How Home Loans With Bad Credit Provide Access to Affordable Mortgages

Jan 1
13:02

2013

Lara Sawyer

Lara Sawyer

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The availability of home loans with bad credit means even bad credit borrowers can now secure funds to buy a home. But there are criteria to meet and some secrets to improving approval chances.

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There is a temptation amongst bad credit borrowers to wait until their financial situation has improved before attempting to buy a home. Their reasoning is sound,How Home Loans With Bad Credit Provide Access to Affordable Mortgages Articles with the fear of rejection, and its ramifications, the key concern. But it is not as difficult to get home loans with bad credit as many bad credit borrowers would think.The opportunity to secure finances is a welcome one, but there are clear compromises that need to be made in order to do so. After all, securing mortgage approval is not just about interest rates and income, but about employment status and whether repayments are actually affordable.There are ways to strengthen an application for a home loan, even one from a bad credit borrower. These include getting a large down payment together, a realistic budget and applying to the right lender.1. A Large Down PaymentA down payment is a normal part of the home-buying transaction, with buyers usually expected to clear 10% of the purchase price in one lump sum. The purpose of the payment was traditionally to seal the deal, but when seeking home loans with bad credit, it is more a way to lower the size of the required mortgage.The basic idea is that with a larger down payment, the mortgage loan is smaller. For example, a 10% down payment on a property worth $200,000 lowers the required loan to $180,000, while a 20% payment would cut it to $160,000. The lower the loan, the more likely securing mortgage approval becomes.What is more, when applying for a home loan, guaranteeing a larger down payment impresses the lenders greatly. They know it requires a lot of financial discipline to save the kind of cash needed to pay 20% of the cost of a new home.2. Have A Realistic BudgetIt might sound obvious, but it is surprising how many loan applicants are rejected because the loan sum was needlessly large. The larger the loan, the larger the repayments and the less affordable the loan becomes. So, when seeking home loans with bad credit, some realism in calculating your budget is hugely beneficial.The mistake made is to ask for more than is necessary to have extra funds to cover other things. But the issue is not the loan sum, it is how affordable the loan is to repay. Therefore, working out an accurate budget is important. If it is properly done, securing mortgage approval can become a formality.For course, comparing monthly expenses with your income is a key part of the calculating the budget, but bear in mind the debt-to-income ratio that lenders apply. It stands at 40:60, which means a maximum 40% of available income can be used to cover loan repayments - including the new home loan.3. Choose the Best Loan DealBy simply entering your preferences on comparison sites online, it is possible to find the best deals in lightening fast time. However, getting a home loan with bad credit usually involves some flexibility, so be sure to read the small print and even contact the lender in question directly.The fact is that lenders set the policies, the interest rates and the extra charges, so it is essential to choose the lender wisely. And remember that securing mortgage approval with bad credit is impossible if the lender does not cater to that niche market.The best thing to do is draw up a shortlist of the best 5 or 6 options, then study them in detail, before contacting the lending firms directly to ask more detailed questions. When satisfied, fill out the application form, providing all the necessary information, and then await home loan approval.