Should you get a mortgage if you have bad credit?

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Advertisements promising mortgages for those with bad credit are a dime a dozen. But often, the claims are exaggerated and mortgage loan applicants are turned down because they are seen as too big of a risk. When people are approved for a loan even though they don’t have great credit, they end up paying more because of high interest rates. You may be determined to not let having bad credit keep you from getting a mortgage, but should you really get a loan?

Not-so-ancient history

The reason mortgage lenders review your credit history is to determine what kind of consumer you are. Having bad credit is a sign that something in your past and present has kept you from being financially responsible. Maybe you fell on hard times after a job layoff, divorce or major illness in your family. However you got to where you are, money has been handled in a way that indicates that lending money to you at this time might be a mistake.

Questions for you

Getting a home loan is a major financial decision that can really backfire if not handled properly. Ask yourself the following questions before applying for a mortgage:

Are you really ready to take on the payments for the mortgage loan, taxes and insurance? Tax payments are set by your town based upon a property assessment, but mortgage and insurance payments will be affected by your credit score.Why can’t you wait to buy a home? Are you currently living in a rental and having difficulty keeping up with the monthly payments? Getting a mortgage loan isn’t going to improve that dilemma in most cases. Remember, owning a house means you’ll be responsible for repairs, upgrades, yard work and anything else that comes up.Why should mortgage lenders trust you to repay a loan? Be honest about your financial behavior up to this point. Have you been dishonest with others and yourself when dealing with bill collectors and creditors? Are you constantly making excuses for why you’re late with payments? Do you tell your kids or other family members to lie to bill collectors when they call? These are signs that you probably are not ready to get a home.

Repair credit before mortgage application

The bottom line is that going through the steps to repair credit can prepare you for getting a mortgage loan down the line. If you need help doing this, find a reputable debt counseling agency in your community.

Tags: home loan, mortgage, mortgage lender, mortgage loan, mortgages

This entry was postedon Friday, March 18th, 2011 at 11:12 amand is filed under General Mortgage Info.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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