Looking To Make Room In Your Budget For Summer? This Offer Is For You!
Posted on May 17, 2022
Looking for extra cash for the summer, get $500-$50,000 from Fairstone by May 31 and you won’t have to make a loan payment until July!
There are many types of loans available to Canadians. From short-term loans to longer-term loans, there is an option for everyone. However, when it comes to financing a big-ticket item, consumers like the option of a longer-term loan. The longer the term, the lower the monthly payment will be. Long-term loans can be found at major banks, credit unions and alternative lenders. Depending on who you apply with the requirements to qualify for a long-term will vary.
Features Of Long-Term Loan In Canada
Depending on what type of loan you have, it can take anywhere from 5 to 35 years to pay off a long-term loan.
- Mortgages – 25 – 35 year loans are typically reserved for mortgages.
- Auto Loans – Generally you’ll find car loans ranging between 3 – 8 years.
- Personal loan – While most personal loans range between 6 – 60 months, long-term personal loans will usually go up to 10 years.
Long Term Loan vs Short Term Loan
Anything under 5 years is normally considered a short-term loan and 35 years is the maximum time it can take you to pay off a mortgage (often considered the ultimate long-term loan) in Canada. Although this is of course only a general break down of loan terms, you may consider a 5-year loan a short-term loan.
One of the main differences between a short-term loan and a long-term loan is that a long-term loan is typically used to cover the cost of a planned expense. Something that you want or need that you’ve created a budget and plan for and know that you’ll be able to afford the cost spread out over a specific period of time. They are also more often than not, used to buy something expensive, for example, a house.
Cost Of A Short-Term Loan v.s A Long-Term Loan In Canada
Despite the shorter term having a significantly higher interest rate, the amount of interest paid is practically half of what you pay for the long-term loan in Canada. Of course, you do have to pay double the monthly payment of the long-term. As mentioned, there are benefits to both, and depending on your financial situation, one option may be better than the other.
| Long-Term Loan | Short-Term Loan | |
| Loan Amount | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Interest Rate | 7% | 11% |
| Term Lenght | 7 Years | 3 Years |
| Monthly Payment | $226.39 | $491.08 |
| Total Paid | $19,016.76 | $17,678.88 |
| Total Interest Paid | $4,016.76 | $2,678.88 |
Types Of Long Term Loans In Canada
Typically, loans, whether they are long-term or short-term, are divided into two different categories, secured and unsecured.
Secured Long Term Loan
Secured long-term loans are backed by some form of collateral, something that has value. It’s safe to say that the two most common forms of secured loans are mortgages and car loans. With these two types of loans, it’s the item that you’re purchasing that acts as collateral. You can also take out a personal loan and secure it against something that you already own, for example, a vehicle you’ve paid off in full.
When a loan is secured you are often more likely to receive a larger sum of money, although this is not always the case. Collateral takes some of the financial risk off of the lender. If you ever default on your loan, your lender may seize your collateral in order to recoup some or all of their losses.
Unsecured Long Term Loan
An unsecured loan is the opposite of a secured loan in that it does not require any form of collateral. With an unsecured loan, you’re applying for a loan that is not secured by an asset. This means that your approval will be based solely on your financial standing and/or your ability to repay the loan.
Can You Get A Long-Term Loan in Canada With Bad Credit?
Not too long ago, having bad credit meant that you probably weren’t going to be able to find a reputable lender willing to work with you. Now, while bad credit still isn’t a desirable thing to have, there are a plethora of lenders and creditors who can and will provide you with the long-term loans and credit products you want.
Can You Get A No Credit Check Long-Term Loan in Canada?
If you’re looking for a long-term loan that doesn’t require a credit check, you’ll have very limited options. That’s because almost all long-term loans are large loans. A lender is taking on significantly more risk than they do when they provide smaller short-term loans. This heightened risk level means that a lender will want to do anything and everything they can to verify a potential borrower’s creditworthiness, which includes credit checks. This is why you’ll have a difficult time finding a lender who can provide you with a long-term loan without a credit check.
