Buying a condo is a popular choice amongst first homeowners because they are more affordable than single-family homes. However, buyers low on cash looking for loan financing for their new homes are asking if buying a condo with bad credit is possible. Our housing experts will discuss this possibility and provide you with other valuable information regarding your credit score.
Buying a Condo with Bad Credit
Some people especially the first time home buyers opine that it’s complicated to buy a condo with low credit. While this is true, it doesn’t mean that you can’t buy your dream condo with an average credit score. Mortgage approval depends on several factors, such as the lender and debt repayment profile.
Sometimes, it isn’t easy to maintain a good credit score, and you need a good credit score if you want to access loans easily. In our expensive world today, loans have become an option for people to afford things they couldn’t usually afford, but loans can be challenging to assess with a bad credit score. A bad credit score is below 500.
Your credit score is an essential factor that mortgage lenders consider. It shows your debt repayment ability and how you manage money. Getting a loan might be the only option you have to buy that condominium if you don’t have total cash for it.
Determining Your Credit Score
Mortgage lenders and even condo association boards examine your credit score before concluding if you are qualified to buy a condo unit. Therefore, you must maintain a good credit score because it’s tough to get a loan with a bad credit score.
Credit scores are usually in the range of 300 – 850. As our team stated, 500 below is a bad credit score, while a credit above 500 is a good one. Above 700 is even a more excellent score, and lenders can allow you for a risky investment because they deem you secure.
Before meeting a mortgage lender, you need to check your credit score and should be able to convince the lender that granting you the loan isn’t a mistake. You can easily apply for a loan if you have had no major bankruptcy or late bills payment [1].
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Is it Possible to Get a Mortgage with Bad Credit?
Yes, it’s possible to get a mortgage with bad credit, but you will have to face so much scrutiny and questions the mortgage lender will throw at your face. If your credit score is less than 500, the lender will come up with questions hinted at, “how can you pay the loan on time?”.
They will consider your credit card bills, insurance, monthly statements of your household, previous loans, and their interest rate, etc.
Your debt history is essential to lenders. This helps them check out cases like fraud, so they consider these questions as a precaution. If you want to finance buying a condo with bad credit, you need to know the following;
Down Payments
Down payments are necessary when obtaining a loan. The mortgage lender takes a lesser percentage of down payments if you have a good credit score above 580. This percentage starts with a minimum of 3.5% – 5%.
With a bad credit score, lenders will take a higher percentage of the credit because of the increased risks involved. They usually take between 20-25%. The good thing about this down payment is repayment will become more convenient.
Rates
You shouldn’t expect the best rates from lenders with a bad credit score. Most mortgage lenders are interested in people with good credit scores because of the low risks involved. Even if the property is valuable, the lender will still think twice before offering you a better rate.
Improving Your Credit Score
Improving your credit score has to do with making your monthly payment on time. This act will qualify you for the best interest rates and make the lender trust you more.
Steady Income and Employment
How valuable the property is and maintaining a good credit score aren’t enough to qualify you for the best loan. You need to ensure you have a steady income and employment. It’s not easy to have a good credit score if you don’t have a stable job and income.
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FAQ
What kind of credit score do you need to buy a condo?
You’ll need a credit score of a minimum of 500 to buy a condo. The credit score requires you to make a 10% down payment, while a credit score of 580 or higher qualifies you for the 3.5% down payment and loan financing. You are unlikely to be eligible for a mortgage or FHA-backed house loan with a credit score below 500.
Conclusion
Buying a condo with bad credit isn’t impossible, and with the proper steps, as outlined by our team of experts you can get a loan. However, the lender will subject you to high interest rates, enormous down payment, and extra fees. To qualify for better offers, you need to look for ways to improve your credit score.
