Buford at a glance
- Population: roughly 18,273 people; 62nd of 536 places in Georgia (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 17,129 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 6.7% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Georgia places: 62nd largest of 536 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 88% of Georgia's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.1186 latitude, -83.9886 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Sugar Hill, GA (3 mi); Suwanee, GA (6 mi); Lawrenceville, GA (11 mi); Duluth, GA (12 mi); Johns Creek, GA (14 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Rest Haven, GA (1 mi); Flowery Branch, GA (5 mi); Oakwood, GA (9 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Buford
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Buford
The Georgia rate caps and licensing rules that reach Buford are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Buford
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Buford:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.