Lakeside at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 354, placing it 1,059th among Texas's 1,224 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 338 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 4.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 1,059th largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 13% of the places in Texas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 28.1031, -97.8611 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Lake City, TX (2 mi); Mathis, TX (3 mi); San Patricio, TX (10 mi); Orange Grove, TX (11 mi); Odem, TX (20 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Petronila, TX (33 mi); Bayside, TX (40 mi); Nordheim, TX (59 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Lakeside
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
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.
Texas lending rules that apply in Lakeside
The Texas rate caps and licensing rules that reach Lakeside are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lakeside
Run through this list before signing anything in Lakeside:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.