“Zero fees!” “Low APR!” “Fast approval!”

We see these ads everywhere—but here’s the uncomfortable truth: cheap loan offers aren’t always cheap.

Many lenders promote teaser rates that only apply to “qualified borrowers,” or they bury costs in origination or service fees that aren’t obvious until after approval.

Worse, some “no-fee” loans make up the difference by inflating the interest rate or back-loading costs through payment structures that favor the lender.

Transparency matters. Always read the fine print. Ask, “What’s the total I’ll pay over the life of this loan?”

The answer will tell you more than the headline rate ever could.