Monthly Archives: August 2012

How to Finance Your Property Purchase With a Bad Credit Loan

When making that first major purchase like a car or your first property, personal credit is used to secure the finance necessary to complete the sale. But over time, as we stretch ourselves financially to maintain an adequate standard of living, circumstances can affect the strength of our credit.

If you’re looking to refinance your existing mortgage to get cash equity out of your property but you are a little worried as to whether you’ll qualify because of weak credit status, there is what is called bad credit mortgages available for people with similar circumstances.

Bad credit mortgage loans are known by the financial term sub-prime home loans and are offered by selected group of lenders who specialise in these types of mortgage loans.

These lenders have different lending criteria which do not follow the same rigid guidelines as traditional mortgage loans obtained at banks or credit unions.

Lenders in the sub-prime sector allow for credit problems that traditional lenders would not normally consider. What this means for borrowers with a shaky credit history is that an application for a sub-prime mortgage loan would have a good chance of receiving approval, even in instances of poor credit history.

Sub-prime mortgage lenders actively seek out potential clients with poor credit of which there is a large pool of funds made available.

People who have had bankruptcy, foreclosure judgements, late payments or collection accounts in their credit file are all eligible applicants for sub-prime mortgage loans.

The severity of your credit history will determine the interest rate you will pay with sub-prime mortgage loan, which will be higher than the traditional convention loan.

Bad credit mortgage loans can be used by people with a history of poor credit as a way to rebuild their credit profile. Over time, roughly two to three years, once credit is re-established and their credit score is higher, they are able to refinance at the lower rate conventional loan.

Not all lenders will make sub-prime loans, so knowing if a prospective lender offers sub-primes is important because not only will you save time, but it will also prevent pointless enquiries into your credit report. Having multiple enquiries by different lenders could work against you if a potential lender finds you have been unsuccessful in your previous attempts.

Having a shaky patch in your credit file should not be a deterrent to investing in property or obtaining the necessary financing. It may be a little more costly to obtain your loan, but by no means impossible.


Private Hard Money Loans

Private hard money loans used to be a small segment of the financial world. Reserved for those with poor credit, these loans have traditionally been a last resort for many. In addition, many well qualified borrowers would not have considered this option in years past.

With the turmoil in the financial markets these days, however, all of that has changed. These days, private money loans are a viable option for even the most well qualified borrowers. Excellent credit, large down payments or a large amount of equity in a property are becoming the new private money norm rather than the exception.

It used to be that credit played no role in this type of lending. If you had equity and a pulse, someone would make a loan for you. These days, however, poor credit can play a role in dictating your approval with a hard money lender. While poor credit may not deny you a loan, it could require a much more conservative loan than you may expect. At the same time, borrowers with excellent credit and assets are finding that their normal banking relationships are not able to secure the financing they need. Due to this, they are turning to hard money options.

Many people considering this type of financing for the first time may be surprised by the terms. Typical terms on this type of financing can range between 9 and 14 percent, in addition to points being charged on the transaction that can range anywhere from three to seven or more. This is expensive money, but in these times of tightened credit, savvy investors realize that it is still much cheaper than taking on a partner.

Hard money loans are typically funded by a private individual. Sometimes you can have multiple individuals who fund a particular transaction, in which case it is referred to as having multiple beneficiaries. The benefit to this structure for those private investors making the loans is the high rate of return and the security of the real estate that is being used as collateral. With the strict lending guidelines the banks have these days, private investors can make double digit returns, while staying at a 50-60% loan to value. This means they are lending a maximum of 60% of the value of the property, keeping a safe buffer of protective equity.

The benefit to the borrowers is the ability to actually borrow funds. Although the interest rates being charged can be in the double digits, the ability to leverage in this real estate market often times outweighs the cost of funds.


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