Tuesday, August 22, 2006
How to Save Thousands of Dollars on Your Mortgage
The dream of owning a home is becoming very allusive these days. Although everyone would like to have a home that is paid for free and clear, many people are forced to assume mortgages that will be paid over 25 or 30 years into the future.
Everyone is constrained to a certain degree by their budget. Yet there is a way to pay off the existing mortgage on your home quicker and save money in the process.
Almost all mortgages have built into them an Accelerated Payment Clause. This allows the borrower to pay more than the minimum amount of the monthly mortgage payment.
To do this you simply remit more to the lender than the usual mortgage payment every month. The benefit to this is that every extra dollar paid against the mortgage will lower the outstanding balance of the mortgage. This increases the equity in your home faster over time. Also, by lowering your outstanding balance, you will save on interest charges.
Here is a good example based on the scenario of an average family.
If you are an average family of four making $50,000 a year, let us assume that you are saving annually at the same rate as most Americans. This rate of savings as reported by our government is about 4% of your income every year. This would mean that you are putting $2000.00 in the bank every year for future purposes. This comes out to around $167.00 a month.
Right now you are probably receiving less than 1% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on your passbook savings.
Why not take $100.00 of this money that you would normally save and pay down the mortgage on your home ahead of time? The following example shows why this is in your best interest.
If you take out a mortgage on a house for $200,000 at a 6% fixed rate, and the contract calls for repayment in monthly installments over 30 years, your monthly mortgage payment would be $1,210.56.
If you paid an extra $100.00 dollars per month toward the amortization of your mortgage, you would add $1,200.00 to the equity in your home every year.
In this scenario, the total amount paid to buy your home over the life of the mortgage would be $435,798.89. When you add $100.00 to your mortgage payment every month you would save $46,360.13 in interest charges over the life of the mortgage. You would also be able to retire your mortgage earlier.
You would be able to trim 38 monthly payments off your repayment of the mortgage. So the mortgage would be paid off 3 years and 2 months sooner if you use this repayment method.
In short, what this strategy does is shift your money from passbook savings only ($2,000.00 per year), to paying $1,200.00 on your mortgage, and saving $800.00 directly into your bank account each year.
To sum up the benefits of using this method, the borrower in the example above saved $46,360.13 in interest on their loan, and accumulated $21,923.85 in passbook savings ( $67.00 per month X 1% APR X 322 months ). This equals $68,283.98 in accumulated savings over 26 years and 10 months (This is the actual time it would take to pay off the original 30 year mortgage).
If the family would have put all of their money ($167.00 per month) in a passbook savings account only, they would have accumulated $54,646.35 over the same period of time.
So this family would have actually saved $13,637.63 more by using this accelerated payment method. And they would have also paid off their mortgage 3 years and 2 months earlier than normal.
This method can be used in any situation where the mortgage has an Accelerated Payment Clause built into it. It will work best if you are consistent with the amount that you pay on your mortgage every month. Any change in the amount of monthly repayment of the mortgage will affect the amount that you will actually save.
Check with your banker to find out if your mortgage allows for Accelerated Payments. Then you can use this strategy to save a lot of money on your mortgage and own your home sooner.
Everyone is constrained to a certain degree by their budget. Yet there is a way to pay off the existing mortgage on your home quicker and save money in the process.
Almost all mortgages have built into them an Accelerated Payment Clause. This allows the borrower to pay more than the minimum amount of the monthly mortgage payment.
To do this you simply remit more to the lender than the usual mortgage payment every month. The benefit to this is that every extra dollar paid against the mortgage will lower the outstanding balance of the mortgage. This increases the equity in your home faster over time. Also, by lowering your outstanding balance, you will save on interest charges.
Here is a good example based on the scenario of an average family.
If you are an average family of four making $50,000 a year, let us assume that you are saving annually at the same rate as most Americans. This rate of savings as reported by our government is about 4% of your income every year. This would mean that you are putting $2000.00 in the bank every year for future purposes. This comes out to around $167.00 a month.
Right now you are probably receiving less than 1% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on your passbook savings.
Why not take $100.00 of this money that you would normally save and pay down the mortgage on your home ahead of time? The following example shows why this is in your best interest.
