Mar 16
adminCheap Mortgages
Even with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in your credit report you can still qualify for a sub-prime mortgage. Once approved, you can then use your mortgage to improve your credit history, qualifying you for lower interest rates in the future.
The Effects of a Bankruptcy
A bankruptcy will affect your credit score based on how long ago it was. So a bankruptcy discharged less than a year ago will qualify you for a D loan. These types of loans usually require 30% down and a high interest rate.
By waiting a year after a bankruptcy, you can qualify for a B or C loan with their lower rates and down payment requirements. If you wait two years, you can qualify for a FHA home loan. In four years, you can qualify for a conventional loan.
Besides your bankruptcy record, financing companies will want to see a steady payment history. This includes your credit and rent payments. Cash reserves for six to twelve months will also offset your credit risk.
Search For Lenders
Not all sub-prime lenders evaluate borrowers the same way. So you may qualify for a B loan with one lender and a C lender with another. To find who will offer you the best financing, you will need to request quotes from several lenders.
You can request quotes over the phone or online. Online sites will provide a fairly accurate quote based on the generic information you provide. You can also use free mortgage broker sites which provide home loan quotes from several different financing companies.
Before You Apply
Before you apply for your mortgage, make sure that all accounts involved in your bankruptcy have been closed. You can request a copy of your credit report from the reporting agencies to check your information. You may also consider including a letter in your report explaining the circumstances of your bankruptcy. Some lenders will look more favorably on your account if illness or job loss affected your finances.
After Your Mortgage
Once you have purchased your home, plan on rebuilding your credit history by making regular payments. Within two years you may qualify for a conventional mortgage with low rates.
Mar 09
adminCheap Mortgages
Introduction:
Shared ownership mortgages were formed to help people buy the property of their own, when they cannot afford to buy full property at a time. The share of property is usually 50%, but may also be 25% or 75%, and is purchased from housing associations. Thus you own a certain shares of property and pay rent on the remaining part of the property. You will not be asked to share the property with someone else and may mortgages and rent for the property.
Demands for shared properties are growing continuously and there are limited vacant properties and even if you meet the criteria for shared ownership, you may be asked to wait for some time. Once you have become a shared owner, you are bound to pay all utility bills and taxes and your responsibilities include that of a full owner. Most of the housing associations provide you the opportunity to purchase share and become a full owner as and when you can afford to buy the shares.
Social Landlords:
Social landlords are non-profit organizations such as housing associations or housing societies. These social landlords provide home for rent and sale to those people, who cannot afford to buy.
Shared Ownership Lease:
If you buy a property as a shared owner, you enter into a contract with the social landlord. The contract is a legal document, which provides you a lease usually for 99 years. You occupy the house and your responsibilities include that of a full house owner. Social landlord further provides you the opportunity to purchase full shares as per the certain clause provided in the contract. As it involves legal documentation, you are advised to legal help before entering into contract.
Houses offered for shared ownership:
Renovated houses and flats are generally offered for shared ownership. Sometimes a few new houses may also be offered. Prices of these houses or flats are generally below than the prices of properties available sale in the market in the same area.
Shared Ownership Mortgages:
The amount of share, you purchased for a shared ownership is mortgaged, which you will have to arrange and the rent for remaining part of the house will be deposited with the social landlords.
Mortgage Selection:
Before selecting any of the mortgage option, you should see your financial health and repayment capabilities. You will also have to pay service charges, charges for utilities, and other taxes. On the basis of all your financial capabilities, you should select a share 25%, 50% or 75% of the property. The benefit of higher share will allow to pay less rent for the remaining part of the property. The common part of mortgage includes fixed rate mortgage and adjustable rate mortgage.
In fixed rate mortgage, the interest rate remains same for throughout the mortgage periods. Some mortgage may be as high as for 30 years and some may be lower periods. The benefits of fixed types of mortgage are that you can plan in advance the amount to be paid.
In adjustable rate mortgage, interest rate generally starts lower than the fixed rate mortgage and may vary once or twice during the year as these rates are linked to a financial index. Depending on financial index (Treasury Security Index for United States) the rates may be either low or high. As the initial amount in these rates is always lower than the fixed rate mortgages, a more mortgage loan can be secured for the same burden.
Mar 02
adminCheap Mortgages
Bank managers are probably the most risk-averse individuals you are likely to meet without proof of a regular salary and sound financial track record you may presume a frosty reception when you ask about borrowing. However, there are options available for people who dont conform to the norm.
If you are self-employed or have an erratic income, you can consider a self-certified mortgage. As the overall mortgage market has become more flexible and competitive in the past few years, the amount of lenders offering self-cert mortgages has increased. Whereas they used to be the preserve of specialist lenders, and come with pretty strict terms and conditions, you can now find self-certs from most of the major high street banks and building societies.
The set up
Normally, lenders will look for a larger deposit when you take out a self cert mortgage 25% is usual. As far as proving your earnings, some lenders such as the banks and building societies, will look for certified accounts for the last 3 years. They may also require bank statements and carry out credit checks. However, there are some mortgages available where the lender only asks for you to verify that you can afford the repayments.
Whos it for?
This type of mortgage usually caters for self-employed people, but there are others who can benefit. People who work overseas, or who earn bonuses that do not show as part of their salary may choose to self-certify. Business owners and company directors sometimes award themselves a minimal salary, but have a larger income through dividends, for example. This can be useful when it comes to tax management, but make finding a conventional mortgage harder. If you have an erratic income, you may want a more flexible mortgage that allows you to increase or decrease your monthly payments according to your current situation.
The drawbacks
You may find the terms less generous than with other types of mortgage, and the lender may apply Higher Lending Charges or an indemnity to protect them. The FSA recently highlighted the disturbing trend of some brokers encouraging borrowers to inflate their reported income in order to gain a larger mortgage. Remember it is a criminal offence to lie about your income, and over-estimating what you earn could mean that you find yourself with monthly repayments that you cannot afford. If you are subsequently unable to meet repayments your home could be repossessed.
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