Consolidate Your Student Loans with Low Interest Rates

Consolidate Your Student Loans with Low Interest Rates

It is wise to consolidate your student loans before it's too late! That's what I did. After attending three colleges and accepting federally funded student loans, I knew that I had to do something, quickly, before graduating. I researched the Internet one day for the lowest possible consolidation rate and found that I qualified for a very low rate and was able to extend my repayment period to 25 years. Yes, the lender allowed me to take a longer time to pay back the loan and at a low interest rate, which means my monthly repayment is low.
Don't Wait to consolidate! Most federal student loans are usually due for repayment only six months after graduating, and believe me, that is not long. If you don't take immediate action, you will be contacted by your lender before your first payment is due. And don't expect it to be a small amount if you have quite a few loans hanging over your head.

Many people end up defaulting on their student loans due to fear that they will never be able to make payments. Fear no more. What these people don't realize is that financial help is available by most banking institutions. They exist to help bring all the 'financial pieces' together - under one roof . This allows you to make only one payment instead of a few monthly payments to different lenders.

Just bringing your student loans to one lender may not be enough. Find a lending institution that will benefit your current needs. Look for the lowest consolidation rate possible. Yes, shop around. Before you buy a car, you want to make sure it is a car that suits your needs, is affordable, and will benefit you for many years. Consolidating your loans is no different.

Student loan repayment rates are now at a record low in 2009. This means that it is a great time to consolidate.

But here are some things to consider before you consolidate your student loans:

Your multiple loans will be grouped together into a single loan at a fixed rate.

If interest rates go up, yours won't. Hooray!

If interest rates go down, yours won't - this is definitely something to think about before consolidating.

Rigorous rules to play by - Some lenders allow discounts if you play by their strict rules. That is, a bank could offer you .25 - .50 discount off of your loan if you pay through ACH and are on time for 24 consecutive months. If you default or are late in paying them within that period, you will lose your discount. Ouch, that hurts.

Considering the length of time you have to pay back your consolidated student loans, you may not actually be saving at all as your loans would be extended over additional years and not the normal 10 year loan period.