it, depending on how you manage your payments. If you make a payment that’s over 30 days late and it gets reported to the credit bureaus, it could lower your credit rating from excellent to fair. But if you use your loan to consolidate existing debt, your score might actually rise because your credit utilization ratio has improved.
Recommended: What’s the Difference Between a Hard and Soft Credit Check?
Alternatives to $50,000 Personal Loans
As we already mentioned, two alternatives to a $50,000 personal loan are a home equity loan or a HELOC. A home equity loan uses your home’s equity as collateral. This type of loan may have longer repayment terms and lower interest rates than personal loans because your home is used as security. However, you risk losing your home if you can’t make the payments.
A HELOC is a revolving line of credit that you can draw from when you need to. It works like a credit card but uses your home as collateral. Again, you risk losing your home if you cannot make the payments.
The Takeaway
Personal loans for $50,000 are easy to find. Traditional banks, credit unions, and online lenders all provide flexible personal loans. The terms of a personal loan will depend on your credit score, and the higher your score the lower your interest rate.
An online lender can prequalify you and deliver funds in a day or two to your account. A bank or credit union may take longer, but they may also offer better terms to their customers. Borrowers should find out the average personal loan interest rate, shop around with different lenders, and look out for origination fees and prepayment penalties hidden in the small print.
Consider a personal loan with SoFi. SoFi personal loans have absolutely zero fees required. No prepayment fees. No late fees.
FAQ
What credit score do I need to get a $50,000 personal loan?
Most lenders will require a credit score of 650 or more, which is considered a fair credit score. Other lenders may require a credit score of 600, but they will charge higher fees and a higher interest rate.
How can you qualify for a $50,000 personal loan?
In general, to qualify for a $50,000 personal loan you will need to show you have sufficient income to make the monthly payments and have a credit score of 650 or higher. You also must be 18 years old and a U.S. citizen, legal resident, or visa holder.
Is it hard to get a 50k personal loan?
It is not difficult to get a $50K personal loan if you have good credit. If you have poor credit, the number of lenders available to you will be limited, and you will likely face higher interest rates and high fees, making the loan quite costly.
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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.
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