Buying A Home With Past Credit Problems

Buying a home can be both exciting and stressful but, for those with past credit problems, the process may also seem intimidating.  The good news is that many lenders have adapted to the idea that many hopeful homeowners simply need a second chance, which means that past credit problems no longer have to define your future.

Credit Blemishes

When life unexpectedly takes a turn for the worst, it’s not always possible to come out without a few bumps and bruises.  Every day, people are faced with late or missed credit card payments, mortgage foreclosures, bankruptcy proceedings, auto repossessions and even civil judgments that will affect their credit reports for years to come.  Whether it’s from a job loss, injury or just a simple case of temporary hardship, credit blemishes are often a part of life.  The good news is that they no longer have to prevent you from becoming a homeowner.

Give Yourself A Little Credit

After experiencing a credit problem, most lenders will want to see an attempt to rebuild your credit through a steady payment history with a new account.  This can be accomplished by applying for a credit card and maintaining a responsible use of the account.  If you aren’t approved for an unsecured card, you can always apply for a secured credit card.  Either will rebuild your credit over time and will help to show lenders that your past credit problems are just that – in the past.

Clean Up Your Credit Report

Before applying for a home loan, make sure that you check your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies.  Every 12 months, consumers can request a free copy of their credit report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.  If anything is incorrect or found to be inaccurate, filing a dispute with the credit reporting agency can help to get the information corrected before speaking with a lender.

When you apply for a home loan, the lender will access your credit report for the purpose of determining your creditworthiness.  In an effort to ensure that you have the best possible chance at being approved for the loan at the best possible interest rates, making sure that your credit report is accurate is a must.

Save Up For A Down Payment

Some homebuyers often qualify for a mortgage with down payments as low as five percent (three percent for FHA loans), but those with past credit problems may be required to shell out up to 35 percent or more for a down payment on their new home.  A buyer who pays a larger down payment obviously has more vested interest in the home and may, thereby, be less likely to default on a loan.  If you have past credit problems, check with your lender about specific down payment requirements and start saving!

Creative Financing Options

If you’ve exhausted all of your conventional efforts and are still turning up empty, don’t give up just yet.  Alternative financing is an option that many homebuyers use to purchase a home.  Your REALTOR® can provide you with details regarding any lease purchase and/or owner financing properties, which may require no credit check, no bank qualifying, a low down payment and competitive interest rate options.

 

How Much House You Can Afford

There are a number of factors that can contribute to the affordability of a house and, as a potential homebuyer, it’s important that you know what type of mortgage payments are within your budget.

Debt-To-Income Ratio

As a homebuyer, your first consideration will be the amount of your monthly mortgage payments.  If you owe a lot of debt, lenders may consider you to be a high credit risk, which makes debt-to-income ratio a leading factor in determining how much of a house you can afford.

Most lenders will discount any loans that you will have paid off within one year when determining how much of a home you can afford.  As a general rule, your mortgage payment should not exceed 25-30 percent of your monthly take-home pay.

Loan Term

Although you will end up paying more interest in the long run, you will find that you can afford a more expensive house if you request a loan term of 25-30 years, compared to a shorter term of 15 years.

Interest Rates

When you look at an interest rate, all you see is a number.  Hopefully, it’s a single digit that’s comparable with current market rates.  Most homebuyers already know that their interest rate affects their monthly payment which, in turn, is determined by the borrower’s income.  Lower interest rates mean that you can afford a larger principal loan amount, which means a more expensive house.

Credit History

Because your past credit history will play a large role in determining your interest rates, it will also impact the affordability of a house.  For instance, a buyer who pays six percent interest will save a considerable amount of money over a buyer who pays eight percent interest on their home loan.  It may not seem like much now but, when averaged over time, the savings could be tremendous.

Down Payment Amount

Believe it or not, the amount of your down payment will not only show the lender how serious you are about buying a home, but it will also affect your ability to afford a particular house.  For instance, if you were to qualify for a home loan of $200,000, but your dream home was currently listed for $250,000, a down payment in the amount of $50,000 would get you into the home.

The above scenario is just an example, but it does show how a down payment can affect the price of the home that you are able to afford.  Some lenders may only require a five percent down payment, but you are free to pay as much above that as you wish.  A larger down payment can also reduce the principal loan amount, which thereby reduces the monthly mortgage payments.

 

When Is The Right Time To Reduce The Price

Every homeowner must set an asking price when listing their home on the market, but what happens when you don’t receive any offers?  Just as it’s important to know when it’s time to sell, it’s important to recognize the right time to reduce the price.

Supply & Demand

If a lot of homes are currently listed on the market or your home is overpriced, it may be time to consider a price reduction if you hope to stay competitive.  If five different stores sold your favorite soda, what would motivate you to buy from one over the others?  If you are like most, the cost would be a leading factor.  The same is true with home buyers, who are looking to get the best value for their dollar.

