headercom

Did You Know?

We serve loans, the best way you can borrow

What is Difference Between Loan and Mortgage

What is Difference Between Loan and Mortgage

The banking world is rapidly changing. With more advancement in this field, there are many terms that are commonly used that aren’t known to an average person; mostly those who don’t borrow any kind of loans. Of the many terms, we have loans and mortgages. Many people might have heard about loans and mortgages whenever they opt to borrow loans for one reason or the other. But there are some who don’t precisely know or have ever heard of them. So, what is the difference between loan and mortgage? Read on to learn now.

What's a Loan?

This is a financial agreement between parties. Usually, the lender provides money to the borrower, who is supposed to repay the principal loan amount together with interest. Once the borrower agrees to take the money, they must repay it within an agreed period according to the lender's terms. The loan is repaid in fixed monthly payments till it finishes. Loans can either be secured or unsecured. A secured loan is one where the assets are used as collateral and are given to the lender at the time of a loan, or they take your property when you fail to pay, while unsecured loans don't have any security.

What's a Mortgage?

A mortgage is a long-term loan taken out by people who want to purchase a property. This property can be a house or a car. You borrow money from the lender, pay them back in monthly installments, and own the asset in which you invested your money at the end of the loan period. A mortgage is a secured loan as your property or home is used as collateral. The mortgage is registered on your home's title. So, when you don't meet the requirements set for repayment, the lender has all the legal rights to get back the property and sell it. A common form of mortgage is a home equity loan.

So, what are the differences between loan and mortgage? The way the loan and mortgage agreement works is as explained below in points:

Collateral

The most crucial difference between a loan and a mortgage is that in a loan there is no collateral, whereas in a mortgage, your home or real estate property is used as collateral. If you fail to repay the loan amount, the lender gets back the property he gave as security during the disbursement of money. In the case of a loan, you don't need any security, but the mortgage demands that you provide valid security by giving your property.

Loan Periods

The loan period for repaying loans is usually less. This is because most loan agreements are in the form of an installment payment agreement and are not usually fixed-period loans. A mortgage has a longer repayment period. The length varies from transaction to transaction depending on your choice and needs and the lender's.

You may also read this: Home renovation loans

Formalities

Another clear difference between loan and mortgage is the formalities. A mortgage must be made more formal than a loan since it is secured as such, needing more formalities. A mortgage requires you to provide better security in the form of your property rather than it being collateral for your loan. On the other hand, a loan only needs an agreement between the borrower and the lender.

Documentations

There are not too many documents required in the case of loans, but for mortgages, you must go through lengthy documentation and paperwork. The deed, application, and other legal documents must be submitted in case of mortgages.

Borrower's Credit Standing

In the case of a loan, the borrower has more flexibility than he does in the case of mortgages. He can even use his credit standing for borrowing money, but there are many restrictions as compared to loans when it comes to mortgages.

Tenure

Tenure is the period during which you repay the loan. It is usually computed in months or years. A mortgage is an amount borrowed for a longer time, and you are expected to repay it within a specific timeframe.

In the case of loans, there are various repayment plans and rates of interest depending on income brackets, credit score, and other factors that affect your credit standing. But in the case of mortgages, many banks offer fixed rates for fixed tenures to people.

Rate of Interest

The interest rate charged on loans is usually lower than what you will be charged in the case of mortgages. Why? It is because of the higher risk associated with mortgages. The lender is expecting a higher interest rate because there are more risks involved in the case of mortgages. So, if you are seeking a long-term loan, you should go for a mortgage, but if you need to borrow money on a short-term basis, loans are your best choice.

Secured and Unsecured Loan

Loans can be secured or unsecured. This depends on the nature of the collateral you provide. In the case of secured loans, you are giving away properties or assets as a security, while in the case of unsecured loans, no asset is needed. There are some kinds of secured loans, like car loans, where you take the car as collateral. But in the case of unsecured loans, there is no collateral required.

In most cases, loans are unsecured loans. They are loans wherein one can borrow money without security from the lender, but mortgages are secured loans. The property you buy using money from your home equity loan is used as collateral for securing the loan.

That's all there is to loan vs. mortgage. The differences are quite clear from here. Remember that the terms and conditions and agreements may vary from lender to lender, so it's best to compare before you finally decide on a loan or mortgage.

After you choose your preferred loan or mortgage and agree with the terms, you should manage the debt accordingly. Managing debt is not easy, but it gets easier once you get a grip on it. It is very easy to get carried away when you are getting into debt and neglecting loan repayments. One of the most important things to remember about managing debt is that if you keep on paying regularly, you won't have to worry about the burden of a loan either later or at any time in the future.

Keep your loan as low as possible, always. But that's not the only thing at play here. Keep track of what you are paying and make sure that you are managing the loan well. Use your credit cards wisely, but stay disciplined. When used wisely, they can help you in many ways but misuse them frequently, and they can get into trouble.

Conclusion

So, as we can see from the above points, there is a huge difference between a loan and a mortgage. Loans are short-term unsecured debt instruments. They can either be secured or unsecured, and mortgages demand a high-security deposit in the form of collateral, which is your property or home, the main difference between loans and mortgages.

You can differentiate between a loan and a mortgage easily from this post. Above all, both a loan and a mortgage are secured financial agreements with the lender. However, both differ in many ways, as mentioned above. The main objective of getting a loan or mortgage is to achieve what you desire to do.

Recent Blogs