Bankruptcy And Bad Credit Issues No Longer Means No Mortgage
In the past, traditional mortgage lenders have automatically rejected people who had declared personal bankruptcy. Many potential home-buyers felt they must wait at least seven to 10 years after a bankruptcy to be eligible to become homeowners. This is a common misconception for many who believe their chance of home ownership is a long way away.
While some people declaring bankruptcy have had trouble managing their money, a large number of those declaring have simply experienced unfortunate events. Australians are filing bankruptcy at record-high levels over the last five years. The rise in petrol price and the recent increase in interest rates won’t help either.
There are some ominous signs out there…
Though a bankruptcy is certainly a blemish on a credit report, it does not necessarily disqualify a borrower. Recognising that sometimes bad things happen to good people, some select loan officers are becoming more willing to take a calculated risk.
Some lenders use a securing system to determine whether potential buyers are a worthwhile risk. Unfortunately, bankruptcy gives a low rating. However, select lenders are beginning to look beyond the rating and look at the individuals in need.
Instead of waiting two or four years after being discharged from bankruptcy, some mortgage professionals are willing to give a home loan much sooner. Those who have declared bankruptcy liquidation may be eligible for a loan one year after discharge, and those who are in a Part IX debt agreement could also be able to get a mortgage.
Another common misconception is that a previous bankruptcy on your credit report will require you to have a large down payment and pay extremely high interest rates. There are currently programs available with as little as 5 percent down with very attractive rates.
Some lenders are even prequalifying buyers for a loan, saving time and making the home-buying experience easier and more efficient. When a buyer prequalifies they will have the advantage of greater negotiating power.
No matter what the situation, select mortgage professionals have a program that will work for the buyer with a bankruptcy history. If a buyer cannot get approved, there are customized plans that can re-establish credit to help the buyer become mortgage-ready, ensuring home-ownership in the future.
Because of new options, bankruptcy no longer needs to stand in the way of getting a home loan. With the help of more creative lenders, those who have experienced financial difficulty will have an easier time getting a mortgage.
To your ongoing financial success,
Julian Thornton
A balloon mortgage is a loan that is provided for a short period of time for a set amount of money. Balloon mortgages will often involve periodic payments that are made at a fixed interest rate. During this period, the loan may not be amortized. The balance of the loan has to be paid in full at a specific time.
Another feature of balloon mortgages is that they will combine many of the features seen in adjustable rate mortgages and fixed mortgages. The interest rate will remain fixed for a certain period of time, which may be from 5 to 7 years. The payments will be based on an amortization cycle that lasts 30 years. If homeowners can’t pay the balance by the end of the term, the lender will decide how the payments will be made. The sum is usually converted into a fixed rate mortgage.
Advantages?
A balloon mortgage can be good because it offers an interest rate that is much lower than standard 30-year mortgages. If you are buying a larger home, a balloon mortgage can help you. Larger homes tend to have interest rates that are high, and this can make them difficult to pay off if you don’t have a large income. Balloon mortgages can make things easier. They are also good for people who plan on refinancing the home before the term ends.
Despite this, balloon mortgages can be much more complex than standard mortgages. Some homeowners who use them end up running into problems. You will need to make sure you have solid documents before signing up for a balloon mortgage. You will want to make sure you choose the right lender and read all contracts carefully for hidden fees or other terms. Balloon mortgages can be risky for people who don’t understand them.
Extra Charges For Balloon Mortgages
One problem that customers run into with these mortgages is prepayment penalties. These penalties will often be placed on people who choose to pay off the mortgage early. If you refinance your existing mortgage or sell the home, this can lead to prepayment penalties. The problem with these penalties is that they greatly increase the chances that your home could become foreclosed. Mortgages that have balloon payments are highly susceptible to foreclosure.
Pre Payment Penalties
The cost of prepayment penalties can be large. They are usually calculated as a percentage of the total balance owed. This could be as high as 12% and many homeowners have found themselves paying thousands of pounds more than they expected. If you choose to get a balloon mortgage you should make sure there are no prepayment penalties. If you get into a situation where you can’t afford the home, prepayment penalties can keep you from being able to refinance the home in order to get out of debt. These mortgages can be risky, and should only be used by those who fully understand the risks involved.
