Poor Credit? Get a Sub-Prime Mortgage Now, and Refinance to a Conventional Mortgage LaterThere are great mortgage loans for people with poor credit, and yes, you can still save thousands of dollars. In order to receive preferential treatment for mortgage professionals, you'll need a credit score of 680 or better (this is considered A credit). If you have a score that is less than 600, you'll fall into a sub-prime loan category. Now, you'll need to get creative, in order to get your mortgage and not lose a fortune. A sub prime lender will offer you virtually any type of loan that a conventional lender will offer, but you'll pay a much higher interest rate, as a risk premium. In other words, these lenders consider people with low credit scores risky borrowers, because they may have some poor payment history. Lenders like people who pay all their bills on time, even though it is not at all uncommon for people to occasionally miss a payment for one reason or another. So, the sub prime, or non-conforming, or niche, lender says, "We'll take the risk, but we want to make a lot more money, in order to do it." Don't worry. You can get it done, and improve your situation to refinance at a better rate later. Let's assume you have poor credit, and you want to purchase a house for $100,000. You also have only five percent to put toward a down payment. You bring a twofold problem to the lender - poor credit and a very high loan-to-value, or LTV. You need to borrow $95,000 on a $100,000 home, so your LTV is 95%. As a general rule, lenders like purchasers to bring 10 to 20 percent of their own money to the table, again lowering the risk for the lender; they feel that the more money a borrower has in a deal, the less likely she is to default. So, your mortgage professional will find his best sub-prime lender, and take your application to him. Now, if your debt-to-income ratio (amount you owe monthly vs. gross income monthly) is 50% or less, and your credit score is above 500, you'll likely get your $95,000 loan. Your interest rate, however, will be between 10% and 12%, creating a very large monthly mortgage payment. So, how are you going to win the mortgage game, in this case? You have two options. First, you can improve the loan by reducing the LTV. In other words, instead of taking a loan at 95% loan-to-value, you apply for a first mortgage of $80,000 (80% LTV) and a second mortgage of $15,000 (15% LTV). Here's how you save money. Instead of borrowing $95,000 at, let's say, 12%, with a payment of $977, not including taxes and insurance, you have a loan for $80,000 at 8.75%, for a payment of $629. Your second mortgage is at 13%, with a monthly payment of $166. Now, your combined monthly mortgage payments with two loans are $795, saving you $182 monthly over the first mortgage at 12% and $2,184 each year. The second option is to take an adjustable rate mortgage, which offers great savings, just like conventional loans. If you take a 2-year ARM, which sub prime lenders offer, you might be able to get a rate of 7% or 8%, instead of the 10% you'd likely get on a 30-year fixed loan. You might also talk to your mortgage professional about combining option one and two, and taking an ARM on your first mortgage at 80% LTV and still taking a second mortgage for $15,000. This could save you even more. Get a free mortgage course to learn more. Mark Barnes is an investment real estate and real estate finance expert. Get his free mortgage finance course at http://www.winningthemortgagegame.com. Mark is also the author of the new novel, The League, a shocking, sports-related conspiracy. Learn more about his suspense thriller at http://www.sportsnovels.com.
MORE RESOURCES updated Wed. February / 05 / 2025 Mortgage and refinance rates today, February 2, 2025: Lowest 30-year rate since mid-December Yahoo Finance Mortgage and refinance rates today, February 3, 2025: Rates could stay at this level for a while Yahoo Finance Today's Refinance Rates by State – Feb. 4, 2025 Investopedia Today's Mortgage Rates | What Do Tariffs Mean for Rates? Business Insider MetLife Building nears $1.5B refinancing Crain's New York Business Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 21, 2024: Better time to buy than refinance Yahoo Finance How to Refinance Your Mortgage NerdWallet Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of February 2025 Business Insider Should I refinance my mortgage in 2025? Bankrate.com Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Are Down. How Long Will This Last? Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, February 1, 2025: The 30-year rate decreases for a full week Yahoo Finance Best mortgage refinance lenders of February 2025 Yahoo Finance Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 29, 2025: Rates will probably stay high for a while Yahoo Finance Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 31, 2025: How can you snag a rate under 7%? Yahoo Finance Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 27, 2025: This week's Fed meeting could cause rates to shift Yahoo Finance Will Mortgage Rates Go Down In January? Bankrate.com Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 22, 2025: High rates could be here to stay Yahoo Finance Will Interest Rates Go Down in February? | Predictions 2025 The Mortgage Reports Will Mortgage Rates Go Down in 2025? Ask Again Later. U.S News & World Report Money Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 19, 2025: How to get a good deal when rates are high Yahoo Finance Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Down, Even as Inflation Ticks Up Business Insider Mortgage Rate History: 1970s To 2025 Bankrate.com Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 17, 2025: Don't be alarmed by this week's high rates Yahoo Finance Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 15, 2025: Rates might not change much in response to the CPI Yahoo Finance Mortgage Rates This Week NerdWallet Refinance Rates Decline for a Third Day Investopedia Today's Mortgage Rates, January 30, 2025 | Rates Tick Down As Fed Eyes Elevated Inflation Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 11, 2025: Rates increase after strong jobs report Yahoo Finance Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Start the Month a Bit Lower Business Insider Today's Refinance Rates by State – Jan. 29, 2025 Investopedia Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 12, 2025: How can you get a good deal in a high-rate environment? Yahoo Finance How The Fed's Rate Decisions Move Mortgage Rates Bankrate.com Today's Mortgage Rates | Is This as Low as Mortgage Rates Will Go? Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 13, 2025: Inflation could push rates higher Yahoo Finance When Is It Worth It to Refinance Your Mortgage? | 2025 The Mortgage Reports 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider Today's Refinance Rates by State – Jan. 28, 2025 Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Jan. 8, 2025 Investopedia Refinance Rates Today January 30, 2025: Trends and Insights Norada Real Estate Investments 2025 Mortgage Rate Predictions: Will Rates Fall? The Mortgage Reports How to Decide If a Mortgage Refinance Is Right for You U.S News & World Report Money How to get the best refinance rate on your mortgage Bankrate.com FHA Streamline Refinance | Rates & Requirements for 2025 The Mortgage Reports Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 17, 2024 Investopedia Best Cash-Out Refinance Lenders Of 2025 Bankrate.com Today's Refinance Rates by State – Jan. 6, 2025 Investopedia Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 31, 2024: Rates decrease across the board Yahoo Finance Refinance Rates Inch Lower for a Second Day Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 18, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 14, 2024: Economic factors drive rates back up Yahoo Finance Mortgage Refinance Rates Are Down, But Should You Refi to a 30-Year, 20-Year, or 15-Year Mortgage? Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Climb to Two-Month High Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 26, 2024 Investopedia
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