Lake Forest Park at a glance
- Population: roughly 13,006 people; 75th of 281 places in Washington (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 13,631 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 4.6% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 75th by size among 281 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 73% of Washington's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 47.7589, -122.2917 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Kenmore, WA (2 mi); Mountlake Terrace, WA (2 mi); Shoreline, WA (3 mi); Bothell, WA (4 mi); Edmonds, WA (5 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Brier, WA (2 mi); Woodway, WA (5 mi); Hunts Point, WA (9 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Lake Forest Park
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Washington lending rules that apply in Lake Forest Park
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lake Forest Park
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Lake Forest Park:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.