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Loan playbook

Every BorrowLane guide filed under Loan playbook. Practical, plain-English walkthroughs, ranked on what actually matters.

7 guidesBrowse all topics
A blank printed form with ruled lines beside a ballpoint pen, a calculator and a small potted plant on a wooden deskLatest in Loan playbook
Loan playbook

What Credit Score Do You Need for a Car Loan?

Credit score for a car loan is a tier question, not a cutoff. This rundown covers how the bands price a rate, dealer versus preapproval, and thin files.

· 35 min readRead the guide →
A blank cream-coloured tag on a twine loop resting on two pale green cards, one showing a small gold chipLoan playbook

What Is an Origination Fee?

This breakdown explains what an origination fee pays for, the two ways lenders charge it, how it lands in your APR, and when a low rate plus a fee costs more.

· 32 min read
Two people seated at a pale wooden table in soft light, one sliding a blank sheet of paper with a pen resting on it across the table toward the other, with a green hardcover notebook and a white mug nearbyLoan playbook

Cosigning a Loan: The Risks You Take On

This playbook sets out the real risks of cosigning a loan: equal liability from day one, the credit and ratio damage, and why release is rarely granted.

· 30 min read
A person's hands resting beside a grey desktop calculator on a pale wooden table, with a stack of blank white paper, a silver pen, a green hardcover notebook and a white mug of black coffeeLoan playbook

Debt-to-Income Ratio: How to Calculate It

This playbook shows how to calculate a debt-to-income ratio, which debts count, what the commonly cited thresholds mean, and the fastest way to lower it.

· 32 min read
A blank loan application form beside a pen and a calculator on a light wood deskLoan playbook

Personal Loans With Bad Credit: How to Qualify

Personal loans with bad credit are possible, with tradeoffs. This rundown covers the score bands, the higher APR and fees to expect, and how to qualify.

· 29 min read
A set of house keys resting on a wooden table beside a small model house and a credit card in warm natural lightLoan playbook

FHA vs Conventional Loan: Which Is Right for You?

This playbook compares FHA vs conventional loans on the numbers that decide it: down payment, credit score minimums, PMI vs MIP, loan limits, and true cost.

· 26 min read
A personal loan application form and a financial calculator on a bright deskLoan playbook

Personal Loan Amount by Salary: The Limits

This playbook sizes your personal loan amount by salary: illustrative maximums by income tier, the debt-to-income math lenders run, and what lifts the cap.

· 26 min read