Seeing how much lenders and banks make from giving out loans is enough to turn anyone into a lender. A combination of new technology and economic incentives makes it possible for more people to become lenders and get some great returns. Here are some steps to follow if you are looking to become a lender:
Collect Your Capital
For the best outcome, you need to collect your lendable income and place it in one central account. Doing so will help you to figure out how much money you can lend without affecting your household budget negatively. You should plan for a worst-case scenario by lending money that you can do without, in case the borrowers default on their loans.
Understand Your Loan Objectives
Before you start giving out any money, you should consider several factors, including the duration you want your money to be tied up and the returns you plan to get. Doing so will allow you to narrow down your lending options and move closer to being a lender.
Consider The Tax Burden
What many people do not understand is that every investment has its own tax burden and this includes lending. As a taxpayer, you need to pay taxes on the interest you make as a lender. This tax will be taken out of your gross yield or gains. This means that as a future lender, it is incumbent upon you to determine how this will affect your tax bills in the future.
Research Micro Lending
For nearly all would-be lenders, the best lending option is internet micro lending services, which allow small lenders to find consumers. Look at those websites and familiarize yourself with the regulations and rules that will help you to stay out of trouble in future.
People borrow through micro lending sites so that they can:
– Start small businesses or growing existing ones
– Pay off their credit cards at lower rates of interest
– Finance creative projects such as music or film
– Finance car repairs or weddings
Evaluate How Borrowers Are Rated
Micro lending sites usually rate borrowers depending on the answers they provide on a questionnaire. These questions allow lenders to match the people who meet their desired risk level. Generally, you pick a number of loans and hope that none of them will default on their payments. If a certain borrower is risky, you should charge higher rates of interest.
Make The Deal
Once you have a list of loan recipients, you can seal the deal using the paperwork and tools found on lending sites. You are now a lender who can collect income payments that will boost your investment portfolio.
Find Out The Pros And Cons of Micro Lending
The main advantage of micro lending is that you will get high returns on your investment, which range from 5-9 percent. This is more than you would get on a money market or savings account. The returns usually take a four to five percent default rate into account as well as a one percent fee for the micro lending company.
Since micro loans are not part of the stock market, your return on investment will remain the same even when the market takes a dip. The risks of micro lending, on the other hand, are enough to make most people reconsider their choice of investment. When borrowers default on their loans, you could lose your investment because the loans are not secured by collateral.
Instead of choosing individual borrowers, you should consider arranging for automated investing. An automated investing tool will come in handy for this kind of investment.