Short Term Mortgage Long Term Problems
A mortgage is a serious financial endeavor that you should take seriously. They involve large amounts of money that most people simply don’t have on hand. If you get into a situation where you can’t make your payments, you could end up losing your home and your credit could be ruined. Many people have made the mistake of getting involved with balloon mortgage without doing their research. They chose not to read the fine print on the applications. They often end up in situations that can haunt them for the rest of their lives.
While balloon mortgages may have low interest rates at first, you should have a plan to make your monthly payments after the first term ends. This can keep you from defaulting on your payments.
Bad credit second mortgages make up a sizable part of the mortgage market. According to a recent survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association, the number of second mortgage originations increased by 13 percent in the second half of 2005 and closed-end second mortgages increased by 33 percent. The survey included 114 lenders that originated 189 billion in second mortgages, many of them to people with bad credit.
There are at least five numbers that determine the ultimate cost of a bad credit second mortgage: interest rate, years on the job, credit score, closing costs and term length.
Interest rate
The interest rate on a second mortgage is slightly higher than on a first mortgage because it is in a subordinate position. If the borrower defaults and the home goes into foreclosure, the second mortgage is settled after the first, so the lender is taking a greater risk.
The interest rate on a bad credit second mortgage will be higher still, so says Steven Frank, Senior VP at FlexPoint Funding, one of the nations largest subprime mortgage bankers. A bad credit borrower is someone with a FICO score below 62. He or she will pay between 1.5% and 2% higher interest for a second mortgage, but there is no shortage of money or willing lenders in the bad credit mortgage market.
Work history
When considering a bad credit second mortgage, lenders look at the borrowers ability to repay the mortgage. This is verified by checking his or her current employment and total income. Mortgage lenders prefer that the borrower has been employed at the same place for at least two years, or has been in the same line of work for several years.
Credit score
The lender will also look into how the borrower has met previous financial obligations. This is where a credit report and credit score come into play. A credit report lists a persons credit activity for the last several years. It shows the highest balance, current balance and payment history on every account. Negative data such as late or missed payments gets erased after a few years but a bankruptcy can stay in the report for up to ten years.
Credit scores (also known as FICO scores) range from 900 down to 300. A score of 680 or higher signifies good credit. A score between 620 and 680 will cause most mortgage lenders to take a harder look at a borrower. If the number is below 620, as Mr. Franks points out, the person falls in the bad credit range and is charged more for a bad credit second mortgage.
Closing costs
The closing costs associated with a bad credit second mortgage will be cheaper than refinancing a first mortgage. In addition to minor processing fees, some lenders may charge an up-front fee in the form of a percentage of the total loan amount (known as “points). A borrower may also be able to pay points to lower the interest rate on the loan.
Term length
The longer the bad credit second mortgage, the lower the monthly payments but the more interest paid overall. The shorter the second mortgage, the higher the monthly payments but the total costs will be lower. It is in the borrowers best interest to choose the shortest possible term he or she can reasonably afford.
You can get more information a free quote on a second mortgage at www.badcreditsecondmortgagenow.com.
If you are looking to purchase or refinance a home, but cannot get finance due to bad credit, don’t panic! There are many lenders that will help you in obtaining finance for your dream home.
There are many websites and companies that can help you by doing almost everything for you. Most of these companies will do all the legwork for you through their mortgage brokers. A mortgage broker is a licensed individual or company who obtains mortgage loans for borrowers by selecting the best available loan at the best available rates, and in many cases at no cost to you.
There are many professionals, who specialize with bad credit mortgage loans. They will help you find competitive rates and terms on bad credit mortgage loans.
If you have had a bankruptcy or a foreclosure, even if it was just recently, there is absolutely no need for you to worry. There are many bad credit mortgage lenders (who are also known as sub-prime lenders), to help you with your finance.
Most of these companies have extensive lender databases that will be able to give you all the relevant information on different lenders, including their rates, services and fees if they have any. You can be assured that you will receive the lowest possible quote from reputable mortgage lenders or financial agents within about twenty-four hours.
