After the Great Recession, many have been trying to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives, or just get back to where they were. Today we’ll talk about how to qualify for a mortgage after bankruptcy. How to manage your credit afterward, how to manage your finances, and when you can expect to be able to qualify for a mortgage.
Qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy isn’t a forever wait. In fact, you can qualify for a mortgage as soon as 2 years after a bankruptcy.
If you’re one of the unfortunate many who have filed for bankruptcy(bk), the road back to credit health starts with which type of bankruptcy you filed. A Chapter 13 bk is easier to work with in that the payback plans helps re-establish credit history, but the 3-5 year payback plan takes your timeline out longer. A chapter 7 is over faster, but it can be more problematic especially if the borrower didn’t reaffirm on any trade lines(or keep any accounts open) after their filing
What do I need to do?
- Re-Establish credit. Get your credit score above 640
- Do not miss any payments
- Pay your rent and other bills by check
- Check your score before your 2 year window opens.
- Clean up any outstanding inaccuracies
Re-Establish Credit
This can be easier said than done. Getting a secured credit card will help. A secured credit card is when you put a deposit down on a credit card to secure the amount of your credit limit. Capital One has a secured credit card program. Other department stores have on the spot approvals with low credit score requirements that can get you started. Their interest rates may be higher, but so long as you pay off your balance at month end, you should be safe. The goal is to have 3 trade lines, plus the payments for where you live reporting for at least 12 months before you apply.