If you take out a mortgage on a house for $200,000 at a 6% fixed rate, and the contract calls for repayment in monthly installments over 30 years, your monthly mortgage payment would be $1,210.56.
If you paid an extra $100.00 dollars per month toward the amortization of your mortgage, you would add $1,200.00 to the equity in your home every year.
In this scenario, the total amount paid to buy your home over the life of the mortgage would be $435,798.89. When you add $100.00 to your mortgage payment every month you would save $46,360.13 in interest charges over the life of the mortgage. You would also be able to retire your mortgage earlier.
You would be able to trim 38 monthly payments off your repayment of the mortgage. So the mortgage would be paid off 3 years and 2 months sooner if you use this repayment method.
In short, what this strategy does is shift your money from passbook savings only ($2,000.00 per year), to paying $1,200.00 on your mortgage, and saving $800.00 directly into your bank account each year.
To sum up the benefits of using this method, the borrower in the example above saved $46,360.13 in interest on their loan, and accumulated $21,923.85 in passbook savings ( $67.00 per month X 1% APR X 322 months ). This equals $68,283.98 in accumulated savings over 26 years and 10 months (This is the actual time it would take to pay off the original 30 year mortgage).
If the family would have put all of their money ($167.00 per month) in a passbook savings account only, they would have accumulated $54,646.35 over the same period of time.
So this family would have actually saved $13,637.63 more by using this accelerated payment method. And they would have also paid off their mortgage 3 years and 2 months earlier than normal.
This method can be used in any situation where the mortgage has an Accelerated Payment Clause built into it. It will work best if you are consistent with the amount that you pay on your mortgage every month. Any change in the amount of monthly repayment of the mortgage will affect the amount that you will actually save.
Check with your banker to find out if your mortgage allows for Accelerated Payments. Then you can use this strategy to save a lot of money on your mortgage and own your home sooner.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Three Big Steps To Better Money Handling
With prices increasing all the time, saving money can be harder and harder to do. Here are some solutions for saving a little so that you can still meet your needs and still find ways to trim off a little for the future.
1. BUDGET – Get one and stick with it! And set aside at least a small portion for savings while you’re at it; savings for your future, your retirement, your education, your vacation, whatever. Head to your local office supply store for planning workbooks or budget sheets to use. Or head to your favorite search engine and type in, “budget planning” for hundreds of sites with articles, free downloads, tips, ebooks and other resources to help with your budget setup and follow up.
2. PLAN AHEAD – Make sure to plan for emergencies and the unexpected, like an appliance break down or garage door malfunction. Even if you can only set aside $50 or so each monthly, place it in an account and earmark it for this “Miscellaneous” fund. Then when things go wrong, and they will – nothing’s perfect – you’ll be better prepared.
3. NON-MONTHLY ITEMS – Work out a monthly payment for items that you don’t pay monthly and set this up in your regular monthly budget. For example, for items like annual home owner or renter insurance, quarterly water bills and automobile insurance payments and annual trash bills, take the amounts and determine what they would be monthly. Then list the items on your budget log and pull these amounts aside, saving them in your account for those purposes. This way, when the bills hit, you won’t be caught off guard and have to scrounge for the payments.
What works well, instead of handling multiple savings accounts for each company owed, is to use index cards and one savings account. Create one index card for each bill. Then simply log the amount you’re setting aside on the card and deposit it into your savings account. Keep the index cards with your savings passbook to remind you what the balance covers. The total of all your index cards should equal the balance in your savings account. (Make sure to create an index card for your regular funds that you are saving each month in step one above and a card for your Miscellaneous fund in step two above).
So next time you get paid, take three giant steps forward. Grab your index cards, follow your budget and invest in yourself and your future. Get a grip on your money handling.
1. BUDGET – Get one and stick with it! And set aside at least a small portion for savings while you’re at it; savings for your future, your retirement, your education, your vacation, whatever. Head to your local office supply store for planning workbooks or budget sheets to use. Or head to your favorite search engine and type in, “budget planning” for hundreds of sites with articles, free downloads, tips, ebooks and other resources to help with your budget setup and follow up.
2. PLAN AHEAD – Make sure to plan for emergencies and the unexpected, like an appliance break down or garage door malfunction. Even if you can only set aside $50 or so each monthly, place it in an account and earmark it for this “Miscellaneous” fund. Then when things go wrong, and they will – nothing’s perfect – you’ll be better prepared.
