We certainly don't live in a world that waits for us to save up our money before we can pay for something. It used to be that way, but not any more. Costs are have risen higher than income in many cases, making loans and credit a necessary part of life. If you find that you need a loan, a secured loan is a way to increase the amount that you can borrow and often enable you to borrow it at a better rate.

What is a secured loan?

An unsecured loan is a loan of money that is simply leant to you based on your credit rating or on your word. If you were to default this loan, you would be expected to pay it and your name would probably be submitted to a collections agency to make the collection or you might be taken to small claims court. However, that is all the lender can do.

If you need to borrow a greater amount of money or want to borrow money at a better rate, borrowing against some kind of equity is the way to go. Perhaps the equity is your home, or some other kind of possession, like valuables, stocks, or your car.

How is it better than an unsecured loan?

Borrowing against this equity tells the lending agency that if you cannot make your payments, they can take your equity as an alternative form of payment.

Lending agencies like this because it means that they have some security on the money you owe, in case you default on your payments. At the same though, coming to you to take your home away from you is difficult to do for them, since they are bankers and not realtors. They may be more willing to renegotiate payment terms if that is what you need to do.

So, rather than spend an arm and a leg on unsecured loans, if you need to borrow money, consider getting a secured loan. You'll get the chance to borrow more money, at a lower rate, and with the possibility of better payment terms.