What To Look For In Good Student Loan Consolidation Companies

Taking a student consolidation loan at the end of your college life is one of the wisest decisions that you can take. As soon as you graduate and are within your grace period, start inquiring about student loan consolidation companies. You can even do it before to get a head start.

Why Will I Need Student Loan Consolidation Companies?

Most of college students graduate with a debt amount of nearly $20,000. They take loans from different lenders each with high fluctuating interest rates. When they go in for student debt consolidation, these loans are bundled together by the student loan consolidation company and paid off. The student then pays the new lender at an interest rate, which is much lower than the average of all the interest rates of the previous loans taken together. The time period is also long and students have different options of repayment. Thus, student loan consolidation save money and will also make life easier as there is only one loan to repay.

How Will I Spot A Good Company?

First, search on the Internet for information. You will get an estimate of what the different companies are offering in their student debt consolidation programs. Now contact them. Check the following list to know the company that you want to associate with

Do they have a competent student loan consolidation counselor to guide you through the procedure?

Do they explain all the charges and not ask for a large upfront fee?

Do they let you take your time before signing with them for a student debt consolidation program?

Do they clear all your queries and patiently hear you out?

Do they offer any special bonus or special discount?

Do they offer different types of payment option?

Are they accredited by the association of independent consumer credit counseling agencies to consolidate your loan?

If the answers to all the above questions are yes, then you have found yourself a good student debt consolidation company. Before taking their student debt consolidation program, do not forget to check on other offers in the market. Also, crosscheck the “Better Business Bureau” for the track record of the company. Don’t go for the first debt consolidation company you come across, remember your dealing with the company will go on for a long time. So if you feel uncomfortable with a particular company, walk out of it. There will be many student loan consolidation companies offering “no-cost” student loan consolidation, but don’t get lured by them. Always check the interest rate; it should be lower than what you are paying now otherwise you will end up paying more. Also, see that the company does not penalize you for returning your debt before time.

These are the points to look out for while approaching student loan consolidation companies. Take a good student loan consolidation and see your problems vanish.

New "NextStudent’s Consolidation Program"

Student borrowers who may have missed the July 1 deadline to consolidate their student loans before the interest rate increase need to know they still can consolidate at low rates especially if students are in their grace period. NextStudent, the Phoenix-based premier education funding company, advises students with federal Stafford loans issued prior to July 1 to consolidate today and automatically receive a .6 percent reduction on already low rates.

Federal student loan consolidation bundles together all of a student borrower’s loans into one easy, manageable monthly payment. Savings over the long term can add up to thousands. NextStudent’s benefits and incentives bring down interest rates even more. In addition, with federal student loan consolidation there are no charges, fees or prepayment penalties.

Lower Rates in Grace Period

For student borrowers who had student loans prior to July 1, 2006, the initial interest rate on loan consolidation with a .6 percent rate reduction while in grace period is 6.625 percent, as opposed to the new repayment rate of 7.25 percent on student loans. The 6.625 percent rate can be reduced with NextStudent’s aggressive incentives:

• An interest rate reduction of .25 percent for student borrowers when they sign up with Auto Debit and have their payments deducted automatically

• An added interest rate reduction of 1 percent that is locked for the life of the loan following the first 36 consecutive on-time payments, OR an interest rate reduction of 2 percent following 48 consecutive on-time payments

It’s Easy to Apply for Consolidation

By bundling together all of a student’s loans and extending the repayment period, borrowers save time and money over the long term. Depending on a borrower’s balance repayment can be extended as long as 30 years. In addition, NextStudent offers the advantage of various options on repayment, including graduated repayment and income-sensitive repayment. There also are deferment and forbearance options available.

As consolidation rates are much lower than current student loan rates, now is the perfect time to consolidate and save money. Applying for NextStudent’s federal Student Loan Consolidation program does not take much time and easily is done online. NextStudent’s application is hassle-free and can be completed in four easy steps with Electronic Signature. There is no need for a co-signer and there are no credit checks. Student borrowers do not even need to know the details of their current student loan portfolio.

