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Should I Get A Bad Credit Real Estate Loan

Should I Get a Bad Credit Real Estate Loan?
When you have bad credit, you don't always have all the options others do when you get a mortgage. Many times your bad credit forces you to ether accept higher interest rates or bad terms on your mortgage.

But are there other options? Or at least what are some things you can do to keep the interest rate down on a bad credit real estate loan?

Put Down a Large Down Payment

People who have bad credit are usually either denied a home loan all together or are asked to pay a higher interest rate. One thing someone with poor credit who will have to settle for a bad credit real estate loan is to put down a larger down payment.

Putting down a larger down payment will have two big benefits: it will lower the loan amount and generally a bank will lower its interest rate for you, especially if you put down a down payment of 20%.

Now, many banks will tell you that the interest rates on a bad credit real estate loan are "fixed." Can't do anything about it, they'll tell you. But just because you have bad credit, don't let the banks push you around.

Although you're getting a bad credit real estate loan, your down payment will mitigate the risk to any bank. The truth is that when getting a loan interest rates are always negotiable.

Put Down "Points"

Another thing you can do to bring down interest rates on a bad credit real estate loan is to put down "points." Let me explain what points are.

Points are 1% of the total amount of a home loan. So, for example, if your loan is for $100,000, then one "point" would be $1,000. But what do points do?

By putting down points on a home, you are actually buying down the interest rate. This is one way people with bad credit are able to get a home loan at an affordable rate.

But there is a catch. Points are generally not a good idea unless you intend to be in your home for a while AND provided that you have a fixed rate loan. If you don't plan on being in your home for a long time or have an adjustable rate mortgage, then don't bother putting down points.

Wait Till Your Credit improves

I know this may not be what you want to hear, especially when you want to buy a home now. But if you have bad credit, but have every reason to expect it to improve, then you may want to consider a just waiting to get a mortgage at a better rate than getting a bad credit real estate loan.

You may miss out on a house now, but financially it usually better to wait for either your credit to improve or to save up for a substantial down payment than to take out a bad credit real estate loan.