Bad credit is becoming a serious problem to a lot of people. It might hamper your plans of making big purchases. If you have bad credit, a foreclosed mortgage, or have just recently filed for bankruptcy, buying a house can be difficult. However it is still very possible. You can follow these essential steps on how to bounce back from your losses and own a house.
Step 1: Learn from your financial failure
You should realize by now that your bad credit standing had an underlying reason behind it. No matter how dire the consequences may be, it is not the end of the world. Examine your finances and your habits to identify where the problem might be. You might have personal issues with spending beyond your capacity, have problems with saving money or were brought down by medical bills. Whatever went wrong with your finances, there is definitely no reason for you not to learn from your failure and make sure you don’t commit the same mistake in the future.
Step 2: Develop your qualifications for a possible loan
Applying for loans can help you in your plans for buying the house you want, but you should focus on improving your credentials and financial standing. Consider this a fresh start for you. Get yourself some steady employment and a regular salary for the next two years. It is also important that you pay all your bills in full and on time.
Step 3: Fix your credit scores
One of most basic and commonly overlooked things you can do to improve your credit score is to examine your own credit reports yourself and look for any errors. These are the same reports mortgage firms and banks will check, and you should do the same. Get your credit reports from the major credit groups and verify that all the figures are correct. For people dealing with bankruptcy, one of the most common mistakes in their credit records is that accounts are shown as open and overdue. You should know that these liabilities should have been closed as part of the bankruptcy. Errors likes these should be reported to the agency to be investigated and resolved. You can improve your credit score by resolving errors like these on your record.
Step 4: Apply for a secured credit card
Having a secured credit card will help improve your qualifications when applying for loans. Secured credit cards are also available to people with bad credit. And, even after bankruptcy, getting one will be easy because your records will show no indication of debt. The secured credit card you should look for must have no application fees, have a reasonable annual charge and reports to all the major credit bureaus. As previously noted, pay your bills on time.
Step 5: Choose what type of financing option to pursue
There are several financing options available to people with bad credit. Subprime loans or bad credit home loans are a good choice if you need to buy a house immediately. These loans are granted to people with bad credit scores. But, you must make sure you can afford the high interest rates that come with it.
Another option you might choose is the lease option or owner financing. In this arrangement, the owner of the house you are planning to buy will allow you to rent the house for a stipulated period and give you the option to buy it. You are basically the new “owner” of the house and can renovate and make changes you want.
Whatever type of financing you choose, it is very important to determine first if you are capable of managing the liabilities involved.
Bad credit does not have to ruin your dreams of owning a house. You can still find ways to buy one and start your life all over if you know how to handle the situation well.