Bankruptcy is a word that most people do not associate with when they think about being able to qualify for a mortgage! When I speak to people who have a bankruptcy in their credit history, they almost always.. rather always…..say that they cannot purchase a home because of the bankruptcy and not being able to qualify for a loan. This is not necessarily true…..it is true that if you have a bankruptcy in your credit history that special attention needs to be paid by you to your credit in order to get you back to where a lender will consider you a good risk. If you manage your new credit history carefully and responsibly your mortgage lender can help you get the home of your dreams a lot sooner than most people believe.
What are some things you need to know about your credit history, bankruptcy and getting a mortgage……..
1. You could be qualifying for loans long before it falls off of your credit history….as soon as 1 – 2 years.
2.You can carefully rebuild your credit and get approved for loans…even a mortgage…in a year or two.
3. Yes a bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years, but you can start diminishing it’s effects on your credit report as soon as the day your case is closed. Adopt responsible credit habits such as paying your bills on time and not using all of your available credit. You can also apply for secured credit to help re-establish good spending and payment history.
4. You must get and use credit in order to build a good credit score. Using cash all of the time will do nothing to rebuild a good credit score. You must adopt responsible credit habits to rebuild your score.
5. Many times after your bankruptcy is closed you will find that the accounts are still showing open and overdue on your credit file. This is not accurate and happens all of the time. You need to contact the credit bureaus to have them show those accounts as included in bankruptcy. This is very important…your credit cannot recover with these accounts still showing open and overdue. It is your credit….take an active role in its recovery.
6.Make sure to look at your credit report at minimum once a year. Look for correct account information as well as incorrect personal information. It is important to check your address, work history and spouse information. Look for joint accounts and accounts that just do not belong to you. All of these things can lead to incorrect information being reported on your credit file which may damage your credit score. If you see incorrect information you can file a dispute right online at the 3 major credit bureaus.
7.Establish an emergency fund. You may ask what does this have to do with your credit score? Well….after you build it back up this will go a long way in protecting that score if something were to happen. You need to have enough money in an emergency fund to pay your bills and rent if you become unemployed or had any other type of setback that could cost a significant amount of money. You do not want to have to depend on credit cards or loans in order to pay for life’s unexpected “stuff”.
8.Make sure to get 2 types of credit to rebuild your score quicker….. One is an installment loan, such as auto loans or school loans, the other is a Revolving account such as credit cards or home equity lines of credit.
9. As mentioned in #3…get a secured credit card. The balances on secured cards are usually equal to an amount you have deposited in an account…usually between $200-$500. Do not make the mistake of maxing out the balance on this card!! Maxing out your credit cards hurts your credit score. Use it sparingly and always pay the balance in full each month. it is not true that you need to carry a balance or pay interest in order to build credit, the credit scoring formula does not distinguish between balances that are paid off and balances that are carried over from month to month…. use your credit wisely and sparingly….your financial future will thank you!
10. Make sure when you look for a secured credit card that you do not have an application fee and your annual fee is reasonable. As well as make sure that the card you go with reports to the major credit bureaus. Also look for one that converts to an unsecured card after 12-18 months of on time payments.
Talking to a mortgage lender who can help you understand how to rebuild your credit score and explain to you exactly what you need to do to qualify for your dream home is a step in the right direction. If you would like a referral to a local lender, please give me a call.
Resources: MSN Money
Hendricks County Marketplace 
February 9, 2011 at 3:43 am
Thanks for the information. With so many going through foreclosure and bankruptcy it good to have some specifics as to how one rebuilds their credit.