Can you still buy a home if you have bad credit? Yes, but it’s not as easy as it could be. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your credit and buy the home of your dreams. If you want to know how to buy a home with bad credit, the tips in this article will give you the knowledge and guidance you need. Don’t wait – get started today!
1) First Steps
If you’re looking for bad credit loans, it’s important to get your finances in order before shopping for a mortgage. Start by tracking your spending. Over time, you’ll see what areas you need to cut back on, which will make it easier for you to get approved for a home loan. Also, don’t forget about all of your assets; include them when calculating your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). That’s an important metric that lenders use when determining whether or not they’ll approve your loan application. Plus, even if you have bad credit, there are steps you can take toward improving it in time for when you go mortgage shopping.
2) The Mortgage Lender
Bad credit shouldn’t be an obstacle if you’re dead set on buying a home. It’s more important to figure out what type of loan will work for you rather than searching for lenders willing to look past your bad credit rating. Fortunately, there are some options available that can help you buy a home even if your score isn’t stellar. Make sure you know what you want before starting your search, as it makes it easier to pinpoint which loans are right for you. Some common types of bad credit mortgages include FHA loans, USDA loans and VA loans. These bad credit mortgages can also be used in combination with each other or other programs—for example, an FHA-backed mortgage could allow you to purchase a property using funds from both a USDA loan and a VA loan. To start your research process, begin by applying for one of these mortgages online through sites like LendingTree or Quicken Loans so you have multiple lender options at your fingertips when seeking financing. You’ll get offers from lenders based on information you enter into their systems, including details about yourself and how much money you need to borrow. At that point, you’ll have plenty of information to start comparing rates and terms so you can find something that works well for your situation.
3) Applying for a Loan
Take control of your finances by signing up for a free, personal finance account on NerdWallet. By adding your credit score and payment history on mortgages, credit cards and other loans, NerdWallet can determine which lenders are most likely to approve you for a loan. You can also use NerdWallet’s free tool that compares different mortgage rates from dozens of lenders in minutes. If you have bad credit or have been denied before, don’t fret. You might still be able to get approved for a home loan if you go through a reputable lender such as Quicken Loans or Wells Fargo. These banks will look at what’s on your credit report but they’ll also consider more subjective factors such as stability and income when evaluating your application. The larger banks tend to offer lower interest rates too. In short, there is hope if you’re buying a home with bad credit. Simply be prepared for an extra layer of paperwork and some delay. And try working directly with a loan officer at one of these big-name financial institutions rather than going through a middleman broker who may not have access to their best deals. This advice isn’t meant to make buying a house seem easy; it’s simply meant to point out that it is possible! It never hurts to do some research online before starting your application process so you know exactly how much down payment money you need (which varies widely depending on where you live) and which fees are standard versus optional so there aren’t any surprises later on. Good luck!
4) Not All Loans are Created Equal
Not all lenders are created equal, especially when it comes to bad credit loans. Many lenders will not approve loans for people who have had adverse credit events (like bankruptcy or foreclosure) on their records; however, these same lenders can help if you’re willing to accept higher interest rates and longer loan terms. It’s important that you find yourself an expert in your local market; online search engines won’t always point you in the right direction. Finding someone who knows what they’re doing can take some time, but it will save you money (or earn you money) down the road. A good place to start is by using Google as I did: Buy A Home With Bad Credit. Once I found a couple of reputable sources on my city, I dug deeper by looking at each source’s About Us page. If there was nothing there about how long they’ve been open, any awards or certifications—basically anything about how established they were—I wouldn’t trust them as much as I would one of those sources who also provided their backstory. For example, one site didn’t mention how long it’d been around until after I navigated through several pages looking for information.
