Legal Topics > Personal Finance >

Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary

Legal Dictionary Home

Need Professional Help? Talk to a Lawyer
Enter Your Zip Code to Connect with a Lawyer Serving Your Area
searchbox small
Subprime Loan
A loan to a borrower who does not qualify for a loan at the best market rates (the prime rate) because of a weak credit history, inadequate assets to secure the loan, or an income too low to guarantee payments. These loans are offered at a higher interest rate because of the increased risk to the lender. Not all lenders engage in subprime lending and the rates and terms of the loans vary from institution to institution.


Need Legal Help?
Get Informed Check out our thousands of free articles on everyday legal topics--they're accurate, up to date, and written in plain English.
Do It Yourself With Nolo's easy-to-use books, legal forms, online services, and software, you can handle many routine legal tasks yourself.
Talk to a Lawyer Just enter your zip code to connect with a lawyer serving your area.
LA-WS5:0.9.22.120522.13848+