Homebuyers have many mortgage options when looking for home loans in Virginia for bad credit and low credit scores. The best home loans in Virginia for bad credit and credit scores down to 550 FICO scores are FHA and VA loans. Unfortunately, not all people are eligible for VA loans. FHA loans are the most popular home loans in Virginia for bad credit borrowers. The reason FHA loans are the most popular home loans in Virginia for poor credit homebuyers is that it is the easiest mortgage loan program to get an approve/eligible per the automated underwriting system (AUS) for borrowers with low credit scores and with prior credit/income issues.
Home Loans in Virginia For First-Time Homebuyers
First-time homebuyers can qualify for home loans in Virginia for first-time homebuyers with little to no credit tradelines, no credit scores, just out of college, and borrowers with bad credit. Many first-time homebuyers are witnessing the surging prices of homes and are looking at buying versus renting in Virginia. Virginia was one of the hardest-hit states after the Great Recession of 2008. The state of Virginia was one of the states hardest hit by the loss of businesses relocating to other states and plummeting home values. Real estate values in the state of Virginia have not just recovered but have been surging for the past few years. The housing markets and economy have long since recovered and are one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. The state has one of the strongest economies in the nation with great job opportunities, low taxes compared to other Eastern states, and a strong housing market.
What Credit Score Do I Need To Buy a House in Virginia?
Homebuyers can qualify for FHA, VA, and non-QM home loans in Virginia with poor credit. One of the frequently asked questions we get at Gustan Cho Associates is what credit score do I need to buy a house in Virginia. The mortgage markets have totally changed in the past several years. Many people who could not qualify for home loans in Virginia a few years ago due to bad credit and low credit scores can qualify for various types of home loans in Virginia today. It is not just government and conventional loans that homebuyers can qualify for. The housing market has been bullish since 2014 with more demand for homes than housing inventory. The state has one of the hottest housing markets in the United States. Many people from higher-taxed states like New York and Massachusetts are fleeing to Virginia due to Virginia’s lower cost of living, strong state economy, low state taxes, and affordable housing. Other people and businesses from other high-taxed states like California are also migrating to Virginia.
What Mortgage Options For Bad Credit Is Best For You in Virginia
FHA and Conventional loans are the two most sought-after loans from homebuyers. VA loans are great for borrowers with bad credit and credit scores down to 500 FICO. However, not everyone are eligible for VA home loans. You need to be an active and/or retired member of the U.S. Armed Services to be eligible for VA home loans in Virginia. FHA loans are the best loan program in the U.S. for first-ime homebuyers and borrowers with less than perfect credit. The U.S. Housing And Urban Development ( HUD ), the parent of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), is the government agency that administers the nation’s FHA loan program with HUD-approved lenders. HUD is not a lender nor does it originate nor fund FHA mortgages. You can qualify for FHA home loans in Virginia with poor credit and credit scores down to 550 FICO scores.
FHA Loans For Poor Credit in Virginia
The role and main function of HUD is to insure home loans that meet HUD Guidelines to banks and private lenders who originate and fund FHA loans. HUD insures lenders in the event borrowers default on their FHA Loans and the loan goes into foreclosure. Factors HUD is concerned about are the borrower’s credit scores, payment history in the past 12 months, debt to income ratio, the stability of income and employment, and the ability to repay. In this article, we will discuss and cover Virginia FHA loan requirements and guidelines and how homebuyers can get approved for FHA loans in Virginia.
How Do I Get Pre-Approved For Home Loans in Virginia
Homebuyers planning on purchasing a home need to research mortgage loan programs. Borrowers should evaluate their credit scores, income, assets, liabilities, and how much home they can afford. The loan officer will qualify you and give you the number on how much home you qualify for. However, the loan officer does not know your personal expenses that do not report on the credit bureaus, lifestyle, and finances.
Best Home Loans in Virginia For Homebuyers with High Debt-to-Income Ratio
There are factors loan officers consider during the mortgage qualification and pre-approval process prior to issuing you a written pre-approval letter. The first thing loan officers ask is about your gross income and about your employment history. Lenders want to know about your job and income stability and the likelihood of you making the same or higher income for the next three years. Nobody has a crystal ball and can tell the future.
How Much House Can I Afford in Virginia
The Importance of Continuation of Income
The best prediction of your income and job stability is by your past income and work history for the past years of working. Lenders will judge whether or not you will be a good payer of your new home loan with your payment patterns in the past and credit scores. If you have been timely with all of your payments in the past several years and you have good credit scores, the lender will view you as a good credit risk.
