You are making multiple payments on your student loan and your debt burden compared to your income is damaging your credit. You have heard people mention Avenal student loan debt consolidation, but are not quite sure what consolidating means or and if it will truly benefit you. Consolidating your loan may actually be a great option for you if you qualify. If you're considering consolidating, read this article to determine whether it's appropriate for you, then get a
Free Student Loan Consolidation Quote from Bills.com.
The Positive Side of Avenal Student Loan Debt Consolidation
The advantages of Avenal Student Loan Debt Consolidation are many and one of the most tempting is the chance to lock in a low fixed interest rate especially for Stafford student loans (disbursed between the dates July 1, 1998 and June 30, 2006) and having variable interest rates. You need to make only one payment each month to a single lender and pay lower installments compared to the time before consolidating. Federal loans usually allow flexible payment schedules and take variable income into account and let you file for deferment. Consolidating can also help you improve your credit rating and improve your credit assessment by reducing the amount you pay monthly.
Why Avenal Student Loan Debt Consolidation might not Work for You
Considering consolidating your private student loans with your federal student loans? It is a bad idea to combine the two different loans, even if your interest rate could be lower, as you lose all of your benefits on the federal loans when you combine them with private loans. If you run into financial trouble, you have the option of deferring or putting your federal loans on forbearance. Private loans must be paid back no matter what your circumstances are. For this reason, any private loan consolidated with at federal student loan may hurt you. The fees associated with consolidating a private loan may also cancel out any savings that you could have received from an interest rate reduction. When you die, your federal student loans are forgiven; your private loans are not, so your heirs will be stuck footing the bill if you consolidate your student loans with other debt.
Factors affecting qualification for Avenal Student Loan Debt Consolidation
Almost anyone who has already graduated and has a student loan balance of over $10,000 can easily qualify for consolidation. Even if you have defaulted on your loan in the past, you can still usually consolidate, although it may be very difficult to get the best interest rate. If you have recently graduated, make sure that you check the box on your consolidation application that says that you want to delay consolidating until your repayment grace period ends. That way you can lock in the interest rate, but still take advantage of your grace period. The Federal government announces the new interest rate for the next year during the spring. If the new rate is higher, make sure that you sign and turn in your consolidation paperwork before June 30th. If the new rate is lower, wait until July 1. Just remember that once you consolidate you cannot do so again, unless you are adding another student loan to your current loans.
Each person's student loan debt situation is different and you want to find out as much as you can about different consolidating lenders before you make a decision. Make sure that you understand all of your consolidation paperwork and that you feel comfortable with your lender. Remember, you will be making payments to your lender for a while and want to have a good relationship with them.
© 2007 Bills.com. All Rights Reserved.