Home Loans With Bad Credit: Improving Your Chance of Application Success

No lender can guarantee approval of an application for a home loan with bad credit. There is too much involved in the assessment process to permit that kind of assurance. But what most of us are not aware of is the fact that, if certain aspects of an application are strong, there is a greater chance of the application being successful.It is worth noting that bad credit scores are by no means fatal to a loan application, and in fact, securing mortgage approval depends much more on issues like the size of the down payment and the debt-to-income ratio the applicant has. Meeting basic criteria is always the the best footing on which to start.What this means is that concentrating efforts on getting these areas in good order enhances the application to such a degree that lenders feel comfortable with the idea of granting a home loan. Here are a few simple tips to accomplishing that.Know Your Credit StatusThe most important place to start from is a sure footing, and this cannot be done if an applicant has no idea of how a lender will view them. For this reason, knowing the credit score is important when applying for a home loan with bad credit. With weaknesses identified, the most appropriate steps can be taken to address them.Applicants need to get their credit report from one of the main credit agencies to find out their score and how it was calculated. Once this is done, the areas that most need cleaning up can be seen, like whether outstanding late payments need to be dealt with, or if a small balance remains unpaid. Securing mortgage approval can come down to the narrowest of margins.The credit scores also give a good idea of home loan terms that can be expected. This means it is easier to spot a good deal, and to negotiate an improved rate if the opportunity arises.Raise Your Credit ScoreOf course, one of the best ways to improve the chances of getting a home loan with bad credit is to increase the credit score in the first place. Several things that can be done to accomplish this, including taking out a consolidation loan or a series of small personal loans, to clear debts.These small loans might only be for $1,000 each, but the funds can be used to clear individual debts bit by bit. Known as payday loans, they usually have terms of just 30 days and come at very high interest rates. As each loan is repaid, the credit score increases so, gradually, securing mortgage approval becomes more likely.Alternatively, taking out one large consolidation loan means all of the debts can be cleared in one fell swoop. And with lower repayments than those of the previous combined total, more cash is freed up as the credit score improves. This puts any application for a home loan in a strong position.Cosigners and Down PaymentsIt makes sense to have a cosigner involved when seeking a home loan with bad credit. The benefit is that the mortgage is guaranteed to be paid even if the borrower develops financial difficulties. This is exactly the kind of confidence booster than lenders are looking for. As long as the cosigner in question has an excellent credit rating, and a large enough income, then securing mortgage approval becomes little more than a formality.Also, providing a larger than usual down payment can also be a big help. This is because the size of the required home loan is reduced, lowering the size of the monthly repayments and making the whole deal much more affordable.