Shopping For A Home in Virginia With A Pre-Approval Letter
Before home buyers can enter into a real estate home purchase contract, the sellers and/or seller’s real estate agents will want to see that the home buyer is pre-approved. A pre-approved homebuyer can enter into a real estate home purchase contract. The pre-approval stage of the mortgage process is the most important step. The number one reason why there is stress during the mortgage process and the reason for last-minute mortgage loan denial is due to borrowers not being properly qualified and loan officers issuing pre-approval letters without properly qualifying borrowers.
How Do You Get Pre-Approved For Home Loans in Virginia With Bad Credit
Pre-Approvals, which is a step above pre-qualification, is when a loan originator thoroughly reviews the mortgage applicants following:
- credit scores
- overall credit
- payment history
- debts
- assets
- income
- employment
- employment and residential history
- bank statements
- tax returns
- W-2s
- bankruptcy/foreclosure paperwork
- divorce/child support paperwork
- public records
- credit tradelines
- other important items on the borrower prior to the issuance of the pre-approval letter
- Loan officers should run the borrower’s credit and financial profile through the Automated Underwriting System prior to issuance of pre-approval letters
There is no reason why a borrower who has been thoroughly pre-approved for an FHA loan not be able to close on their mortgage and go through stress during the mortgage process.
What Are The Minimum Credit Scores Needed To Qualify For Home Loans In Virginia?
Mortgage lenders use the FICO credit scoring model (Fair Isaac Corporation). Borrowers need to meet minimum FICO credit score requirements to qualify for FHA loans in Virginia. Each borrower has three credit scores, one from each of the three major credit bureaus, which is a numerical indication of a borrower’s creditworthiness at a specific time. Experian, Transunion, and Equifax are the three major credit reporting agencies. The FICO credit scoring system is an intricate sophisticated automated system that takes many factors of the borrower’s credit report into account before giving them a FICO credit score.
Mortgage Rates For Home Loans in Virginia With Bad Credit
Lenders will check borrowers’ FICO credit scores before offering them a mortgage loan. A mortgage is a loan to buy real estate. An FHA loan is a home loan that is insured by the federal government (HUD). HUD insures lenders in the event if the borrower were to default on their home loan and the bank lose money. HUD guarantees the bank and/or lender who funded the FHA Loan in the event borrowers default on their FHA loans. In order for HUD to insure and partially cover the loss of a defaulted FHA loan, the lender needs to have followed the HUD agency guidelines on the FHA loans, especially the HUD 4000.1 FHA Handbook credit and income mortgage guidelines.
What Credit Scores Are Used By Mortgage Lenders?
There are three major credit reporting agencies. Each of the three credit bureaus has its own unique credit scoring system and holds its own credit records of consumers. Every credit bureau calculates its own credit score, and each credit reporting agency needs to provide consumers with at least one free copy credit report each year for on-demand consumers
Credit scores are different –
- they are based upon your credit report, but not exclusively so
A FICO score is not the same as a credit score:
- The three credit agencies are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- Each credit bureau calculates its own credit score
- Consumers must pay to receive credit scores and it is not included in their free annual credit report
Consumers who need their credit scores can purchase them through only true myFICO.com. The FICO 2 credit score is used by lenders to base the qualifying credit scores of borrowers.
How Is The Qualifying Credit Score Determined By Mortgage Lenders
Lenders will not just look at the qualifying credit scores of mortgage applicants but will also review overall payment history on consumer credit reports. Late payments in the past 12 months are something lenders will pay attention to. Many lenders will automatically disqualify borrowers who had any late payments in the past 12 months. Gustan Cho Associates has no overlays on FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans. So borrowers with late payments in the past 12 months can qualify for FHA loans in Virginia as long as they get approve/eligible per Automated Underwriting System (AUS).
There are three credit scores for every mortgage borrower:
- Experian
- Equifax
- Transunion
What Do Mortgage Underwriters Look for in Credit Reports?
Mortgage companies use the middle credit score of borrowers. If there is a co-borrower, then mortgage companies will use the lower of the two borrower’s middle credit scores as the qualifying credit score. Consumer credit reports will state the amount of credit the borrower has and the overall payment history. Credit reports will also detail the consumer payment patterns.
How Do Mortgage Underwriters Analyze Credit and Income Profile
Credit reports will reflect the following:
- behavior such as when the consumer opened up a particular credit tradeline
- late payment history
- limit on revolving credit accounts
- outstanding balance
- credit inquiries
- collection accounts
- charge off accounts
- public records such as bankruptcies and foreclosures
- other credit and financial information of consumers
The type of credit such as revolving debt, installment debt, federal student loans, auto loans, furniture credit, and other details on creditors will be stated on consumer credit reports.
