Houston Lake at a glance
- Population: about 224, 636th by size in Missouri of 937 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 223 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 0.4% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 636th largest of 937 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 32% of Missouri's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.1901 latitude, -94.6202 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Northmoor, MO (1 mi); Riverside, MO (1 mi); Oakview, MO (3 mi); Lake Waukomis, MO (3 mi); Platte Woods, MO (3 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Oaks, MO (3 mi); Oakwood Park, MO (3 mi); Oakwood, MO (3 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Houston Lake
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Houston Lake
The table lists the Missouri rules that apply to a loan made in Houston Lake, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Houston Lake
A few practical steps will make the process in Houston Lake less costly:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.