In a perfect world everyone would have a 720 credit score and a trouble free credit history. Unfortunately we live in reality and the truth is that many home owners have less then perfect credit scores. While bad credit can make refinancing a home loan difficult getting a mortgage with bad credit is actually easier then you think.
The first thing you must determine is how bad your credit actually is. Knowing your credit score will help determine your loan options and save you the headache of having to apply for a mortgage only to be turned down.
Bad Credit Refinance Options
If your score is 600 or higher then you more then likely will be able to secure a good low fixed rate FHA mortgage. Keep in mind that FHA requires your last 12 months mortgage payments to have been paid on time and your debt to income ratios need to be at or around 42%. FHA will refinance up to 97% of the value of your home so it works well for people with little to no equity in their primary residence.
If your credit score is under 600 and not below 500 you really have no other option but to use a sub prime lender. although they have gotten a lot of bad press lately sub prime loans can help people refinance their homes when other lenders turn them away. However never under any circumstance take a sub prime adjustable mortgage and always opt for the fixed rate. Sub prime loans allow you to refinance with mortgage lates, open collections and many other derogatory credit situations.
However if your credit score is under 500 you have some serious work to do because even sub prime lenders will not lend to borrowers with credit scores under 500. At this credit score level you have two options. You can either invest some time and money into credit repair to improve your scores to the level where you can secure sub prime financing. The other option is for you to use a hard money lender. Hard money lenders typically have very high interest rates and loan fees and should only be used as a last resort. They also only typically lend up to 70% of your homes value so they may not be able to help everyone based on those equity requirements.
By: Darin Sewell
Posts Tagged ‘Hard Money Lenders’
Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance
December 8th, 2009
If you are looking to refinance your mortgage but believe you will be unable to because your credit may be challenged by late payments, bankruptcy, charge offs, or unpaid medical bills to name a few, don’t worry, there is hope.
There are literally thousands of lenders across the United States that specialize in all different types of mortgage programs for people who have challenged credit.
They are not the typical banks you find down the street from your house that deal with perfect credit only. Nor are they hard money lenders that charge outrageous mortgage rates. They are known as wholesale lenders.
Wholesale lenders work closely with mortgage brokers. Mortgage brokers are the people who work with people looking for mortgages in the way of counseling, educating, and locating a loan for people who find themselves in a unique situation and have trouble finding a loan on their own because their needs may be special.
Keep in mind, wholesale lenders are out there by the thousands, and they are very competitive. So be sure to shop around. Just because you have bad credit, it does not mean that you should be at the mercy of mortgage companies. There are plenty of lenders out there who have programs to lend money to people with bad credit.
The best place to begin your search for a bad credit mortgage refinance would be the internet. Make an attempt to contact no more than four lenders, allow for them to assess your situation, than base your decision on the one that offers you the best deal that meets your needs and budget.
By: Jennifer Hershey