Hurry Up & Wait

If your home has been listed on the market for what is considered to be a lengthy time for your area, it may be time to consider a price reduction.  This is especially true if you are in a hurry to sell, which may be the case if you are planning to purchase another house upon selling yours.  In some cases, a homeowner will make an offer on another house and that offer will be contingent upon selling their current home.  When this happens, the homeowner is likely to be in a hurry to sell so that they can honor the terms of their new agreement before it expires.  Real estate can often be a waiting game, but sometimes it may be necessary to hurry up the process, through a price reduction, if you need to complete the sale.

Market Value Fluctuations

We all know how the market fluctuates.  If you own real estate, property values can go up one year and fall the next.  If your house is currently listed and the property values have fallen, you may want to consider reducing the price in order to remain in the running with potential home buyers.  If your house is priced far above market value, most lenders would refuse to approve a loan for your asking price.  Having an appraisal would be one way to know how much your home is worth.

REALTOR® Recommendations

If you’ve hired a REALTOR®, you obviously trust him/her to guide you through the process of selling your home.  If your REALTOR® suggests a price reduction, it may be in your best interest to consider it.  Nobody knows the business like a real estate agent.  They know what buyers want and, in most cases, what they are willing to pay.  If you’ve trusted a REALTOR® enough to hire them, trust them enough to value their opinion.

 

How To Buy A Home With A Low Down Payment

Purchasing a home with a low down payment is important for a number of reasons, including the buyer’s ability to have extra cash left over for closing costs, decorating expenses, upgrades and/or other essentials needed to turn their new house into a home.  Thanks to the level of competition between mortgage lenders, it’s now easier than ever to buy a home with a low down payment.

First-Time Homebuyers

There are a lot of perks to being a first-time homebuyer, including the ability to get in the door with a low down payment.  Many lenders will ask for a down payment as low as five percent (three percent for FHA loans) to those looking to purchase their first home.

A first-time homebuyer is someone who has rented their previous home(s) or has never purchased a house on a permanent foundation.  Individuals who have owned manufactured homes may also be eligible for a first-time homebuyer loan, but the final decision is up to each individual lender.

FHA Loan

This type of loan is guaranteed by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and allows for a smaller down payment than many conventional loans.  In addition to offering down payments as low as three percent of the total purchase price, FHA loans often carry lower interest rates and are easier to qualify for.  This type of loan is ideal for first-time homebuyers, individuals with past credit problems or even those who wish to purchase a second home.

Provide Your Land As Collateral

If you own the land that you intend to build on, many lenders will use the land in place of a down payment.  In other words, you build a house on the land that you already own, and the lender gets both if you default.  This is why individuals who own land often choose to build, while using the lot in place of a big down payment.  In addition, many lenders are more willing to approve a loan if the land is already owned by the buyer.

Owner Financing

When a seller lists their home, they have the option of considering owner financing.  In this situation, a buyer provides a down payment to the seller and signs an agreement to pay for the home (plus interest) over a preset number of years.  Owner financing typically requires a lower down payment, which can be any amount that the buyer and seller agree to.  Because there is no bank qualifying and no credit check, a seller can extend the offer on any terms that they wish.

 

Will You Qualify?

What You Need To Get A Mortgage

If you are a first time homebuyer, navigating all the new information about homeownership, the home buying process, and mortgages can seem overwhelming.  If you are beginning the mortgage shopping process, but have no clue as to what information you’ll need and whether or not you’ll even qualify, here is some information that may make the process a little smoother.

Will I Qualify For A Mortgage?

There are essentially three things that lenders look at to determine whether or not you qualify for a mortgage.

Income Verification

When purchasing a property, all income of a homebuyer must be validated by a mortgage underwriter in order to receive a loan.  Income verification can be done using several types of documents such as a W-2 statement, paycheck stubs, or income tax statements that show proof of income. These documents usually will have to span a period of two years or more to show you have a history of a steady income.  Income proof can include such things as child support payments, disability payments, or income from the Social Security Administration.  These additional monthly payments can increase your potential to qualify for a mortgage, as well as the amount you will qualify for, but like regular income, must be validated in order to count.

Debt-To-Income Ratio

Another important factor in getting a mortgage will be your debt-to-income ratio.  This involves looking at your total debt load and monthly payments, including car payments, credit card debt, and any student loan debt.  If the ratio of debt exceeds 40 % of your income, you will likely have to pay off some debt before you will qualify for a loan.  In this case you may want to seek out the advice of a financial advisor to help with this process.

Credit History

The final consideration that lenders will take into account in determining whether you qualify for a mortgage is your credit history and score.  They will not only be looking for a strong history of on-time payments for all your debts, but also that you have already established credit.  You can arm yourself with this information by getting your free credit report from sources such as Equifax, so that you are able to check that it is accurate and up to date.

When getting a mortgage, being prepared with a little background research and all required documents will make the process simpler and less stressful.  Armed with this information, you will be able to get the best possible deal with a lender who is right for you.