Mortgage Turned Down? Don't Give UP

Facing foreclosure? Trying to buy a house?

Mortgage turned down? Don't give up. There are lenders such as FHA and private lenders who make loans to those with poor credit.

Bill's house is in foreclosure. He lost his job and the payments fell behind. Now he is working again but he can't catch up on his delinquent payments. Heather had a car repossessed last year when she couldn't afford the payments. Now she has paid off her debts and wants to buy a house. They been turned down for several mortgage applications.

Bill and Heather are not considered good credit risks and will not be able to get a traditional bank mortgage. They can not "clean up" their credit reports because all of the information reported is correct. The delinquencies will not go away.

But there is hope for Bill and Heather. Some lenders such as Lending Universe are offering special loan help for those in trouble and that have been turned down elsewhere.

FHA Loans

Prime credit borrowers can get loans anywhere and also have the privilege of shopping for the lowest rates. But, in the past those with poor credit have been turned down for a mortgage. It is somewhat tougher now but there are still mortgages available in the form of FHA loans See if you are eligible for an FHA loan at LendingTree.com!

Subprime Loans

These loans are available through local lenders who take the loan applications and then sell the loans to the investment bankers. But what exactly subprime loans? Subprime loans are made to people who have a history of not making payments on their debts in a timely manner.

Higher interest rates are charged since the lender may have to spend more time collecting payments or because they suffer losses when they ultimately foreclose and sell the property.

Besides higher interest rates, several other features of lower quality loans make the application process for these loans different from traditional loans. First, they are offered at lower loan-to-value (LTV) ratios than conventional loans. (Loan-to-value means the amount of loan divided by the appraised value of the property.) Typically, the maximum loan for sub prime loans is 80% of the home's value. Thus, an $80,000 loan on a $100,000 property would have a loan-to-value ratio of 80%. For those with even worse credit, loans are made at even lower loan-to-value ratios. Apply here for consideration.

Hard Equity Loans

Hard equity loans depend almost entirely on the value of property and the low loan-to-value. Such loans are usually made by private lenders and carry interest rates of 14% to 18%. These loans are used when time is of the essence and there is a plan to refinance some time in the future.

- Property Value

Valuing the property also takes on a new importance with lower quality credit loans since foreclosures are more likely. Thus, many investors require two appraisals to make sure the evaluation is correct. Many "B and C" lenders check each appraisal with a review appraisal since so much is depending on the appraised value.

Subprime Lenders

So where is the best place to get one of these loans? Some banks offer these types of loans as does Lending Universe. But, not all programs are created equal. Since banks and mortgage brokers use different investors, their definitions of sub prime loans may vary greatly.

For example, one lender said that they considered "B" paper as having one thirty day mortgage delinquency and a couple of credit card late payments. "C" paper was defined as allowing several mortgage late payments , with one up to sixty days and another up to ninety days.

With subprime loans, getting an answer from the lender may take a little bit of time. If the loan is approved, you will typically get a written credit approval that is good for thirty to forty five days. At this time the lender will quote you an interest rate for your loan. It will usually be at least 1% to 2% higher than the interest rate on an prime quality loan.

After your mortgage loan has been approved, the lender will want to verify the information you provided on your mortgage loan application. The lender will want to check your employment and your bank balances. Moreover, most lenders will require at least one appraisal of the property.

Now that you know all about sub prime loans, consider the best way to use one of them to buy a home. Start by asking your mortgage lender to work for the lowest rate possible. Try at least two lenders and compare the loans you are offered. If you need a loan that is more than 80% of the purchase price, try a FHA loan first.

If your credit is awful, you probably cannot get any kind of loan. Nevertheless, make the effort to pay your bills on time for the next two years and you can get a new start. Most good things in life take a little planning, so plan now to get what you want. Just do it!