You are probably sitting there thinking “my bank knocked me back” how can I possibly get a loan? Well, let me assure you, that in most cases finance can easily be sourced by a proficient mortgage professional.
Many mortgage brokers are only paid by the lender after their clients loan is settled. This type of remuneration makes bad credit mortgage brokers work very hard for “you” their clients, as they don’t get paid until you get a loan. So be assured that there is a good probability that you can secure your dream home. Even if you have quite a bad credit history.
But how much will my interest rate be you are probably thinking? Generally speaking, the worse your credit history, the higher your interest rate might be. This however is changing daily. The bad credit mortgage industry is becoming a very competitive market. Benefiting you dramatically!
Lenders take many things into account when determining your “risk” to them. That’s why it pays to use the services of a mortgage professional, who can access many lenders. This is of great benefit to you as assessment criteria varies dramatically from lender to lender.
There are hundreds of websites that can help you with your lending needs. Such as my website
www.bad-credit-mortgages-made-easy.com. We have many links to borrowing professionals.
Brokers desperately want and need your business to survive. In most cases, they will bend over backwards to get your business. Don’t let
your bad credit discourage you from buying that house of your dreams. Don’t let your your past stop you from owning that home you really want.
You may be feeling quite hurt and upset, especially if your bank has just rejected you. Don’t take it personally. Many banks are not very flexible with their lending policies. Thats why bad credit mortgage lenders exist. If you really want that home, don’t just sit there and watch others steal it right out from under your nose. Apply now with lenders who specialize in bad credit mortgage loans and get that house you really deserve.
Bad credit mortgage refinancing loans are used to solve two different problems.
Problem Number One: The homeowner has bad credit, significant high interest credit card debt and a home with substantial equity. In order to pay off the high interest bills, the person refinances hisher home and cashes out all or part of the equity. The cash from the equity is used to pay off the high interest obligations. Although the interest rate on the bad credit mortgage refinancing loan may be higher than that of a conventional loan, the house payment should still be less than the total of the high interest consumer debt.
A bad credit mortgage refinancing where the owner intents to use the cash from the homes equity to pay off bills is called a debt consolidation loan. The value of the home being refinanced must have grown so that the home’s appraised worth will justify a larger loan. The new loan amount must be high enough that the owner can cover the loans closing costs and still have enough left over to pay off the credit card debt.
A bad credit mortgage refinancing such as this can have several advantages. The term of the loan will be longer. Since even a high interest subprime loan carries a lower interest rate than do high interest credit cards the new house payment will be smaller than the total of the old house payment and the consumer debt payments. However, choosing to refinance in this manner carries risks. If the homeowner does not change the behavior that led to the high debt, even more high interest credit card bills may be accumulated. Since the homeowners equity has already been cashed out of hisher house the only alternative in a money crunch may be bankruptcy or foreclosure.
If a homeowner chooses a debt consolidation loan as the method of bad credit mortgage financing, it is imperative to use the cash received to pay off the accumulated debts. Credit counseling to keep from returning to poor credit practices should also be considered.
Problem Number Two: The homeowner had bad credit when the home was originally purchased and had to take out a high interest subprime mortgage loan at that time. Two or more years have passed since the loan was made during which time the homeowner has made all of the loan payments on time and has incurred no other bad credit. Now the time has arrived to refinance the loan and receive a better interest rate.
Even with two years of excellent credit history, a homeowner trying to refinance a bad credit mortgage may not be able to obtain a conventional low interest loan. The type of loan that can be attained will depend on a variety of factors such as current income and how much debt the homeowner has.
Refinancing a bad credit mortgage under these circumstances may be a good idea if the following two statements are true.
1. The new loan will carry an interest rate two or more percentage points lower than the current loan.
2. The homeowner plans to stay in the house for three or more years.
Credit ratings are a very influential factor when a person has to buy a mortgage. Good credit ratings improve the chances of getting a mortgage; while poor credit ratings may destroy the chances. However, today there are many options for people with bad credit ratings to get their mortgages. In fact, some mortgage companies specialize in selling mortgages to people with bad credit ratings. These mortgage companies are also called sub-prime lenders.
