How does bad credit affect your mortgage?

Your credit score plays a key role in many aspects of your life, including the process of applying for a loan. Lenders scrutinize your payment history on all previous loans, bankruptcy filings, and other financial factors when deciding whether or not to approve your application. If the lender isn’t happy with your credit history, you could be required to make a larger down payment or accept a higher interest rate.

Fortunately, bad credit home loans are geared to borrowers with less-than-perfect credit. You can choose cash-out refinancing, which allows you to trade your existing mortgage for a new one and receive additional cash. Many homeowners use the cash to eliminate higher-interest balances such as credit card accounts. Just remember: the money is drawn from your home equity and making a withdrawal will deplete your stake in the home investment.

Same rules apply to a Home Equity loan. Also known as a “second mortgage,” these popular loans are disbursed in a single lump sum, generally at a fixed rate. Homeowners frequently use home equity loans to consolidate their unsecured personal debt such as auto loans, student loans, or credit card accounts.

How can I improve my credit score?

Paying off your credit cards and settling any outstanding loans will certainly help, but if you have a history of late or missed payments, it won’t undo the damage overnight. Improving your credit score takes time, so after paying down your debts, make an effort to consistently pay your bills on time.

Incidentally, if you’re comparing multiple lender offers, you needn’t worry about your credit score taking multiple hits or affecting your score adversely. Credit scorers treat multiple mortgage inquiries as a single inquiry, provided they fall within a 45-day window. Just be sure your comparison-shopping falls within this time frame.

For an accurate picture of your finances, request your credit scores from the three bureaus and see where you stand. Scrutinize your accounts for possible inaccuracies or signs of identity theft. Your efforts to secure a bad credit loan will improve greatly when you can see what your lenders see.