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Fire Your Bank
Corruption In The Banking Industry Drowns American In Debt
91 years ago, way back in 1913 our Federal Government implemented legislation that removed their sovereign rights to increase the amount of money that circulates in this country. At...
How To Help Your Kids Learn Important Life Skills Through Your Home Business
Would you like to find a willing, enthusiastic source of free or very inexpensive labor for your Internet Home Business? Would you like to find a fantastic way to help your children learn things like self discipline, goal setting, integrity,...
Knowing me, knowing you: why ID protection plans are flawed for fraud.
ID theft is a major consumer concern, though there is apparently much confusion about proactive protection initiatives and apparently safe and unsafe spending behaviour. For example, many consumers remain reluctant about shopping online, but they...
Lemon Laws for Used Cars are Just Around the Corner
In 1982, California became the first state to pass an automobile “lemon law” which gave owners of defective cars the opportunity to seek a replacement or a refund for a new car that had a defect that could not be repaired in a reasonable amount of...
Warning - This Lease Might Explode Any Minute
Mike Caringi, owner of a small New Jersey business that sells pumps, found himself facing a gut-wrenching dilemma last summer. Should he continue paying $ 1,500 each month for essential telecommunications services he no longer receives and for...
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Homeownership Is Still Possible With A Flawed Credit History
Besides lack of a down payment, bad credit is one of the biggest obstacles to homeownership. However, just because you have blemishes on your credit doesn't mean that it has to be a dream deferred. It just means that you need to go into the homebuying process knowledgeable about the challenges you may face.
One of the first things you should do is set a timetable for when you would like to buy a home. Depending on how damaged your credit is, you may want to put off buying a home for another year. Use that time to repair your credit by paying off creditors and create a history of paying your bills on time and consistently.
Next, find out what your credit reports say about you. Consider ordering a credit report from all three of the main credit reporting agencies because not all creditors report information to the same agencies.
Equifax (800-685-1111),
Experian (888-397-3742), and
TransUnion (800-888-4213),
Once you have your report in hand, study it to make sure that the information is accurate. If there are discrepancies, make sure you follow the steps provided by the credit-reporting agency to dispute the information and get it changed. In addition, you may want to add a consumer statement on your credit report to explain any late or non-payment to creditors.
When you’re ready to apply for a loan, realize that your previous credit history may limit your eligibility for prime loans and low interest rates. When lenders are deciding on whether to issue a potential borrower a loan, they use various criteria in addition to payment history to evaluate the borrower such as
employment, income, assets and liabilities.
Based on this evaluation, borrowers are offered loans rated on a scale from A to D. The more damaged your credit history, the higher of a risk you are to lenders.
Because of your blemished credit history, you will more than likely have to get a “sub-prime” loan. These types of loans come with higher interest rates and more points. Don’t assume that just because a lender offers sub-prime loans, that you will automatically be embraced. Be prepared to explain to the lender why you had credit problems and what you’ve done to prevent the situation from occurring in the future.
Don’t feel pressured into going with the first lender willing to make a loan. Doing so may cause you to pay more than you should. Get to know your mortgage market. Shop several lenders, comparing interest rates and fees, to obtain the best loan. Compare loan costs line-by-line for various programs through several prospective lenders. Also keep in mind, that there may be other ways to get a lower interest rate, such as putting down a bigger down payment.
Remember your past financial problems don’t have to stop you from experiencing the joys of homeownership.
Copyright © 2005 FreeHomeBuyingResources.com All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
Jamie Madison is a former Realtor® who provides valuable advice for prospective homeowners. Get insider information when searching for a new home or applying online for mortgage loans. Claim your *FREE* Report – “99 Home-Buying Tips” at http://www.freehomebuyingresources.com
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