These loans differ from secured loans by the fact that they in theory provide less risk to the person taking out the loan due to the fact that their house is not used as insurance on their payments. Whilst this is true in theory, it is common that once someone who has taken out an unsecured loan defaults on their payments, they will have court proceedings taken against them and their home. This could in effect result in the loss of their home, turning what was once a less risk loan into a secured loan! Be extra careful to ensure that you can keep up the payments on these loans. Loan companies often act aggressively on payment defaulters to ensure the stability of their investment.