3. NON-MONTHLY ITEMS – Work out a monthly payment for items that you don’t pay monthly and set this up in your regular monthly budget. For example, for items like annual home owner or renter insurance, quarterly water bills and automobile insurance payments and annual trash bills, take the amounts and determine what they would be monthly. Then list the items on your budget log and pull these amounts aside, saving them in your account for those purposes. This way, when the bills hit, you won’t be caught off guard and have to scrounge for the payments.
What works well, instead of handling multiple savings accounts for each company owed, is to use index cards and one savings account. Create one index card for each bill. Then simply log the amount you’re setting aside on the card and deposit it into your savings account. Keep the index cards with your savings passbook to remind you what the balance covers. The total of all your index cards should equal the balance in your savings account. (Make sure to create an index card for your regular funds that you are saving each month in step one above and a card for your Miscellaneous fund in step two above).
So next time you get paid, take three giant steps forward. Grab your index cards, follow your budget and invest in yourself and your future. Get a grip on your money handling.
Managing Personal Credit
The world of personal credit continues to change at a rapid rate. There are several steps consumers can take to keep a handle on their credit and not be caught off guard when applying for a loan or credit card.
Most of the recent changes in credit are a result of two things: The impact of computerization or electronic processing and government regulations.
Computerization allows credit organizations to amass and process large amounts of information, analyze it, and act on it quickly. The computerization of information has also greatly reduced the role humans play in the credit process and as a result increased the amount of incorrect information found in a credit file. Previously, consumers sat down and discussed the possibility of credit approval for a loan or credit card with another person. The loan processor would even have a role in determining the interest rate. Applicants also had the opportunity to challenge and correct information that was wrong.
Now many applications are completed online and approved or denied without talking to another human being. While convenient, it can also be frustrating because there is no one to discuss the factors the decision is based on and whether it was correct or not.
Whether this is good or bad or right or wrong can be argued, but this is the reality of credit in the 21st century. The defense for consumers is to understand how the system works and control the things within their power. All credit users should know how their actions affect their credit worthiness; how to get a copy of their credit report, how to read it and how to apply for corrections of reported errors.
Beginning in 2005 the federal government mandated that the three major credit reporting agencies (Transunion, Experian and Equifax) must provide individuals with a free copy of their credit report once a year.
Obtaining a copy of your credit report and reviewing it for accuracy is a vital step in managing personal credit. Consumers can request a copy over the internet at annualcreditreport.com; by phone at 1-877-321-8228; or by mail by sending a request to Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta GA 30348-5281.
Take the time to review every item listed to make sure it belongs to you. If any errors are found, follow the instructions given for corrections. Reviewing these reports can be confusing, but it is time well spent in the process of managing your credit. It is also important to know that the reports from the three agencies may not contain the same information. One strategy in reviewing the three reports is to compare the information in each of the reports to see where they don't agree. This is a good way to find errors.
The other factor that can affect personal credit is government regulations. These can be local, state or federal. A recent change at the federal level impacted every person who has a credit card and does not pay off the balance each month. The government increased the minimum amount credit card companies must charge each month. So, the amount due every month went up and consumers didn't do anything different. To impact these changes consumers must be informed of the proposed regulations and communicate with government representatives.
Understanding all of this and taking action to manage it is not easy, but is necessary if consumers do not want to be at the mercy of a system that may not be accurately reflecting their true credit worthiness.
Most of the recent changes in credit are a result of two things: The impact of computerization or electronic processing and government regulations.
Computerization allows credit organizations to amass and process large amounts of information, analyze it, and act on it quickly. The computerization of information has also greatly reduced the role humans play in the credit process and as a result increased the amount of incorrect information found in a credit file. Previously, consumers sat down and discussed the possibility of credit approval for a loan or credit card with another person. The loan processor would even have a role in determining the interest rate. Applicants also had the opportunity to challenge and correct information that was wrong.
Now many applications are completed online and approved or denied without talking to another human being. While convenient, it can also be frustrating because there is no one to discuss the factors the decision is based on and whether it was correct or not.
