Contributor, Benzinga
October 12, 2022

Quick Look: The Best Loans for Moving

Maybe you’ve just bought a new home or found your ideal rental. Perhaps you’ve even paid the down payment or wired the security deposit. While it probably feels as though you’ve already overcome the largest hurdle, know that moving can be another major expense you’ll need to prepare for.  That's why it's important to understand how to find the best personal loans for moving.

Taking out a personal loan for moving can be a helpful way to spread out your expenses over a longer period of time. Follow this guide to find the best personal loans for moving. 

Best Personal Loans for Moving

Moving-related expenses include buying new furniture, hiring movers, renting transportation, storage, insurance or even a short-term hotel stay before you officially settle in. All these costs can quickly add up and you could easily find yourself spending money more than you anticipated. One way to ease the financial burden is by taking out a personal loan. You can take out a personal loan before you move to pay off expenses as they come up. Or you can take out a personal loan after you’ve moved if you find yourself short on cash. Either way, a personal loan can help turn a large expense into a more manageable bill. 

Many personal loans come with low-interest rates, fixed payment schedules, flexible repayment terms and can be approved quickly. These are our top picks for the best personal loans for moving. 

Credible

Credible is another loan aggregator that brings together all the best deals so that you can choose the best loan for your move. The platform puts you in touch with:

  • A massive range of loan values, terms and rates
  • A customer service team that can help you make wise choices
  • A large segment of lenders who can help your business

Remember, when you work with a company like Credible, you need to make sure you understand how much the lender you choose can charge in your state. This is especially important when you are moving and you just need to access some cash. Yes, you can reach back out Credible for help, but you will ultimately pay the lender and deal with their terms. If you ever want to refinance a business loan, you can come back to Credible to find another lending option—which could be an option after the move when you can get a better hold of your finances.

Doc2Doc Lending

Doc2Doc Lending provides personal loans to physicians at competitive rates. You can apply online right now to get loans that were made by doctors for doctors. Plus, you can learn more about the platform’s proprietary algorithm and how it helps you.

Plus, several medical professionals can apply:

  • Doctors
  • Dentists
  • Residents
  • And many more

And, you can choose from a few loan types, including:

  • In-practice loans
  • In-training loans
  • J-1 visa loans

Upgrade

Upgrade is a great place for those who are ready to move and need to get a fast approval as it markets your loan to its many partners. You can choose from a wide range of terms and values, but you will notice that the loans you’re offered could be quite diverse depending on how much the lender wants to charge.

Even though Upgrade doesn’t lend to you directly, it ensures that you have the best experience and find the funding you’ve been looking for. This is a good place to market your loan to as many lenders as possible, especially because you’re moving and need to find the best deal.

Because you’re trying to deal with a big life change, you can use the funds you borrow for any purpose during your move, and you can work out repayment, refinancing and other issues with your lender. If you need additional support, however, you can always reach back out to Upgrade for help.

Avant

Avant is a lender you can turn to when they must access needed capital—especially for all the little things that will happen during your move. When you apply with Avant, you can complete the entire process online, pay a low origination fee, never worry about a prepayment fee and manage your loan online. 

The website is easy to view even on a mobile device, and your business can take advantage of:

  • No collateral, unsecured financing
  • An online loan eligibility calculator
  • Loans that could be as high as $35,000
  • A range of loan terms that suit your situation

With a great customer service team and available funding for any number of situations, you can turn to Avant when it’s time to finance your move, etc. You can get the money you need right now, continue moving and keep your finances in good shape.

NetCredit

NetCredit is a good place to turn when you have no credit or, perhaps, you’ve experienced some struggles like a bankruptcy. You can get approved in funded in just a few days, and there are no prepayment fees to contend with as you plan your move.

However, you should make sure you know if NetCredit is offered in your state because the platform is not available in CO, CT, IA, ME, MD, NV, NH, NH, NY, NC, PA, VT, VA, WV and DC. If you live in one of these locations, you can look elsewhere before getting too deep into the process.

You can check your chances of pre-approval with a soft credit pull, but interest rates could be high depending on your credit score. You may even want to try working with a cosigner to get the funding you need for the move that much faster. The firm also offers:

  • Low origination fees
  • Nominal late fees
  • A wide range of loan terms and values

Consider NetCredit when you need cash for your move—even if you’re also trying to build your credit and want to retain some semblance of financial independence.

LendingClub

LendingClub is a unique lending platform that allows you to check your eligibility without impacting your credit, complete the process entirely online and get funded in around 24 hours. You will see a range of loan offers that will help you choose the best program for your move so that you can proceed with your move as needed.

LendingClub also makes it clear that you may want to apply with a cosigner to improve your chances of being approved, which could be doubly helpful if you’re moving with a roommate or have family who can help you. With this type of customer support and information, it’s much easier to make the most of your finances during a move, especially because it can be more difficult than ever to get obtain loans from traditional banks.

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

Marcus is the personal banking arm of Goldman Sachs, and it offers you the opportunity to obtain a personal loan for everyone, with terms and values that suit most situations. You can even get an APR discount just for setting up autopay.

Marcus also offers:

  • No fee, unsecured loans
  • A soft credit check to pre-qualify
  • Customer support availability every day of the week

Origination fees are competitive, but it can take a little time to get your loan funded. There are several repayment plans to choose from, no collateral is needed and you can even defer a payment after making your first year’s worth of payments on time.

