In the ever-evolving mortgage industry, brokers are constantly seeking tools and strategies to provide their clients with the best financial solutions. One tool that is becoming increasingly popular is the no-collateral or unsecured loan, a product that platforms like goPeer offer through their peer-to-peer lending system. For mortgage brokers, incorporating these loans into their offerings can help not only improve client satisfaction but also grow their businesses by providing flexible, fast solutions that address a variety of client needs.
Here’s how unsecured loans can help mortgage brokers enhance their services and boost business.
1. Helping Clients Improve Creditworthiness
One of the key roles of mortgage brokers is to help clients secure a mortgage by presenting them as financially reliable to lenders. Unfortunately, some clients may have poor credit scores or a high debt-to-income ratio, both of which can make obtaining a mortgage more difficult.
Unsecured loans can be a useful tool in such scenarios. If a client has high-interest debts like credit cards or personal loans, taking out an unsecured loan through a platform like goPeer can allow them to consolidate those debts at a lower interest rate. By simplifying their financial obligations and making regular payments, clients can improve their credit scores, putting them in a better position to qualify for a mortgage down the road.
For brokers, this is a win-win. Not only do they help clients become more eligible for mortgages, but they also build stronger relationships by offering a practical, value-added solution to improve their financial standing.
2. Filling the Gap for Clients with Short-Term Financial Needs
Clients often approach mortgage brokers not just for the purchase of new homes, but also for refinancing, home renovations, or bridging loans. While mortgages are ideal for long-term financing needs, they aren’t always the best option for shorter-term requirements, especially when time is of the essence.
No-collateral loans can serve as a flexible alternative. They allow clients to borrow smaller amounts of money quickly, without the extensive paperwork and long approval processes associated with traditional mortgages or home equity loans. This is especially beneficial for clients looking to cover renovation costs to increase their home’s value or bridge temporary financial gaps.
As a mortgage broker, offering access to unsecured loans can expand your range of services and position you as a comprehensive financial advisor, helping clients meet both short-term and long-term financial goals.
3. Providing a Backup Plan for Clients Who Don’t Qualify for a Mortgage
Not every client that comes to a mortgage broker will qualify for a mortgage immediately. Some may struggle with insufficient credit history, high debt, or inconsistent income, leaving them unable to secure the loan they need to purchase a home. This can lead to client frustration, and in the worst-case scenario, a lost customer.
However, by suggesting an unsecured loan as a temporary solution, brokers can help clients work toward becoming mortgage-ready. An unsecured loan can help clients pay off smaller debts, build a stronger credit history, or handle short-term financial needs. This buys them time to improve their financial standing and eventually qualify for a mortgage.
From a business perspective, offering unsecured loans helps brokers retain clients who might otherwise walk away. It also shows that brokers are committed to finding solutions for their clients, even if those solutions aren’t immediately tied to mortgages.
4. Creating Additional Revenue Streams
Unsecured loans not only benefit clients but also provide mortgage brokers with a potential additional revenue stream. Many brokers earn commissions or fees for successfully helping clients secure financial products, and offering unsecured loans through platforms like goPeer can create a new source of income.
By broadening the scope of the financial products you offer, you can increase the number of services your brokerage provides, giving you more opportunities to earn. Whether it’s through referral programs or direct partnerships with lending platforms, offering unsecured loans as part of your suite of services can be a financially lucrative addition to your business model.
5. Expanding Your Client Base
Offering unsecured loans through platforms like goPeer allows mortgage brokers to attract clients who may not currently be in the market for a mortgage but still require financial services. For example, younger clients who are not yet ready to buy a home or older clients looking to finance personal projects might turn to unsecured loans to meet their needs.
By offering no-collateral loans, you can appeal to a broader segment of clients and create a relationship that could later turn into a mortgage opportunity. As these clients experience financial growth, they may turn to you for a mortgage or home financing in the future, helping to build your client base in the long term.
6. Simplifying the Loan Process for Clients
No-collateral loans, particularly through peer-to-peer platforms like goPeer, offer a simplified application process that contrasts with the often more complex mortgage application. As a broker, you can offer clients a streamlined and efficient solution for their financial needs without the delays and complications that sometimes accompany traditional loan processes.
goPeer’s platform, for example, allows borrowers to apply online with a quick response time, often within 24 hours. The transparency of the process, combined with competitive interest rates, can help position brokers as problem solvers, capable of offering convenient and fast financial solutions. This ease of use not only enhances client satisfaction but can also lead to faster turnaround times for brokers, allowing you to serve more clients effectively.
Conclusion
For mortgage brokers, offering no-collateral loans, such as those available through goPeer’s peer-to-peer lending platform, presents numerous advantages. From helping clients improve their creditworthiness and providing short-term financial solutions, to expanding your client base and creating additional revenue streams, unsecured loans offer a flexible, valuable tool in any broker’s arsenal. By diversifying your financial offerings and aligning yourself with innovative platforms like goPeer, you can enhance both your business operations and your ability to serve a wider range of clients.
*Disclaimer: Brand Street Agency is authorized to use goPeer's trademarks and branding solely for marketing purposes related to goPeer’s loan products with prior written consent from goPeer. goPeer Corporation and its affiliates are not responsible for any content, statements, or representations made by Brand Street Agency on this website. Loan approvals are not guaranteed and are subject to goPeer's underwriting policies. Terms and conditions apply. For the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding goPeer’s loan products, please visit goPeer's official website (https://gopeer.ca). Brand Street Agency operates as an independent entity and is not an employee, representative, or affiliate of goPeer Corporation or its affiliates. Brand Street Agency may receive compensation for its services.
goPeer offers unsecured personal amortizing loans throughout Canada in amounts from $1,000 to $35,000 with terms of 3 or 5 years and Annual Percentage Rates (APR) between 8.99% and 34.99%, depending on an assessment of the borrower’s credit profile, financial position, and ability to service the loan. If a payment is unsuccessful, goPeer may charge an unsuccessful payment fee of $50. If a payment is late 30 or more days, goPeer may charge a late payment fee of $25 or 5% of the payment due, whichever is greater. goPeer charges an origination fee included in the advertised APR. There are no other fees on loans. Loans are subject to credit and underwriting approval and lending rules may vary by province. For example, the average borrowing cost paid on a $9,400 unsecured personal loan at an APR of 18.8%, with a 5-year term and bi-weekly payments of $104.80 is $4,794.49.