Belle Terre at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 785, placing it 458th among New York's 595 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 785 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: under a tenth of a percent either way (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Rank among New York places: 458th by size among 595 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 23% of New York's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 40.9607, -73.0673.
- Nearest larger cities: Poquott, NY (1 mi); Port Jefferson, NY (1 mi); Old Field, NY (3 mi); Head of the Harbor, NY (7 mi); Nissequogue, NY (7 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Shoreham, NY (8 mi); Asharoken, NY (17 mi); Ocean Beach, NY (22 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Belle Terre
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
New York lending rules that apply in Belle Terre
Each row below is a New York rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Belle Terre
A few practical steps will make the process in Belle Terre 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 New York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.