Now is the perfect time for student borrowers who missed the deadline to consolidate the student loans they had prior to July 1, 2006. By consolidating before the end of the grace period student borrowers can receive a low interest rate and sign up with NextStudent for other aggressive incentives to help them save even more over the long term. Student loan consolidation can rid borrowers of too many unwanted monthly bills and help make life easier and less expensive.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. Learn more about Student Loans at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

A Guide To Paying Back A Student Loan

A borrower has certain responsibilities to take care of, once a loan is negotiated. In order to keep your loan in good standing, it is important to fulfill all your obligations. A lapse in making a single payment indicates delinquency. You could get into the default record if you continue to ignore your loan repayments. If you face any trouble in arranging funds for paying back your student loan, you need to contact the organization that provided the loan. There are chances that you may qualify for forbearance, deferment or any other form of payment relief.

In most of the cases, student loans do not require repayment until after graduation. Many fresh graduates do not find a suitable placement very quickly. However, after graduation, there is a six months grace period before the repayment schedule begins. Even though a student may identify a good job, he could initially be underpaid, leading to issues with the repayment of the loan.

There are several strategies that could be adopted to help you repay the loan. Student loan lenders and service providers offer several repayment options. You should check with your creditor to gather details on any such available plans. Repayment plans offer the following options:

- Graduated repayment: The payment is lower in the beginning and increases steadily over a period of time.
- Standard repayment: Interest payments and principals are due each month, throughout the repayment term.
- Income sensitive repayment: A percentage of the borrower’s monthly income forms the basis of calculating the monthly repayment, although this plan applies for certain account borrowers.
- Extended repayment: This incorporates lower monthly payments for an extended period of 25 years.
- Loan consolidation: You can consolidate several loans into one new loan, with a low interest rate and easy finance management opportunities.
- Prepayment: This can reduce your total cost of borrowing because most private student loans allow you to make payment of a part or your entire loan before the scheduled payment. This can be done anytime during the life of the loan.

In addition you should check:

- Your state might be offering programs that reduce or even cancel your loan if you perform certain services like, nursing or teaching. You can get in touch with the state agency for postsecondary education, to check if there are such programs available in your state.
- There are religious and civic organizations that provide certain benefits and aid in repayment.
- Your personal expenses may need to be analyzed and kept minimum. Try to keep your living expenses low initially.
- It is possible to apply for forbearance, deferment or any other payment relief programs.

Deferment: It is the temporary suspension of the loan payment if you re-enroll yourself in a school, are unemployed or facing any economic hardship.

Forbearance: This is also a reduction or postponement of the loan payment, temporarily, while you are in any financial difficulty.

Other forms: These may include graduate or income sensitive loans.

If you are facing financial difficulty and it is impossible for you to repay the loan immediately, you can always take refuge in these options. They not only help you to repay your loan easily, but also help you maintain a good credit report.

Student loan

Students who do not meet federal requirements for financial need can use the route of a private student loan. Apply for a private loan is free. The loan is based on the student's creditworthiness and not the need for aid as does the federal loans.

Many lenders offer private student loans to students or their parents and the application process is simple and free. The loan requirements are usually less stringent and the repayment options are affordable for young professionals. A private student loan is a great way to finance the education of any student that needs financial help. Below you will find things that you should know and things you should consider.

Things You Should Know:

1. Student loans can be used not only to pay the fees but also for lab fees, dues for associations and housing.

2. A student can have an educational loan even though the tuition is covered by a grant.

3. A student who is eighteen years or above in age, can apply for a student loan.

4. Most of the student loan is deferred for repayment until the student completes the education or leaves the school.

Things You Need To Consider:

1. Private loans for students are not given without a co-signer or a credit report.

2. Credit unions give student loans if a vehicle or a boat is provided as collateral.

3. During the cumulative credit period, a student has the option of paying or not paying the interest part of the loan. It should be noted that paying the interest on the loan while attending school will significantly reduced the amount due when the student starts paying the loan after leaving the institution.

4. Student loans are to be repaid in ten years. Nevertheless, longer repayment facilities are provided to large student educational loans.

It is not difficult to finding lenders, because most financial institutions
offer some form of student loan.

Always take the time to investigate lenders in your immediate area and find out exactly what kind of loans they offer. Compare the different interest rate and terms to get the best offer available.