However, that shouldn’t deter you from applying with a lender who requires credit checks. The reason being, many alternative lenders accept bad credit. Moreover, there are many lenders who provide loan quotes that can tell you if you have a chance of qualifying before applying.
Where Can You Get A Long-Term Personal Loan In Canada?
| Amount | APR | Term (Months) | Type of Loan | ||
 | Up to $35,000 | 26.99% - 39.99% | 6 - 60 | Secured & unsecured | More Info |
 | Up to $15,000 | 29.99% - 46.96% | 9 - 60 | Personal loan | More Info |
 | $5,000 - $35,000 | 5.9% - 45.9% | 12 - 60 | Personal loan | More Info |
 | $1,000 -$35,000 | 5.99% - 29.19% | 36 – 60 | Persona loan | More Info |
 | Up to $5,000 | 19.9% - 45.9% | 3 - 36 | Personal loan | More Info |
 | Up to $10,000 | 43% | 36 - 60 | Guarantor loan | More Info |
Should You Get A Bridge Loan?
If the long-term loan that you’re interested in is a mortgage, there is a great option available to you called a bridge loan. A bridge loan is a short-term lending solution for credit-constrained consumers who want to purchase a home in the near future. A bridge loan is like a bridge, as its name suggests because it bridges the gap between getting rejected and being approved for the long-term loan you want.
How Does a Bridge Loan Work?
3 Steps On How To Use A Bridge Loan
Step 1. Apply for a Mortgage from a Private Lender
This is your first step onto the bridge. Private lenders are more lenient and often do not require credit checks, but if they do, you’ll be less likely to get rejected because you have a poor credit score. Once you’re approved for a bridge loan from a private lender, you’ll have to work hard to make every single one of your payments on time. A bridge loan typically lasts between 6 months to 2 years, during which your on-time payments will help you improve your credit so that you can move on to the next step.
Step 2: Transfer Mortgage to B-Lender
Once you’re able to improve your credit with your bridge loan, you can refinance it with a B-lender. You should also be able to qualify for a more affordable interest rate. With this loan, your goal is exactly the same as with the previous one, make all your payments on time and improve your credit score so you can finally get approved for the long-term loan you want.
Step 3: Gain Access to a Long-Term Loan from a Bank or A-Lender
The final stage of a bridge loan is to refinance the mortgage you have with a B-lender, with a bank or A-Lender instead. By this point, you should have improved your credit enough to be eligible to do so at an even lower interest rate.
Benefits Of A Long-Term Loan
As with any type of financial product, depending on what your needs are, certain products will benefit you more than others. Typically, long-term loans are provided for a very specific reason, to purchase something like a house or a vehicle, something that most consumers simply don’t have the cash available to purchase outright. With that said, there are definitely some benefits to taking out a long-term loan.
- Smaller More Affordable Payments – When a loan comes with a longer-term, it means you’ll be paying it off over a longer period of time so the payments will be smaller. Smaller payments mean you’ll have more of your income at your disposal on a monthly basis. This is, of course, important for those who value having more money available to them to cover both general costs and to make sure they have enough money set aside in case of an emergency.
- Larger Loan Amount – Typically, long-term loans are also larger in size. So, if you’re looking for a large loan, it’ll generally have a long-term.
- More Options – A long-term loan provides you with more options to purchase the things you need. On top of that, it allows you to take advantage of things that you might not be to take advantage of without a loan, for example, a house in the perfect location or a business opportunity.
Drawbacks Of A Long-Term Loan
- High Cost – When comparing two loans with the only difference being the term length, the longer-term loan will cost more. That’s because long terms allow interest to accrue more than short-term loans.
- In Debt Longer – While you may benefit from lower monthly payments with a long-term loan in Canada, it also means you’ll be in debt for a longer period of time.
