Home Loans After Bankruptcy

By Author: Ivan Cuxeva
Total Articles: 782
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Home loans and bankruptcy are two terms that generally don't fit well together. There is a lot of misinformation out there about bankruptcy and the ability to finance a home after you have been through this process so many people assume that once they have been through this process that they will never experience home ownership. The thing that you should know is that even if you have been through bankruptcy the hope of owning a home is not lost, you may just have to wait for a while to get the keys to your new home.

Applying for Home Loans after Bankruptcy

You could start applying for home loans any time after your bankruptcy but you are not going to be considered for any loans until at least two years after you have filed bankruptcy and your debts have been discharged. Most lenders will not even look at your application until at least four years after your debts have been discharged through bankruptcy. Many people are in a hurry after they have been through this process to get back on their feet and they make buying a home a top priority but you should slow down a bit. The first chance you will have to ...
... apply for a loan after bankruptcy will be with an FHA loan and this will be two years afterward and a conventional loan will be at least four years.

You shouldn't concentrate on home loans after you file for bankruptcy. Sure, home ownership can be a goal but what you should be concentrating on is getting your finances and your credit score in order. You should pay off any remaining debts that you have and start building good credit again. You can do this by spending the two to four years getting a credit card or two and using them regularly and paying them off as you go. If you are able to maintain a good standing with creditors it will prove to other creditors down the line that you are worthy of their financial help.

It can be difficult to focus on other things when you really want to own a home but you will be well advised to spend the two to four years just getting your credit back together and starting over. When you concentrate on keeping your credit as perfect as possible you will actually find that overcoming the bankruptcy later will be much easier. It's hard to focus on other things, but the effort that you will put into using credit wisely will pay off later when you are able to apply for home loans and actually qualify for the financial help from the lenders.

Many lenders are waiting to help people come back from the bottom, and the bankruptcy is definitely one of the worst places to be where your credit and finances are concerned. Many lenders love to give people second chances and if you take the time that you have to wait to apply for the loans and build your credit back up you will give them the opportunity that they have been waiting for and they will extend you the credit that you need to buy a home. You could be one of the few people out there who are able to bounce back from a bankruptcy and actually be better off than before!