Financing a Home With Bad Credit

Financing a home with bad credit is a common problem for people. Over 25% of homes in the US are financed through sub prime lenders, who offer financing to high-risk borrowers. While sub prime lenders charge higher rates and fees, through comparison shopping you can find a competitive financing offer.

Check your credit score to know what type of rates you can expect. If you have a score of 600 or lower, a down payment will be required between 5% and 20%. You should also check that the information on your credit report is correct.

The larger a down payment, the better terms you can secure for financing your home. One of the benefits of a down payment of 20% is that you do not have to pay PMI, saving most homeowners around a hundred a month.

Before you begin the process of purchasing a home, pre-qualify for a mortgage loan. Determine ahead of time the monthly payments you can afford, and then base your home purchase decision on that loan amount. You can also negotiate the terms of your loans, especially with a down payment.

Lenders dont charge the same rate, so it is best to compare rates and terms. Fees are one of the hidden costs of loans, so be sure to add them into the total price of the loan when comparing prices.

Mortgage websites make comparison shopping easy by sending your request out to several lending companies for bids. You no longer have to rely on local lending companies for offers. With the internet, sub prime lenders have become more competitive as they vie for loans.

Once you find a competitive financing offer, print off a copy of the terms and read them carefully. Look for terms that charge a high late fee or several points up front. People with a bad credit history will pay higher fees, but they should not be excessive.

After you have done your comparison shopping, lock in the rate by completing your loan application. Most mortgage lenders can complete the process online, and send out a final copy of the paperwork for your approval and signature.

See Also:

Real Estate Investing 101 Understanding the Different Types of Lenders
The changes in financing options available for residential investment properties over the last 5 years are staggering. Lenders have relaxed the credit and income guidelines for qualification that formerly deterred many would-be investors from entering the real estate. In addition, the down ... more...

Subprime Mortgage Loans - Which Lenders Should you Avoid?
If you have bad credit, your options for a mortgage lender may be limited. For the most part, traditional mortgage lenders prefer applicants with a high credit score. If you do not match their criteria, you will likely have to obtain a mortgage from a subprime lender.Subprime lenders provide ... more...

Subprime Mortgage Lenders - Differences Between Subprime and Other Lenders
Subprime mortgage lenders specialize in offering financing to people with poor credit or riskier loans. Conventional lenders focus on low-risk loans and borrowers. While you will find better rates with conventional lenders, suprime companies offer more flexibility in requirements and loan terms ... more...

Bad Credit? No Credit? No Money? No Problem!
Have you ever walked into a bank or mortgage brokers office to apply for a mortgage loan and was told, Your credit doesnt meet our guidelines? Or even better, you dont have enough money for the down payment. How about, You dont have a long enough credit history for us to tell if you are a viable ... more...