Long-term loans can be a positive
exercise for the consumer and a business. The flexibility of an investor's
limited capital is increased while the positive credit that they have developed
makes it easier and potentially cheaper to borrow in the future, according
to www.finpipe.com.
Introduction to long-term loans
It is rare for a consumer or business to
have enough cash on hand to invest in large and expensive items such as a house
or car and long-term loans provide the necessary debt financing for these purchases.
Long-term loans can be from three to 25 years in duration and in order to
qualify a debtor must have a positive credit history, the ability to provide
collateral, and capital.
Provided that those criteria are met, a
long-term loan can minimise the effect on operational cash flow, a debtor can
borrow at a lower interest rate, a business can minimise investor interference,
and it is also an effective way to build credit worthiness.
Long-term loan advantages
Cash flow: Capital is a limited resource
and investing large amounts into any asset or project limits the availability
of capital for other investments. Long-term loans minimise time spent saving
for investments and investors are able to realise potential earnings sooner to
help offset the cost. Although keeping some cash on hand is important to
mitigate unexpected expenses, saving large lump sums is inefficient. Long-term
loans increase the flexibility of an investor's limited capital by allowing for
its distribution over multiple investments, and minimising the immediate impact
on operational cash flow.
Lower interest rates: Lending institutions assume a high
degree of risk on long terms loans, which usually requires the borrower to
offer collateral. Often, the asset for which the funds are being borrowed can
act as that collateral. If the borrower defaults on their payments, that asset
can then be seized, or repossessed, by the lender. The simplest example is a
mortgage - a debtor borrows money to purchase a house and also uses that house
as collateral. Until the date of maturity of that loan - where the debtor
becomes the sole owner of that asset - defaulted payments will result in the
borrower being evicted and ownership of the house transferring to the lender.
Minimise investor interference: Seeking private investors and
issuing shares are common ways to raise money for potential investments.
However, these are also ways of dividing ownership of the company and therefore
redistributing control. Long-term loans provide an opportunity to finance potential
investments while maintaining control of the firm.
Build credit: Generally, long-term loans have a
very structured payment process that has been designed to meet the payment
capability of the borrower, notwithstanding unforeseen events. Therefore, making
regular payments on a long-term loan will allow an individual or a business to
build their credit worthiness. For a business owner, building a business'
credit is important to rely less on personal credit for future debt financing.
Leasing: Leasing, which is most often applied to
car financing, is a common form of a long-term loan. The borrower pays to use
the asset but is bound by the terms of the agreement. For example, on a car
lease the car cannot exceed a certain amount of kilometres - this is to ensure
that the lender can continue to use the asset should the borrower choose not to
purchase it at a discounted rate after the maturity date. Leasing is beneficial
for people or companies that either wish to have, or that require, continually
updated versions of an asset.
Uses for long-term loans
It can be very advantageous to take out
a long-term loan for both a consumer and for a business. After the maturity
date and when full ownership is assumed, the former debtor (and now owner) can
use the asset and the positive credit they have developed paying for it for
future borrowing. Thus, reliable debtors experience a compounding effect of the
advantages of a long-term loan.
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