Bankruptcy And Buying A House - Is It Smart To Buy A House After Bankruptcy?

Each year, millions of people file bankruptcy as a means of erasing their consumer debts. While this approach may relieve stress, a bankruptcy is damaging, and will hang over your head for the next ten years. Still, it is possible to overcome bankruptcy. The key is making smarter financial and credit decisions. With this said, some people choose to purchase a home after a bankruptcy. Here are a few pointers to consider when buying a home.

Each year, millions of people file bankruptcy as a means of erasing their consumer debts. While this approach may relieve stress, a bankruptcy is damaging, and will hang over your head for the next ten years. Still, it is possible to overcome bankruptcy. The key is making smarter financial and credit decisions. With this said, some people choose to purchase a home after a bankruptcy. Here are a few pointers to consider when buying a home.

Reasons to Delay the Buying Process after Bankruptcy

If you consult with mortgage or financial experts, they will likely discourage you from buying a home following a bankruptcy. After your bankruptcy is discharged, there is a black cloud that looms over your credit report.

When any prospective lender reviews your report, they will be notified of your recent or past bankruptcy. In some instances, this justifies an immediate denial. On the other hand, there are lenders eager to help you establish or rebuild your credit. Thus, they will approve a loan request. Nonetheless, the penalties are steep.

Higher mortgage rates can be anticipated when purchasing a home after bankruptcy, especially if you have not established other credit accounts. Mortgage lenders consider two factors: credit scores and credit reports.

Although a bankruptcy appears on your credit report, having a high credit score will increase your odds of getting a comparable rate. Unfortunately, if you buy immediately following a bankruptcy, you will not have the opportunity to boost your score.

Reasons to Buy a Home after Bankruptcy

Lenders will approve mortgage loan applications one day following a discharge. Therefore, it is possible to get a home after a bankruptcy. Buying a home is perfect for rebuilding credit. Moreover, it is the quickest way to increase your credit score.

After a bankruptcy, the average person has a credit score below 600. Good credit consist of credit scores 650 and above. Maintaining current mortgage payments will gradually increase your score. After two years of regular payments, you will have established a good payment history. Hence, you may qualify for a low rate refinancing, which may lower your mortgage payments.

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Short sales show up on credit reports as foreclosure, sellers unable to get back in housing market

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More and more short sales are turning up as foreclosures on credit reports. The issue caught the attention of Senator Bill Nelson who this week asked for a federal investigation into why the mortgage industry does not have a separate credit reporting code for short sales.

Like some of his Trinity neighbors, George Albright unloaded his underwater two-story thru a short sale.  A short sale damages credit versus a foreclosure that slashes consumer scores.

It's been more than two years since Albright sold his home, and now's he ready to buy again, but can't.  It’s showing up as a foreclosure on his credit.

Veteran mortgage broker Pam Marron found it's a scenario repeating itself over and over again.  Short sellers discover they can't get back into the housing market because their credit report shows a foreclosure.

Why? The banks and credit bureaus have no special code to report a short sale, according to Marron, who recently traveled to D.C. to educate lawmakers and lobby groups like the Consumer Protection Bureau to do something about the glitch that could affect many.

Experian says the problem is not theirs. In an email, a spokesperson explained.  "The short sales and foreclosures are being coded correctly on Experian’s credit reports.  Where we have found the discrepancies occurring is in the underwriting process."

Short term, Marron says, short sellers must demand a letter from their lender that states that the property closed is a short sale and any marking of a foreclosure should be deleted.

Source: www.ABCActionNews.com By: Jackie Callaway