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How do I get a personal loan in Richmond?
Getting a personal loan in Greater Vancouver's liveliest neighbourhood is easier than you might think. Simply follow these steps:
- Figure out what you need
- Find lenders and loans that can help
- Choose an option that you are happy with
- Complete a simple application form (usually available online)
- Wait for a loan decision; if your application is approved, you will need to sign a loan contract before you can receive your loan funds
Who can get a personal loan in Richmond?
Richmond is one of Canada's most financially secure areas; residents skew to higher income families, with a higher degree of education and lower unemployment than elsewhere in the province. The average property price is $1.2 million, and home ownership is nearly 10% higher than in nearby Vancouver, at 71%. This doesn't mean that no one in the area is struggling though; unemployment is higher than the provincial average, and those living in the city centre are much more likely to face financial hardship than those in the south, east or west of the city. Fortunately, where exactly you live, whether you own your own home, your education level and your income do not dictate whether you can get a personal loan. The actual requirements for all loans are very simple; you must be age of majority, with I.D., proof of address, and an active bank account. Other factors, such as income and credit, may be considered, but not by all lenders, so even those with low income, poor credit or no assets have options.
What can I use a personal loan in Richmond for?
The cost of living in Richmond is lower than in nearby downtown Vancouver, but still very high compared to the rest of Canada. An adult must spend an average of $2,236 per month to live here, and even those with steady employment and what elsewhere in the country would be considered a healthy income have to face high housing costs and tightening budgets. Fortunately, personal loan funds can be used to help with the cost of living. Rent, utilities, mortgage payments, groceries, transit and other daily expenses can be covered through a personal loan. As can one-off expenses, like car repairs, home repairs, medical bills, and so on. Personal loans aren't just about unavoidable expenses though; they can also be used to spread the cost of discretionary purchases, like vacations. In truth, there are no restrictions on what the cash from a personal loan can be used for.
Do I need to have a job to get a personal loan in Richmond?
Many personal loan providers require proof of income in their loan applications; this may need to be employment income, but it doesn't have to be. 6.5% of Richmond residents are unemployed, and a further 39.9% not working for other reasons (e.g. retired). For these people, regular income of other kinds (e.g. pension income, benefits income, unemployment insurance, etc.) may be acceptable to lenders - you just need to check their rules. In terms of income level, lenders can accept borrowers with a range of incomes. The average household income across the city is $100,500, but many do not earn this much, and although BC has one of the highest minimum wage levels in the country (at $16.75 per hour), a sizable number of locals live paycheque-to-paycheque. Fortunately, lenders do not solely look at income when assessing applicants; they look at a number of factors, which may include credit score, credit history, existing debt levels, income type, income level, and assets.
Are there different types of personal loan in Richmond?
There are many different types of personal loans, and all are available in Richmond. This includes: installment loans, online loans, short term loans, payday loans, bad credit loans, auto loans, personal lines of credit, home equity loans, medical loans, debt consolidation loans, and student loans. There are also business loans, mortgages, equipment loans, and truck loans. No matter what your financial need is, Richmond has a loan option for you.
Written by:
Amy Orr
Amy Orr is a professional writer and editor with over 10 years of experience in the Canadian, U.S. and U.K. financial markets. She has written for numerous publications on topics as diverse as economic literacy, corporate finance, and technical analysis of numerical data. Prior to transitioning to full-time writing, she worked in the hedge fund sector. Her academic background is astrophysics, and she has a Masters in Finance from the University of Edinburgh Business School.
Reviewed by:
Jenna West
Jenna West is Smarter Loans' in-house financial writer and content director. She has been covering the Canadian FinTech and finance industry since 2017, including financial trends analysis, industry surveys, regulatory updates and changes in Canadian consumer behaviour when it comes to finance.
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