The creditworthiness of a person is rated according to FICO scores. The range of a FICO score lies between 300 and 850. Scores above 720 are considered to be good, while scores below 620 are considered to be bad. These people come under the category called sub-primes.
People may have bad credit due to a number of reasons. It may be due to loss in business, leading to delinquency of payments or even bankruptcy. There may be a medical disability or physical problem due to any other factor. People apprehended in criminal cases also attain bad credit status, as they cannot keep up their payments. However, bad credit no longer deters people from getting their mortgages.
One of the ways is to go for a home equity loan. If the person has been paying some installments on his or her home for a certain period of time, then equity on the home gets built up. This equity can be used as collateral to buy a second mortgage. Home refinancing is another option; a person can exchange his or her first mortgage with a newer mortgage which may possibly have lower interest rates.
Sub-prime loans have the disadvantage of high interest rates. Higher interest rates allow the lenders to acquire more payments from the borrowers and hence reduce their losses in case of default. There may be other stringent restrictions like shorter repayment times and the necessity of a down payment to be paid upfront. In fact, the down payment becomes a blessing in disguise. If the mortgage borrower has saved enough for a down payment, then it reduces the liabilities on the mortgage, which can be paid off faster.
Though it is difficult for people with bad credit to get mortgages, it is not impossible. Bad credit borrowers must shop around for mortgages and scout for lower interest rates and other incentives. Prepayment is generally not allowed on a bad credit mortgage, as lenders do not allow bad credit borrowers to wrangle out of their loans that easily. Hence, a market survey to find out who provides the lowest prepayment penalties would be beneficial.
However, the best option for a person with bad credit is to improve their credit score. This is a long, arduous process, often achievable with patience and a sense of responsibility. Credit scores can be improved by making timely payments, and removing delinquencies by arranging for their payments.
Mortgage lenders recognize the value of owning a home. Because some people will not easily qualify for a home loan, several lenders have begun offering home loans to tailor a variety of needs. For this matter, bad credit mortgage lenders have gained widespread popularity. The majority of bad credit lenders are sincere in their efforts to help you finance a home. However, some lenders are only concerned about their profit, and will not offer the best rate and terms.
Pitfalls of Having Bad Credit
Unfortunately, bad credit shuts the door on many home loan financing options. Because a large number of lenders prefer prime applicants, you may have to apply with several lenders before getting a loan approval. Some prime lenders do offer bad credit mortgages. However, their mortgage selection is slim
Having bad credit makes you susceptible to high rates and additional fees. For this reason, choosing the right lender is important. Prime mortgage lenders hate taking risks. To avoid any possibility of losing money, they generally charge bad credit applicants extremely high rates.
Fortunately, the majority of bad credit mortgage companies do not operated in this manner. Still, if applying for a home loan through a bad credit lender, keep an open eye for deceitful lenders.
Avoid Pushy Bad Credit Lenders
Be suspicious if a bad credit mortgage lender appears too eager. Some bad credit mortgage companies have very convincing tricks. They advertise fresh start home loans and low rate mortgages for people with bad credit.
Pushy lenders may persuade homebuyers to accept a creative financing home loan, and then fail to educate them on how the loan works. In this instance, homebuyers may agree to a home loan that involves a balloon payment, huge prepayment penalties, additional fees, and clauses that prevent refinancing. If the mortgage company is too excited, and the terms sound too easy, choose another lender.
Research Mortgage Loan Offers
Many people could have avoided fraudulent mortgage lenders if only they have done a little research. Not all bad credit lending companies are untrustworthy. Still, begin the search for a home loan with your guards raised.
Shady bad credit mortgage companies are praying that a potential homebuyer is unfamiliar with loans and mortgage rates. This gives them the perfect opportunity to take advantage of you. The only way to avoid common lender traps is to become educated on how bad credit loans work. Furthermore, never accept the first offered received, obtain quotes from multiple lenders, and check to see whether a certain lender has any complaints.