Properly Documenting and Handling Private Party Loans
There are two main types of private party loans; either peer to peer loans, or loans between individuals who have a relationship at some level; they are acquaintances, relatives or friends. These types of loans can be used for any purpose, similar to how taking out a loan from a bank can also be used to finance many different things. People will take out a private party loan to buy an automobile, as a home loan, a personal loan, or even to finance their business endeavor.
Peer to Peer Lending Services: There are peer to peer lending services that will allow you to take out a private party loan very easily. Basically, these services cut out the middleman, which could be either the bank or a private finance company. You can opt for either secured or non-secured loans. In most cases, your credit rating will be taken into account when deciding whether or not to grant the loan, or at least potential lenders will be informed of what it is. Usually lenders will bid on your loan, allowing you to choose the option with the lowest rates. The advantage with this type of loan is that the interest rates are generally quite a bit lower, which is a definite plus for most people.
Peer to peer lending services connect lenders with people needing loans. They will handle the paperwork and documentation for you. They also coordinate the deposit of the loan into your account and the regular monthly payment withdrawals. At times, your loan may be funded by one individual, in other cases several people contribute towards your loan.
Loans from Individuals: Many people prefer to arrange loans with individuals they know, rather than dealing with strangers. This can be a great way to obtain needed financing especially for families who want to keep their money within their family, for example. In order for this type of financing to be successful, however, it is important that those entering into this arrangement consider both financial and personal issues otherwise things can go awry. While it is a great comfort knowing that you are being a help to someone you know, if thing go wrong and the loan is not paid back or there is a disagreement regarding the loan details, it can ruin family relations and other friendships. The best way to handle these types of loans are by discussing exactly how the loan is going to be implemented and what both parties expect in terms of the loan, before the loan is given.
One thing to note with this type of loan is that it must be in line with local tax rules and regulations. For example, permitting someone to pay back less than the full amount or charging extremely low interest rates can end up causing problems for the person loaning the money. It is also generally considered a good idea to secure the loan in some way; as if anything happens to the borrower, the lender may not be paid unless the loan is secured.
Whether or not you take out a peer to peer loan or a loan from an individual, it is important that there is a basic loan agreement drawn up that clearly spells out all of the details concerning the loan. Usually the peer to peer service will help with this. If you are taking out an individual loan, you should either consult with your local tax adviser or attorney, or contact one of the peer to peer services for a copy of their loan agreements.