Whether this is good or bad or right or wrong can be argued, but this is the reality of credit in the 21st century. The defense for consumers is to understand how the system works and control the things within their power. All credit users should know how their actions affect their credit worthiness; how to get a copy of their credit report, how to read it and how to apply for corrections of reported errors.
Beginning in 2005 the federal government mandated that the three major credit reporting agencies (Transunion, Experian and Equifax) must provide individuals with a free copy of their credit report once a year.
Obtaining a copy of your credit report and reviewing it for accuracy is a vital step in managing personal credit. Consumers can request a copy over the internet at annualcreditreport.com; by phone at 1-877-321-8228; or by mail by sending a request to Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta GA 30348-5281.
Take the time to review every item listed to make sure it belongs to you. If any errors are found, follow the instructions given for corrections. Reviewing these reports can be confusing, but it is time well spent in the process of managing your credit. It is also important to know that the reports from the three agencies may not contain the same information. One strategy in reviewing the three reports is to compare the information in each of the reports to see where they don't agree. This is a good way to find errors.
The other factor that can affect personal credit is government regulations. These can be local, state or federal. A recent change at the federal level impacted every person who has a credit card and does not pay off the balance each month. The government increased the minimum amount credit card companies must charge each month. So, the amount due every month went up and consumers didn't do anything different. To impact these changes consumers must be informed of the proposed regulations and communicate with government representatives.
Understanding all of this and taking action to manage it is not easy, but is necessary if consumers do not want to be at the mercy of a system that may not be accurately reflecting their true credit worthiness.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Build Wealth Fast with a Powerful Personal Financial Plan
Accounting for your own personal finances is the first step toward building lasting wealth. It is essential to know the amount of your Owner's Equity before you can start to develop a good financial plan.
Once you know what your assets are, and you know what your liabilities are, then you can calculate your Owner's Equity. Then you can develop a financial plan to reduce your debt and achieve your financial goals.
Here is the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) accounting equation:
Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity
Let's start with the right side of the equation. First, you must calculate the amount of your outstanding liabilities. This means you write down in a list exactly how much you owe right now on your mortgage, credit cards, and any other bills or loans.
Next, let's go back over to the left side of the equation where the assets are. Make a list of every asset you own. Examples would be your cars, home and cash you have in the bank. List all of your major assets.
Now we will determine your Owner's Equity. Simply use this variation of the preceding equation to arrive at your present Owner's Equity (how much you really own):
Assets - Liabilities = Owner's Equity
If you want to increase your Owner's Equity you must pay down your liabilities and avoid borrowing more money to buy more assets. Responsible saving, investing and proper paying down of your debts is crucial to your financial success.
Most experts agree that you need to allocate money every month for all these areas of your financial plan. It is not enough to just save some money in the bank. Because if you are carrying a credit card balance at the same time, you are losing all the benefits of the interest coming from your savings account.
Here is an example of a good financial plan:
1. Take the money that you are presently putting in your savings account every month or investing in other places and divide the total amount by 3.
Then,
2. Pay down your outstanding debts with one third of this money every month.
3. Take one third of this monthly allocation and simply place it in your savings account at your bank. This will be the pool of money you can use to balance out your monthly needs. As this money grows over time you can use it to finance your family's future needs or apply it to the goals of your financial plan.
4. Use another one third of this money and buy 1-5 year Certificates of Deposit. It is best to save up enough money to buy a CD of $1000.00 every time you invest. A good rule of thumb is to buy one CD every three months to six months. Remember to keep enough cash in your checking and passbook savings for any emergency.
By adhering to these tips you will pay off your liabilities in a timely manner. When you invest in 1-5 year CDs you will be earning interest and compounding your money by purchasing more CDs at specific intervals.
The biggest roadblock to financial success is accumulating a large credit card debt and not paying it off as fast as possible.
It is also recommended that when you have enough money saved up in your regular savings account, you begin to accelerate your mortgage payments every month. Check with your mortgage lender to see if your mortgage allows you to pay more per month than your regular payment. If so, start to pay more every month on your mortgage than you are required to. You will build equity in your home faster, save on interest charges and retire the mortgage much sooner.
By using a proven financial strategy such as this one you can reduce your debt faster, and build wealth for your family quickly. The above steps are by no means the only way to build wealth. These principles are basic and necessary though. Your family can be on the way to a brighter financial future when you prioritize your spending, saving and investing habits. After all, it's your money; why not put it to its best use!