This is especially important when you have a move coming up and want to prepare as much as you can. Because Marcus makes it easier to increase your spending power, you can, quite literally, make the move easier in just one step. Plus, it can be even easier if you already have an investment account with the firm.

Types of Personal Loans for Moving

Depending on your credit score and financial situation, there are a variety of personal loans you can take out that will help with the cost of moving. Different loans have different terms and requirements. It’s important to be familiar with all types of personal loans before agreeing to borrow money. 

If you feel that a personal loan for moving would be beneficial, it’s time to get an idea of the most common types of loans you could be offered. 

Secured Loans

A secured loan is a personal loan that is guaranteed by collateral or an asset you own. Collateral can be anything that is valuable — your home, car, jewelry, antiques, an investment portfolio or art. The most important factor is that you are the owner of the asset and its value is high enough to cover the amount of money you’ll owe. 

Secured loans are common options for people that have no credit history or low credit scores. While they can be a great way to obtain much need cash without a credit check, these loans can be dangerous if you are unable to pay back the money you owe. You’re at risk of losing the asset you’ve put up for collateral if you can’t meet the loan’s terms.

Unsecured Loans

Unsecured loans don’t require you to put up any collateral in exchange for borrowing money. Instead, lenders will look into your credit score and income levels to determine whether you are eligible to borrow money. 

Unsecured loans can charge different interest rates and fees depending on the lender. If you have a healthy credit report and a steady stream of income, you should have no problem getting approved for a personal loan at a low-interest rate. 

Fixed-Rate Loans

A fixed-rate loan is a type of loan where the interest rate remains the same for the duration of the loan. Auto loans, student loans and mortgages are common examples of fixed-rate loans. Fixed-rate loans can work in your favor if you are able to lock in your loan for a low-interest rate. The main risk with fixed-rate loans is locking in a long-duration loan at a high-interest rate. 

Homeowners locked into 30-year mortgages at high rates often run into this issue and are left scrambling to try to refinance when interest-rates go down. However, most personal loans for moving generally have a duration of up to a couple of years. So, you’ll be less likely to run into these kinds of problems. 

Personal Rate Loans

Most people take out personal rate loans when they are trying to cover a personal expense, like moving. Personal rate loans are often unsecured, fixed-rate loans with a set time duration. Lenders will typically look into your credit history, existing debt, income level and other factors to determine whether you are eligible. 

Personal Loan Requirements and Criteria

Most lenders will look into your credit report when deciding whether to approve you for a personal loan. If you don’t have a credit history or if your credit score is poor, you’ll have a harder time securing a personal loan. In this case, your options will be limited and you may have to accept a high-interest rate or agree to a collateral loan. Some other factors lenders typically require from you include:

  • Steady income
  • Debt-to-income ratio
  • Payment history
  • U.S. citizen or legal resident
  • Minimum age (usually 18 but varies in different states)

Personal Loan Considerations

There is always some amount of risk when you are borrowing money. You could have trouble repaying your loan if you lose your job, interest rates go up or in the event of a financial shock. If you make late payments or are unable to meet the terms of your loan your credit score will be negatively affected. A poor credit score can make it difficult to get a new home, get a car and even find a place to live. If you take out a collateral loan and are unable to repay your debts, you could end up losing your home, vehicle or other important assets. 

Although the prospect of a large sum of cash can seem enticing, remember that interest rates and other fees can quickly add up and ultimately harm your finances. It’s important to never borrow more money than you’ll be able to pay back. It’s also important to thoroughly read through and understand the terms you are agreeing to. 

Remember to avoid predatory loans at all costs. Predatory loans impose unfair or abusive terms on borrowers. Often lenders may try to coerce, force or hide important information from you to try to get you to agree to terms that will benefit them at your expense. These loans can be dangerous. They come with high-interest rates and fees that can leave you in a cycle of financial debt and ruin your credit score. 

Make sure to only work with licensed lenders. Avoid any loans that sound too good to be true. Be alert to lenders who rush you to sign documents, leave blank spaces in documents or offer packaged services. 

Personal Loans vs. Credit Cards

Personal loans offer a lump sum of money for a fixed-interest rate and set duration. Credit cards often come with variable interest rates and a continuous credit line. Credit cards offer more flexibility than personal loans. With a credit card, you can get by making the minimum payments on your balance and you’ll have access to credit so long as you continue to pay off your balance. 

On the other hand, credit cards often charge higher interest rates than personal loans. You’re also more likely to fall into debt when you rack up a balance on your credit card than if you were to take out a personal loan.

Borrowing Money for Moving

Getting approved on a personal loan for moving will depend on how much you intend to borrow, your financial health and the lender’s requirements. It’s a good idea to shop around for different lenders to find the best interest rates and the payment plan that best suits your situation. Remember to always thoroughly read and understand every document you sign. In all, a personal loan is one way to make your moving process easier. 

Q

Can I use a personal loan for moving?

A

You can use a personal loan for moving. Most lenders don’t limit how you can use the money for a personal loan. That means if you need money to move, a personal loan could be the answer for you.

Q

Can you get a loan to move to another state?

A

Yes, you can get a loan to move to another state. Personal loans are loans that allow you to use the money for whatever is important to you, and that may mean moving to another state.

Q

How do you finance a move?

A

You can pay for a move in various ways. For instance, you can use cash, your credit card, or you can take out a personal loan to pay for the expenses.