FHA Loan Credit Score Requirements
FHA loan credit score requirements is a 580 FICO for a 3.5% down payment home purchase FHA loans. Homebuyers with credit scores under 580 FICO and down to a 500 credit score can qualify for FHA loans with a 10% down payment. Home buyers can qualify for a 3.5% down payment FHA loan in Virginia if they meet the following HUD Guidelines on FHA loans. Gustan Cho Associates has no lender overlays on FHA loans. As mentioned, the minimum credit scores to qualify for a 3.5% down payment FHA loan is 580 FICO. Borrowers with under 580 and down to 500 FICO credit scores can qualify for an FHA loan in Virginia with a 10% down payment as long as they can get an approve/eligible per the automated underwriting system.
FHA Loans in Virginia after Bankruptcy
Homebuyers can qualify for an FHA loan after Bankruptcy in Virginia. There are waiting period requirements after bankruptcy and foreclosure on government and conventional loans. The waiting period requirements depend on the individual loan program. There is a separate and distinct waiting period requirement after Chapter 7 versus Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Guidelines on FHA and VA loans are exactly the same.
FHA Loans After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Virginia
Homebuyers can qualify for FHA home loans in Virginia after the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy discharge date. You need to wait two years after the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy discharged date to qualify for FHA home loans in Virginia after the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy discharged date. You cannot have any late payments after the discharge date. Rebuilt and re-established credit is required.
VA Home Loans After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Virginia
The Department of Veterans Affairs requires a two-year waiting period after Chapter 7 Bankruptcy to be eligible for VA home loans in Virginia. Just like FHA loans, you cannot be late with any creditor debt payments after your discharge date. You need re-established and rebuilt credit after bankruptcy.
FHA Home Loans in Virginia During Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Homebuyers in Virginia can qualify for an FHA loan during the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy repayment plan without the Chapter 13 being discharged. Homebuyers can qualify for an FHA loan one year into a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Repayment Plan with the approval of the Trustee. Again, the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy does not have to be discharged but timely payments are required during the payment plan. All payments to creditors inside and outside Chapter 13 need to be paid in timely. FHA home loans in Virginia during Chapter 13 Bankruptcy payment plan are manual underwriting. Manual underwriting guidelines apply.
VA Home Loans in Virginia During Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Homebuyers can qualify for VA home loans in Virginia during the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy repayment plan. VA loans are the best loan program with 100% financing, no mortgage insurance, and 100% financing. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy does not need to be discharged. Homebuyers can qualify for VA home loans in Virginia one year into a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Repayment Plan with the approval of the Trustee. Again, the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy does not have to be discharged but timely payments are required during the payment plan. All payments to creditors inside and outside Chapter 13 need to be paid timely. VA home loans in Virginia during Chapter 13 Bankruptcy payment plan are manual underwriting. Manual underwriting guidelines apply.
FHA Loans After Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Discharge
There is no waiting period to qualify for an FHA loan after the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy discharged date. However, if the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy discharge has been seasoned for less than 24 months, it needs to be a manual underwriting. You cannot have late payments after bankruptcy to be eligible to qualify for FHA home loans in Virginia.
VA Home Loans in Virginia After Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Discharge
There is no waiting period to qualify for VA home loans in Virginia after the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy discharge date. However, if the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy discharge has been seasoned for less than 24 months, it needs to be a manual underwriting. You cannot have late payments after bankruptcy to be eligible to qualify for VA home loans in Virginia.
FHA Loans After Foreclosure in Virginia
Homebuyers can qualify for FHA home loans in Virginia after foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, and a short sale. There is a three-year waiting period to qualify for an FHA loan after the recorded date of foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, short sale No late payments in the past 12 months. Outstanding collections and charge-off accounts do not have to be paid to qualify for FHA loans in Virginia.
VA Home Loans in Virginia After Foreclosure
Homebuyers can qualify for VA home loans in Virginia after foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, and a short sale. There is a three-year waiting period to qualify for a VA loan after the recorded date of foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, short sale No late payments in the past 12 months. Outstanding collections and charge-off accounts do not have to be paid to qualify for VA loans in Virginia.
Best Mortgage Lenders For Bad Credit Home Loans in Virginia
FHA mortgage borrowers can qualify for FHA Loans with the following debt-to-income ratios. To get an approve/eligible per AUS FINDINGS, the maximum front-end debt to income ratio cannot exceed 46.9% DTI. The maximum back-end debt to income ratios cannot exceed 56.9% DTI for AUS Approval. Florida home buyers who need to qualify for FHA Loans with a lender with no overlays, contact us at Gustan Cho Associates at 800-900-8569 or text us for a faster response. Or email us your mortgage inquiries at gcho@gustancho.com. The team at Gustan Cho Associates is available 7 days a week, on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
