Best home improvement loans
LightStream offers personal loans up to $100,000 and repayment periods up to 12 years for home improvement, boat, and RV loans. The combination of large available loan amounts, long repayment terms, same-day available funding, and industry-leading rates, makes it a top choice for home improvement loans. It’s best for those with good to excellent credit who would benefit from an unsecured loan with a large loan amount and long repayment term.
Know that if you have poor or fair credit, you may not qualify. Also, LightStream doesn’t have a prequalification process to see possible rates and terms before you apply on its website.
Great for good to excellent credit
Beyond home improvements, LightStream loans can be competitive for anyone who qualifies. The lender offers relatively high loan amounts, flexible terms, and fast funding. While you should compare a few options before choosing a loan, you may have a good chance with LightStream if you have good to excellent credit.
Best home improvement loans and low rates
LightStream
4.2
Credible Rating
Est. APR
6.99 - 25.49%
Loan Amount
$5000 to $100000
Min. Credit Score
700
Pros and cons
More details
Using a personal loan for home improvement
LightStream offers home improvement loans that could be worth considering if you have renovations on the horizon. Highly qualified borrowers may be able to secure loans up to $100,000 without any restrictions on what home improvement project you can use the loan for. These loans also don’t require collateral. Repayment terms for home improvement loans range from two to 12 years. While a longer term can help you pay off the debt over time, keep in mind that it can also lead to you paying more in interest over the life of the loan.
When compared to alternatives like home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), a LightStream home improvement loan may have a higher APR, but has a quick approval process, and allows you to skip the risk that comes with a second mortgage.
LightStream pros and cons
Pros
- Loan maximum of $100,000
- No origination fees
- Allows co-borrowers
- Rate beat program
- Same-day funding possible
Cons
- No loans under $5,000
- Requires good to excellent credit
- No prequalification process
- No changing monthly due dates
- Very limited customer service
LightStream stands out in the market as a trustworthy lender of large, unsecured personal loans. Other perks include no origination fees and a rate beat program. However, it may not be the best fit for borrowers with fair or worse credit profiles, as it has strict eligibility requirements.
Pros
- High maximum loan amounts: Its maximum loan limit of $100,000 can help you cover multiple needs if you qualify.
- Rate beat program: LightStream offers a rate beat program it says can beat a competitor's rate offer by 0.10 percentage points (as long as you were approved for a lower APR).
- Allows co-borrowers: If you don’t have good credit, it’s possible to apply with a co-applicant or co-borrower. A co-borrower signs the loan with you, has equal access to the funds, and is also responsible for making payments.
Related: Co-applicant vs. Cosigner
Cons
- No prequalification: You can’t see if you prequalify, and applying causes a hard credit inquiry that can hurt your credit score temporarily.
- No loans under $5,000: LightStream may not be a good option if you’re looking for loans under $5,000.
- Limited customer support: Surprisingly, there is no contact number or live chat options if you want to call or talk to a customer support representative. LightStream does have email support, however.
Industry insight: LightStream ranked 7th out of 18 personal loan lenders in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Consumer Lending Satisfaction Study. It earned a score of 740 out of 1,000, slightly lower than the segment average of 744.
What to consider before applying for a LightStream personal loan
While many personal loan lenders allow you to prequalify on their websites without impacting your credit, LightStream doesn’t. However, you can prequalify through a loan marketplace. Prequalifying can show you the rates and terms you may qualify for before you apply. While prequalification won’t impact your score, applying for the loan may. Prequalification is not an offer of credit, and your final rate may be different.
The lender also has more stringent credit requirements than many other lenders. As a result, you may want to consider boosting your score if possible. You can do so by paying down small debts or fixing errors on your credit report.
If you move ahead with a loan from LightStream, it also has a loan experience guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with your experience with LightStream, it says it can offer you $100 for completing a questionnaire detailing how it can improve.
Learn More: How To Improve Your Personal Loan Application
Important
Consider the APR when comparing loan options. The APR includes the interest rate and upfront fees, making it a better tool for comparison than interest rate alone.
LightStream personal loan requirements
LightStream is upfront about the fact that it only approves borrowers with good to excellent credit profiles. For your application to be reviewed, you’ll need to have:
- Good to excellent credit score: You must have a FICO credit score that falls into at least the good category.
- Sufficient income and assets: Must have income and assets that enable you to comfortably repay your existing debts along with the loan you’re requesting.
In addition to the above, LightStream considers your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), payment history, and credit history. The lender states that people with good credit tend to have several years of diverse credit history, a demonstrated ability to save, a stable income that can cover their debts, and a solid payment history with few to no missed payments.
How to get a personal loan with LightStream
If you’re interested in getting a personal loan with LightStream, follow these steps:
- Check your credit: Check your credit score to see if it aligns with LightStream’s requirements. If not, you may want to work on improving your credit before applying. Fixing any errors on your credit report can potentially boost your score. You can get free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Prequalify: You can prequalify through a loan marketplace, which won’t impact your credit score, but applying for a loan may. Prequalification is not an offer of credit, and your final rate may be different from the estimate.
- Fill out the online application: You can visit LightStream’s website and complete the loan application. You may need to share information about your identity, employment, other income, expenses, and assets, and allow a hard credit check. This can temporarily hurt your credit score.
- Review the loan offer: If you’re approved, review the loan offer to see if the loan amount, APR, repayment term, overall cost, and monthly payment fit your needs. You should also shop around and compare quotes from a few other lenders to ensure you get a good deal.
- Accept the loan and schedule the transfer: If you decide to proceed with a LightStream loan, you’ll need to sign the loan contract. From there, you’ll schedule a transfer of the loan funds via an ACH or wire transfer. Funds can arrive as soon as the same day.
Related: How To Get Approved for a Personal Loan
How to contact LightStream
One area where LightStream drops the ball is customer service options. It currently only lists an email support channel and mailing address on its website. You won’t find a customer service phone line, an email form, or an online chat service.
If you have questions or comments, you can email them to [email protected]. The lender has a support team in place Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
Alternatively, you can reach LightStream by mail at PO Box 117320 Atlanta, GA 30368-7320, or find answers to frequently asked questions on its FAQ page.
How LightStream compares to other lenders
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LightStream FAQ
What types of personal loans does LightStream offer?
LightStream offers personal loans that can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as home improvement, buying vehicles, consolidating debt, paying medical bills, funding weddings, and more.
How does a LightStream personal loan affect my credit?
A LightStream personal loan can affect your credit in a few ways. When you apply for the loan, the lender will perform a hard credit inquiry, which commonly causes your score to drop by a few points. Additionally, when the loan account is added to your credit reports, it can cause another drop because it negatively impacts the length of credit history and amounts owed categories that influence your FICO credit scores. But if you make all your payments as agreed, the loan can strengthen your overall credit report and scores over time.
Can I repay a personal loan from LightStream early?
Yes, you can pay off a personal loan from LightStream early without worrying about any prepayment penalties. Doing so can be beneficial as it reduces the amount of interest you may pay on the loan.
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Methodology
Credible evaluated personal loan lenders based on factors such as customer experience, minimum fixed rate, maximum loan amount, funding time, loan terms, and fees. Credible’s team of experts gathered information from each lender’s website, customer service department, in-house resources, and via email support. Each data point was verified to make sure it was accurate at the time of publication.