Once you know what your assets are, and you know what your liabilities are, then you can calculate your Owner's Equity. Then you can develop a financial plan to reduce your debt and achieve your financial goals.
Here is the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) accounting equation:
Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity
Let's start with the right side of the equation. First, you must calculate the amount of your outstanding liabilities. This means you write down in a list exactly how much you owe right now on your mortgage, credit cards, and any other bills or loans.
Next, let's go back over to the left side of the equation where the assets are. Make a list of every asset you own. Examples would be your cars, home and cash you have in the bank. List all of your major assets.
Now we will determine your Owner's Equity. Simply use this variation of the preceding equation to arrive at your present Owner's Equity (how much you really own):
Assets - Liabilities = Owner's Equity
If you want to increase your Owner's Equity you must pay down your liabilities and avoid borrowing more money to buy more assets. Responsible saving, investing and proper paying down of your debts is crucial to your financial success.
Most experts agree that you need to allocate money every month for all these areas of your financial plan. It is not enough to just save some money in the bank. Because if you are carrying a credit card balance at the same time, you are losing all the benefits of the interest coming from your savings account.
Here is an example of a good financial plan:
1. Take the money that you are presently putting in your savings account every month or investing in other places and divide the total amount by 3.
Then,
2. Pay down your outstanding debts with one third of this money every month.
3. Take one third of this monthly allocation and simply place it in your savings account at your bank. This will be the pool of money you can use to balance out your monthly needs. As this money grows over time you can use it to finance your family's future needs or apply it to the goals of your financial plan.
4. Use another one third of this money and buy 1-5 year Certificates of Deposit. It is best to save up enough money to buy a CD of $1000.00 every time you invest. A good rule of thumb is to buy one CD every three months to six months. Remember to keep enough cash in your checking and passbook savings for any emergency.
By adhering to these tips you will pay off your liabilities in a timely manner. When you invest in 1-5 year CDs you will be earning interest and compounding your money by purchasing more CDs at specific intervals.
The biggest roadblock to financial success is accumulating a large credit card debt and not paying it off as fast as possible.
It is also recommended that when you have enough money saved up in your regular savings account, you begin to accelerate your mortgage payments every month. Check with your mortgage lender to see if your mortgage allows you to pay more per month than your regular payment. If so, start to pay more every month on your mortgage than you are required to. You will build equity in your home faster, save on interest charges and retire the mortgage much sooner.
By using a proven financial strategy such as this one you can reduce your debt faster, and build wealth for your family quickly. The above steps are by no means the only way to build wealth. These principles are basic and necessary though. Your family can be on the way to a brighter financial future when you prioritize your spending, saving and investing habits. After all, it's your money; why not put it to its best use!
Automobile Financing - Know Your Options
You’ve found the car that makes your heart race by 120 beats per minute. Now only one thing stands between you and the car of your dreams: financing the purchase. In a perfect world, you’d pay the full price in cash without blinking. But if you’re like the seven out of ten car and truck buyers who don’t live in a perfect world, chances are you’d be paying for your car through one of several financing schemes.
Understanding the basics of each car financing option is key to choosing the automobile financing strategy that best suits your situation. Here is an overview of auto financing options that may be available to you.
Auto Loans from Lending Institutions
You can get a car loan from a bank, credit union, or other lending institutions. The car that you purchase will serve as collateral for the auto loan. This means that the lender can repossess your vehicle if you default on the car loan. Auto loans are a popular car financing option because they generally offer reasonable interest rates and are relatively easy to get.
Two factors are likely to affect the total cost of the car loan. One is the term or duration of the loan. Generally, the longer the term of the loan, the lower your monthly installment will be. But you’ll end up paying more towards interest and this will increase the total cost of the auto loan. If you can afford it, get a short-term loan. Your monthly installment will be higher, but you’ll be paying less money over all. The second factor that may affect the total cost of your car loan is your credit rating. Creditors with less-than-stellar credit history are usually charged a higher interest rate because of the elevated credit risk.
