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Joint Personal Loans
Compare joint personal loans with Savvy and start the application process with your partner today.
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The features and benefits of joint personal loans
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With both secured and unsecured personal loans available, you can lock in a competitive interest rates tailored to your profile by comparing offers with us.
100% financing available
You won’t need to make a deposit on your personal loan; get approved for however much you can afford from as little as $2,000 all the way up to $75,000.
Choose your own term length
Loan terms are available from one to seven years, giving you and your co-borrower flexibility to select a loan length that accommodates your repayment needs.
Smaller repayments
By splitting each repayment with your co-borrower, your contribution to the personal loan each month is halved compared to the same loan taken out on your own.
Build your credit scores together
When you and your co-borrower make repayments, you’ll each be gradually improving your credit score, potentially putting you in a better position to borrow in the future.
Consolidate debt
One of the most common uses for a personal loan is to consolidate outstanding debts. Shared debts are no exception and can help you tackle them together.
Types of personal loan
With an unsecured personal loan, you can potentially borrow as much as $75,000 without the need to attach any valuable assets, such as your car, as security. These loans are the most widely available and often the quickest, with same-day approval possible.
Secured personal loans, on the other hand, make use of collateral. This lowers your risk profile in the eyes of a lender, potentially lowering your interest rate and expanding your borrowing power beyond what you may be able to get through an unsecured loan.
Variable interest rates remain open to fluctuation during your term. This means you can benefit from decreasing rates and save on your loan if the market heads in that direction, although you’ll also pay more if rates start rising.
Fixed interest rates are locked at the beginning of your loan and remain constant throughout your repayments. This acts as a valuable protection against interest rate increases, as your loan will be unaffected, but you’ll miss out on potential drops as well.
If you’re paying off multiple debts at the moment, particularly those with high interest (such as credit card debts), consolidating them into one payment can not only make them more convenient to manage but also potentially save you money overall.
Looking to take off on a holiday with your family but want to pay it off at your own speed? Travelling can be expensive, so you can distribute the cost of your next trip over a period you’re more comfortable with by taking out a personal loan to pay for it.
There are so many costs that go into making your dream wedding a reality, from venue hire to catering to dresses and suits and so much more. By taking out a personal loan, you can start planning the big day you want, even if you can’t pay for it upfront.
Home improvements are desirable for a range of homeowners to help keep their living space fresh and interesting, not to mention increase its value. You can get past the financial hit of renovations with a personal loan paid in instalments.
Personal loans aren’t limited to PAYG employees, though. If you’re running your own business, you can still be approved for financing by submitting tax returns and other alternative documents instead of payslips and utilise your funds however you wish.
There’s a variety of expenses which come with being a student, ranging from the cost of your courses, textbooks and computer to your accommodation. Taking out a personal loan can make these costs more manageable by spacing them out.
Some lenders offer green personal loans, which are designed to be used for energy-efficient appliances and products such as solar panel and air conditioning installation in your home. You can qualify for lower interest rates and fees with this loan.
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How do I compare joint loans?
Secured and unsecured
You’ll have the choice between opting for a secured or unsecured loan, meaning that you can either attach an asset as collateral to secure the loan or avoid doing so. Interest rates are generally lower with secured loans and lenders may be more willing to accept your application even if your credit score isn’t perfect.
However, unsecured loans are easier to obtain in general and can be processed more quickly.
Interest rates
Another key consideration for borrowers is their loan’s interest rate. This is the most substantial contributor to the cost of your personal loan, which is why it’s so important to secure as low a rate as you can.
They’re simple to compare, as each lender’s rate is advertised prominently on their site and ours. Whilst it shouldn’t be the sole point of comparison between loans, it should be prioritised.
Type of interest
You may also have the option to choose between a fixed or variable interest rate for your joint loan. Fixed rate joint loans maintain the same interest rate throughout the life of the loan, as opposed to variable rate joint loans which can change depending on the ebbs and flows of the market.
Fixed interest is better for budgeting, which can be useful when it comes to co-ordinating your shared commitments, while variable interest can allow you to take advantage of lower rates during your term if they fall.
