Getting a Mortgage After Foreclosure
Foreclosure can be a dark cloud hanging over your credit score for years, especially if you want to purchase a home. However, if you have a poor credit score because of foreclosure, you don't have to be stuck with a bad credit mortgage with an unreasonably high interest rate.
During the first three years after foreclosure, your options will be limited when shopping for a new mortgage, as lenders generally won't approve a loan. However, this gives you the time to go into action. You will need to follow the same steps that you would if you had filed a bankruptcy. You will also need to realize if you lost a house in bankruptcy the new mortgage company is going to consider this a foreclosure.
Step # 1 Obtain a Copy of your Credit Report and Clean up
your mortgage history.
One of biggest problems is that your credit reports still
show your mortgage as past due and delinquent. Errors on
your report can seriously dampen your score. We recommend
using a program called Purchase Power. The program will help
you correct the derogatory items that will be on your credit
report.
(Proverbs 22:1 A good name is
rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour
rather than silver and gold.)
Step # 2 Pay all of your Bills on Time.
After your foreclosure, you need to make sure that all of
your bills are paid on time. If you are having trouble with
an upcoming bill, DO NOT IGNORE IT. This is where most
people go wrong. Call your creditors before they call you
and let them know what your challenges are. If you can't get
a reasonable rep on the line, ask for a supervisor, but
again, do this as early as possible, not the day the bill is
due or after it is late. If you are having trouble with your
bills, you may need to solicit some help. You need to
remember that the Mortgage company will be looking at past
utility payments and rent history along with accounts listed
on your credit report.
Make sure you pay all of your bills with a Check.
If you pay in cash the mortgage company will not be able to
document your payment history
(Proverbs 22:29 Seest thou a man
diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he
shall not stand before mean men.)
Step # 3 Have a strong documented Rental History.
This is critical as it is most likely the largest monthly
expense that you have. The people that actually sign off on
your loan's approval will look very hard at how you have
paid your rent as they are going to replace it with a
mortgage payment of equal or greater size. It is very
important to be able to document your rent payment history
very specifically. The Best way to document this is with
cancelled checks for the last 12 months rent. If you pay
with cash or money orders, please stop doing this
immediately and start paying with checks. Simply put, this
is hurting you because by filing a bankruptcy you have
already shown some financial instability. Paying your rent
with cash or money order shows further financial instability
and will not give you the positive rent history that the
underwriter is looking for to give them the confidence in
approving your loan.
(Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work
without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and
afterwards build thine house.)
Step # 4
Apply for a Secured credit card.
Most people with a foreclosure have trouble qualifying for a
regular, unsecured credit card. So the best solution usually
is a secured card, which generally gives you a credit limit
that's equal to an amount you deposit at the issuing bank.
Typically, that's $200 to $500, which may seem like a
pittance compared with the credit limits you enjoyed before
your bankruptcy. But don't make the mistake of using your
available credit. Maxing out your credit cards hurts your
credit score. You want to pay the balance off in full each
month. Light, regular use of a credit card is what helps
build your credit. And contrary to what you might have
heard, you typically don't need to carry a balance or pay
credit card interest to build your score, since the leading
credit scoring formula doesn't distinguish between balances
that are paid off and balances that are carried month to
month. Get in the habit now of not charging more than you
can pay off every month.
• No application fee and reasonable annual fee. Some
secured cards tack huge upfront and annual charges onto
their accounts; you don't need to pay these to build your
credit.
• Reports to the major credit bureaus. You're not
doing your credit score any good unless your payment history
is being reported to the three major bureaus: Equifax,
Experian and TransUnion. Call and ask if the card issuer
regularly reports to all three before you apply.
• Converts to an unsecured card after 12-18 months of
on-time payments. Good behavior should get you upgraded
to a regular credit card within a year or two.
Proverbs 21:17 He that loveth
pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil
shall not be rich.)
Step # 5
Resist the urge (or encouragement) to buy a car.
Some may tell you that this is the best way to rebuild your
credit. The problem is that your interest rate will be so
high, that your payments will make your debt ratios higher
than normal, making it harder to qualify for a mortgage. Do
you remember the figure of 45-50% of your Gross monthly
income that the bank will allow you to use towards your
debts? This will quickly be absorbed by a car payment. Only
buy a car if a you NEED (not want) a car, and you have the
income to cover the car payment, any of your current debts,
We have seen SEVERAL people that have cars rather than homes
because they went out and bought a car that they could not
sell and their debt ratios were too high to qualify for a
mortgage. It would be a shame to have a nice car (that
depreciates daily), as opposed to a more humble car along
with a mortgage on a home that gives you a tax break, and
increases in value over time.

