It may feel like a daunting task to consider buying a home after you've declared bankruptcy, and there's no doubt that it's an uphill battle. Fortunately, while you'll have hard work ahead, there are things you can do in order to make your dream of home ownership a possibility. Whether you've just declared bankruptcy or some time has passed, here are some things you should consider before getting into the market. Wait It Out It might not be what you want to hear, but you'll have to wait before you purchase a home following bankruptcy. Since lenders will not want to take the risk on someone … [Read more...]
Are You ‘Mortgage Pre-approval Worthy’? Learn How to Assess Your Finances in 10 Minutes
Finding the right home and the right mortgage can take a lot of time and energy, so it's important to consider whether you'll be prepared for approval before diving into the process. Whether you've had some financial setbacks or you just want to have an idea ahead of time, here are some ways to quickly determine if you'll be pre-approved for a mortgage. Do You Have A Down Payment? You may have heard that the ideal down payment amount is 20% of the cost of the home, but this doesn't mean you have to have this amount. However, it is important that you have a significant chunk of change put away … [Read more...]
Did You Know: 3 Reasons Why Mortgage Pre-approval Should Be Your Very First Step
There are so many details involved in the mortgage process that you may not be aware of what pre-approval is if you've just entered the market. However, pre-approval assesses your ability to make monthly mortgage payments and can be an important first step in the home-buying process. If you're currently contemplating a home purchase, here's why you may want to consider pre-approval first. Improved Agent Attention Real estate agents may be reluctant to spend the time or put significant effort into a homebuyer that has not been pre-approved for a mortgage. While a good real estate agent will … [Read more...]
4 Things You Absolutely Should Not Do After You Apply for a Mortgage
If you have a good credit history and are prepared to invest in a home, you may be feeling pretty confident about the mortgage process. However, it's important to be aware that there are things that can have a negative impact on your application. Whether you've just submitted your documents or are getting close to it, here are some things you may want to avoid. Acquiring New Credit It may seem silly that something as minor as a new credit card can be a mark against your credit, but applying for new ones can be a bad sign to lenders. The problem is that this can be signal an unmanageable debt … [Read more...]
Self-Employed? Here’s What You’ll Need to Get a Mortgage Approval
There's a lot of flexibility and personal freedom associated with self-employment that can be a great benefit to your lifestyle and your pocketbook. However, because of the somewhat unpredictable nature of self-employment, it can make acquiring a mortgage a little more difficult. If you've recently become self-employed or have been in the game for a while, here are some things you may want to consider before submitting your mortgage application. Putting More Money Down 20% is often considered the magic number when it comes to the down payment because this will allow you to avoid homeowner's … [Read more...]