Fees
Additionally, fees can set you back quite a bit if you choose a loan that charges them at a high rate. While some lenders don’t charge fees on their loans, others do, which can fall between the following costs:
- Establishment fee: $0 to $595
- Ongoing fees: $0 to $10 per month
- Early repayment fee $0 to $600+ (depending on time left on loan)
- Late payment fee: $15 to $35
Loan terms
You should ensure that your preferred loan term is also offered by your lender, as it’s crucial that your finance is affordable for you. Some lenders won’t offer loans shorter than two or three years, for instance, while others cap their terms at five.
Always assess whether your preferred lenders are offering the length of loan that you’re looking for before committing to one over the others.
How to apply for your joint personal loan
Before commencing your personal loan application with your co-borrower, it’s important to understand each step of the process thoroughly to avoid potential delays.
Understanding each of these steps and how they fit into the procedure of applying for personal loans is important, as it can save you valuable time overall and help you expedite your approval and funding.
You can follow these simple steps to see how the process works, from preliminary research and comparison all the way up to having your funds made available for use.
Compare your options with Savvy
Assess the lender and product options right here and decide on the personal loan best suited to your combined needs.
Gather your shared documents
Provide your lender with photo ID, payslips, bank statements, information on assets and liabilities and anything else they may request.
Submit your application
Once you’ve filled out your application form alongside all the required documentation, you’re ready to send it off.
Receive approval and funds
From there, you can receive an instant outcome in 60 seconds and have your funds transferred in 24 hours.
Pros and cons of joint personal loans
PROS
Increase your likelihood of a successful application
Too many cooks don’t spoil the broth with joint loans, with one or more extra borrowers potentially raising your chances of having your application approved.
Borrow more funds
Bigger projects can be facilitated by an extra person jumping into the application, as the potential added security for the lender could see them sign off on higher loan amounts.
Build shared responsibility
Not only does the burden of paying back the loan no longer rest solely on your shoulders, but the experience of joint loans can also encourage the transition into co-ownership of assets with your partner.
CONS
Relying on your co-borrower
It is a heavy responsibility to charge someone with fulfilling a loan, so make sure your co-borrower is reliable and able to help you share the weight of the joint loan.
And hurting your credit
If your co-borrower is unable to consistently pay their share on time, your credit score will sustain the same damage as theirs.
Other frequently asked questions about joint loans
Depending on the nature of the loan and your agreement with your partner, you may have to. If one borrower disappears from the picture, the lender will pursue the other, who would still be legally liable for the whole debt. Ultimately, you’re responsible for the loan if your name is attached as a borrower, regardless of the circumstances that may play out over the course of its repayments.
Technically, both co-borrowers owe 100% of the loan. For example, if you enter a $30,000 joint loan with a co-borrower, both borrowers owe $30,000. The lender will only seek out what it has lent, though, so there is no need to pay that amount for each borrower. The lender will likely only chase up one of the borrowers for loan repayments at any given time rather than both, but whether it chooses to alternate between co-borrowers will vary between lenders. Make sure you have a clear repayment arrangement with your co-borrower.
Joint applications are assessed on the strength of the applicant in the weaker financial position. This means that, even if you have a decent credit score and comfortable finances, you’re likely to only be approved for an amount that your co-borrower is eligible to take on. In this case, a bad credit borrower can likely only apply for an amount up to around $12,000 at a high interest rate, which is what your joint application will fall within.
The general criteria you’ll be required to meet as co-borrowers applying for a loan are:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must be a citizen or permanent resident
- You must be employed
- You must be earning at least $20,000 annually from consistent sources
- You mustn’t have a history of defaults or bankruptcy
Your comparison rate is a percentage that incorporates both your interest rate and primary fees, such as establishment and monthly costs. This is designed to give you a more accurate indication of the cost of your loan overall, as an interest rate on its own isn’t wholly representative of this.
No – a co-borrower should be someone that you know, trust and can rely upon to fulfil their half of the deal. Lenders are highly unlikely to approve a personal loan application between two people who have only met a handful of times in the past, for instance.
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