Dealer Financing
Like traditional auto loans, dealer financing is reasonably easy to get. Most dealerships have relationships with numerous lending institutions, so they can arrange car loans even for car buyers with blemished credit histories. To compete with traditional bank loans, many dealerships offer zero percent or very low interest on dealer loans. However, such loans are available to car buyers with stellar credit ratings. Consumer experts advise car buyers to get pre-approved on an auto loan from a bank or credit union before approaching the dealership for possible financing. By getting loan pre-approval from another lending institution, a car buyer gets the upper hand when bargaining for a lower rate on a dealer loan.
Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit
If you own a home and have accumulated substantial equity on your property, then you may consider getting a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. Home equity loans are fixed or adjustable rate loans that you repay over a predetermined period. Home equity lines of credit are open-ended, adjustable-rate revolving loans with a maximum credit limit based on the equity of your home. Home equity loans tend to have lower interest rates than credit cards and other types of personal loans. Interest payments on home equity loans may also be tax-deductible up to a certain extent. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit use your home as collateral, so make sure you are financially capable of paying the monthly installments if you don’t want run the risk of losing your home.
Credit Cards
A credit card advance or credit card draft from your credit card company can help you drive your dream car home. Like home equity lines of credit, credit card advances or credit card drafts are revolving lines of credit with variable interest rates. To entice existing customers to avail themselves of credit card drafts, credit card companies waive cash-advance fees, guarantee low rates during the initial period of the loan, or offer high credit limits. However, because credit card drafts are unsecured, they generally have higher interest rates than home equity loans, traditional auto loans or dealer loans. Financing your auto purchase through credit cards could also leave you vulnerable to hefty penalty charges if you make a late payment or exceed your credit limit.
Understanding the basics of each car financing option is key to choosing the automobile financing strategy that best suits your situation. Here is an overview of auto financing options that may be available to you.
Auto Loans from Lending Institutions
You can get a car loan from a bank, credit union, or other lending institutions. The car that you purchase will serve as collateral for the auto loan. This means that the lender can repossess your vehicle if you default on the car loan. Auto loans are a popular car financing option because they generally offer reasonable interest rates and are relatively easy to get.
Two factors are likely to affect the total cost of the car loan. One is the term or duration of the loan. Generally, the longer the term of the loan, the lower your monthly installment will be. But you’ll end up paying more towards interest and this will increase the total cost of the auto loan. If you can afford it, get a short-term loan. Your monthly installment will be higher, but you’ll be paying less money over all. The second factor that may affect the total cost of your car loan is your credit rating. Creditors with less-than-stellar credit history are usually charged a higher interest rate because of the elevated credit risk.
Dealer Financing
Like traditional auto loans, dealer financing is reasonably easy to get. Most dealerships have relationships with numerous lending institutions, so they can arrange car loans even for car buyers with blemished credit histories. To compete with traditional bank loans, many dealerships offer zero percent or very low interest on dealer loans. However, such loans are available to car buyers with stellar credit ratings. Consumer experts advise car buyers to get pre-approved on an auto loan from a bank or credit union before approaching the dealership for possible financing. By getting loan pre-approval from another lending institution, a car buyer gets the upper hand when bargaining for a lower rate on a dealer loan.
Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit
If you own a home and have accumulated substantial equity on your property, then you may consider getting a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. Home equity loans are fixed or adjustable rate loans that you repay over a predetermined period. Home equity lines of credit are open-ended, adjustable-rate revolving loans with a maximum credit limit based on the equity of your home. Home equity loans tend to have lower interest rates than credit cards and other types of personal loans. Interest payments on home equity loans may also be tax-deductible up to a certain extent. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit use your home as collateral, so make sure you are financially capable of paying the monthly installments if you don’t want run the risk of losing your home.
Credit Cards
A credit card advance or credit card draft from your credit card company can help you drive your dream car home. Like home equity lines of credit, credit card advances or credit card drafts are revolving lines of credit with variable interest rates. To entice existing customers to avail themselves of credit card drafts, credit card companies waive cash-advance fees, guarantee low rates during the initial period of the loan, or offer high credit limits. However, because credit card drafts are unsecured, they generally have higher interest rates than home equity loans, traditional auto loans or dealer loans. Financing your auto purchase through credit cards could also leave you vulnerable to hefty penalty charges if you make a late payment or exceed your credit limit.