How do monthly payments work on a line of credit?
Like a credit card, you will pay a monthly bill that shows your advances, payments, interest, and fees. There is always a minimum payment, which may be as much as the entire balance on the account. You may also be required to “clear” the account once a year by paying off the balance in full.
Your line of credit may have an initial draw period in which you can use your credit line. There may be no payment due, or you might be expected to make minimum or interest-only payments. In some cases, you may be expected to "clear" the balance annually. Once the draw period ends, the regular repayment period begins.
Paying back a line of credit
You'll get a monthly statement showing the amount owing on your line of credit. You must make your minimum payment each month. Usually, your payment is equal to the monthly interest. However, paying only the interest means that you'll never pay off the debt that you owe.
Most lines of credit have a defined borrowing and payback period, typically 5-10 years. At the end of the term, you must pay off your balance or else renew the line of credit with updated terms. Lines of credit come in two forms: unsecured and secured.
Interest on a line of credit is usually calculated monthly through the average daily balance method. This method is used to multiply the amount of each purchase made on the line of credit by the number of days remaining in the billing period.
Lines of credit can be used to cover unexpected expenses that do not fit your budget. Potential downsides include high interest rates, late payment fees, and the potential to spend more than you can afford to repay.
You pay back part or all of the capital borrowed from your line of credit at your own pace. However, you must repay the minimum payment shown on your monthly statement.
Based on the OneMain personal loan calculator, a $5,000 loan with a 25% APR and a 60-month term length would be $147 per month. The loan terms you receive will depend on your credit profile, including credit history, income, debts and if you secure it with collateral like a car or truck.
Once the draw period ends, you'll enter the repayment period. During this phase, which can be as long as 20 years, you'll have to make payments that cover interest and a portion of the loan's principal.
For this example, the interest calculation is straightforward: a 6% interest rate on $30,000 results in $1,800 in interest over one year. This means, without considering any repayments or additional fees, the cost of borrowing $30,000 for a year at this interest rate would increase the total amount owing to $31,800.
How does a $10,000 line of credit work?
For example, if you have a credit line with a $10,000 limit, you can use part or all of it for whatever you need. If you carry a $5,000 balance, you can still use the remaining $5,000 at any time. If you pay off the $5,000, then you can access the full $10,000 again.
A line of credit gives you ongoing access to funds that you can use and re-use as needed. You're charged interest only on the amount you use. A line of credit is ideal when your cash needs can increase suddenly, such as with home renovations or education.
Personal loans are best for one-time, set expenses. Personal lines of credit are best for projects or purchases that require flexibility. Both options offer lower average rates than credit cards for borrowers with good credit. Repayment terms depend on how much you borrow and the length of your term.
Pay off your debt and save on interest by paying more than the minimum every month. The key is to make extra payments consistently so you can pay off your loan more quickly. Some lenders allow you to make an extra payment each month specifying that each extra payment goes toward the principal.
The Bottom Line
Though lenders will each have their own qualification requirements when it comes to credit scores, you could get approved for a line of credit if you have a score of 660. However, your chances of approval (and getting better interest rates) increase if your score is closer to 713 and above.
Because you can usually get a line of credit at a lower interest rate than your credit card, using a line of credit to pay off credit card debt can reduce your total interest costs and reduce the amount of time you're in debt.
Your utilization rate represents how much of your available credit you're using at a given time. If you borrow a high percentage of the line, that could increase your utilization rate, which may hurt your credit scores. Also, your credit health may suffer if you make late payments.
When you first open a line of credit, your score could suffer by a few points (similar to opening a credit card account or mortgage). This is due to the fact that the lender will want to run a hard inquiry or a "hard pull" to gather insights about your creditworthiness.
A Loan is Not Income
You do not count the cash you get from your line of credit as income. Though it can give you a quick cash infusion, you are really borrowing money. You will only pay tax on the interest you are charged until you repay the amount you borrowed.
If you don't pay at least the minimum payment or you make a late payment, you risk: your interest rate increasing. negatively affecting your credit score. losing the benefit of any promotional rate offer you have.
Why is my line of credit interest so high?
Since personal lines of credit are typically unsecured, you won't need to put up any collateral to get one. This makes the application and approval process much quicker. In exchange for the lack of collateral, a personal line of credit will have a lower credit limit and a higher interest rate.
Limits are available from $5,000 to as much as 65% of the value of your home, less any prior outstanding mortgages. If there are no outstanding mortgages, limit is available up to a maximum of 65% of the value of your home.
You need at least $10,500 in annual income to get a personal loan, in most cases. Minimum income requirements vary by lender, ranging from $10,500 to $100,000+, and a lender will request documents such as W-2 forms, bank statements, or pay stubs to verify that you have enough income or assets to afford the loan.
A $20,000 loan at 5% for 60 months (5 years) will cost you a total of $22,645.48, whereas the same loan at 3% will cost you $21,562.43. That's a savings of $1,083.05. That same wise shopper will look not only at the interest rate but also the length of the loan.
The monthly payment on a $20,000 loan ranges from $273 to $2,009, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $20,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $2,009.