Improving Your Credit To Gain Access To A Long-Term Loan
Credit is the new “it” word of the financial world. No matter what newspaper or personal finance website you read, you’ll definitely see at least one mention of credit. Everyone wants to know what their credit score is, what information is contained in their credit report, and how to improve it. And we’re couldn’t be more supportive of this. Taking interest in your credit score means you’re ready to take back control of your finances and take action to create the financial future you deserve.
Check Your Credit Report and Score
These days, there are a plethora of websites that can provide you with your credit score for free and every Canadian has the right to question one free copy of their credit report from each of the two credit report bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion. Get out there and check your credit, it’s free so there no excuses anymore.
Pay Down Debt
If you’re carrying around too much debt, not only will your credit score be negatively affected, but your chances of getting approved for the mortgage or long-term loan will also be low. Create a plan, put a budget into action, do whatever it takes to pay down your debt.
Long-Term Loan FAQs
What are the requirements for a long-term personal loan?
The requirements for a long-term personal loan varies by lender, but generally, lenders will require you to be a resident of Canada and be at least the age of majority in your province. Lenders will also look at your income level, employment stability and debt-to-income ratio.
What kind of fees should I watch out for when applying for a long-term loan?
There are many types of fees a lender can try to charge you. The most common fees include loan origination fees, administrative fees, late payment fees, prepayment fees and nsf fees.
Where can I get a long-term loan in Canada if I have bad credit?
While a bank may reject your application for a long-term loan due to bad credit, many alternative lenders will not. There are numerous online private lenders who will lend to those with poor credit. However, they often charge higher rates and fees than banks.
Choosing the Right Lender
For anyone looking to apply for any type of loan, our number one piece of advice is to choose the right lender to work with. The right lender is different for everyone; therefore, you need to decide what you want from a lender and then settle for nothing less. Be specific, be focused, and choose someone you trust.
Rating of 5/5 based on 2 votes.
Caitlin is a graduate of Dawson College and Concordia University and has been working in the personal finance industry for over eight years. She believes that education and knowledge are the two most important factors in the creation of healthy financial habits. She also believes that openly discussing money and credit, and the responsibilities that come with them can lead to better decisions and a greater sense of financial security. One of the main ways she’s built good financial habits is by budgeting and tracking her spending through the YNAB budgeting app. She also automates her savings so she never forgets to put aside a portion of her income into her TFSA. She believes investing and passive income is key to earning financial freedom. She also uses her Aeroplan TD credit card to collect Aeroplan points so that she can save money when she travels.
Click on the star to rate it!
How useful was this post?
Research & Compare
Canada's Loan Comparison Platform
Largest Lender Network In Canada
Save time and money with Loans Canada. Research and compare lenders before you apply. Share your experiences with Canada's top lenders.
Make Smarter Borrowing Decisions
Whether you have good credit or poor credit, building financial awareness is the best way to save. Find tips, guides and tools to make better financial decisions.
Blog
Our Latest Posts
Tools
Calculators
Learn
Learning Resources
Save With Loans Canada
Special Offers
50 Free Trades Offer
Ends August 31st, 2022
Almost $500 in commission-free trades. Code “50TRADESFREE”. Conditions apply.
Borrow Today, Don’t Pay Till July
Limited Time
Borrow $500-$50,000 from Fairstone by May 31 and don’t pay until July.
Build Credit With Refresh
Popular
Build credit while spending money with the Refresh Financial VISA card.
Build Credit For $7/Month
Popular
With KOHO’s prepaid card you can build a better credit score for just $7/month.
Industry Spotlight
What's happening with Canada's credit industry?
addy ⎯ Making Real Estate Accessible To All Canadians
Posted on May 10, 2022
Check out our interview with addy; a platform that allows Canadians to invest in different properties across Canada with as little as $1.
Locator
Find The Best Rate
In Your Region
OR
