Tips On Buying a House after Bankruptcy

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 29th, 2010

Nowadays, people file for bankruptcy for a number of reasons. Some unexpected medical bills, the loss of a job or perhaps overwhelming debt can be some of the reasons for one to file for bankruptcy. One may then start thinking if it is possible to buy a home after bankruptcy. And the answer is in the affirmative. There are many mortgage companies and online lenders out there who offer home loans for even those who have bankruptcy on their credit report.

You will then have to rebuild your credit once your bankruptcy is discharged. You can do this by opening a credit card account to which you will have to make regular payments. Another alternative is to save for a considerable down payment as the larger the cash reserve is, the better the rates you will get! Check on your credit report to make sure that all accounts linked with your bankruptcy are closed.

Make sure that the payment history information is right too as the difference in one late payment can greatly increase your interest rates by a percent or more. Once you improve your credit score through the repayment of the home loan, you can easily take out an equity loan on the home to consolidate any other debt you have since your bankruptcy or to use the extra cash on some business venture.

Before you actually start looking for the right house loan, it is better to look at your budget. Decide how much you can afford as a loan, how much you can make as a down payment, and the monthly payments you can make. With this information, you can decide how much loan to apply for, and the type of financing to opt for.

However, if you intend to live in that house for more than seven years, it is better to find a fixed rate mortgage as it saves money; in the long term. To get an idea of the type of loan to get, you could use a mortgage calculator for estimations.

Once you have an idea of the type of loan you need, you should start investigating the various financing companies. Lenders have little to lose when approving home loans after bankruptcy as the lender feels confident when your home serves as collateral for the loan. There are some lenders who need a certain amount of time to pass before approving for the loan. However, there are also lenders out there who will approve your loan even a day after the bankruptcy has been discharged.

Request free quotes and then investigate their rates. To get these quotes, you need only to furnish basic information, with no need of showing your credit card. This way your credit score is not affected. Once you get all the quotes, compare the APR for the real cost of the loan. It is no point just looking at the interest rates, as they are rather misleading.

Ask if there are any; fees related to the loan as if you plan in refinancing your home, you may have to pay thousands as fees. However, these fees can be negotiated.