In this blog, we will cover and discuss the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma for 2022. Gustan Cho Associates can recommend to homebuyers the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma. FHA and VA loans are hands down the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma due to the low down payment requirement. However, VA loans are limited to eligible veterans with a certificate of eligibility. We will go over FHA loans which we believe it is the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma for 2022. There are multiple best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma. However, FHA loans are the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma because it requires a small down payment and credit scores down to 500 FICO.
What Is The Lowest Credit Score I Can Get a Mortgage In Oklahoma?
To qualify for a 3.5% down payment home purchase FHA loan, you need to have at least a 580 credit score. HUD, the parent of FHA, allows borrowers with credit scores down to 500 FICO to qualify for an FHA loan. VA loans do not have a minimum credit score requirement as long as the borrower can get an AUS approval or qualify for manual underwriting. Non-QM loans are one of the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma. However, Non-QM loans require a 20% down payment. In the following paragraphs, we will go over the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma homebuyers.
FHA Loans For Bad Credit in Oklahoma
FHA loan Guidelines for bad credit in Oklahoma allow borrowers with credit scores down to 500 FICO eligible for FHA loans. FHA loans are one of the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma borrowers. FHA loans for bad credit in Oklahoma have several moving parts and depend on what consumer credit scores are. Low credit borrowers can have their credit scores affect the debt-to-income ratio requirements.
FHA Loans With High Debt To Income Ratio in Oklahoma
FHA loans, limit and set debt to income ratio requirements dependent on borrower’s credit scores to get an approve/eligible per automated underwriting system. The higher the debt to income ratio, the higher the risk. This factor is factored in with the Automated Underwriting System.
FHA Loans With 500 FICO in Oklahoma
Credit Scores also determine the down payment required on FHA loans. To qualify for a 3.5% down payment home purchase mortgage loan. HUD, the parent of FHA, requires a minimum credit score of 580. Homebuyers with credit scores between 500 and 579 can qualify for FHA Loans. However, instead of a 3.5% down payment, a 10% down payment is required for borrowers with credit scores between 500 and 579 credit scores. Credit Scores also determine mortgage rates on all loan programs. In the following paragraphs, we will go over the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma and the loan programs that we recommend.
Best Mortgage Lenders For Bad Credit With Best Rates For Low Credit Scores
Mortgage Rates on FHA loans are not as credit score sensitive as it is with conventional loans. To get the best mortgage rates on conventional loans, borrowers would need credit scores of at least 740 or higher. For every 20-point drop, the conventional mortgage rates will get slightly higher. Lenders and creditors, in general, view higher credit score borrowers as less risk when lending money. Lower credit score borrowers as higher risk.
Comparing Mortgage Rates on FHA vs Conventional Loans in Oklahoma
Since FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration against borrowers’ default to Oklahoma FHA-approved lenders, the credit score risk is limited to FHA-approved mortgage lenders. So this is the reason why credit scores are not as sensitive on FHA Loans as they are with Conventional Loans. To get the best FHA mortgage rates, borrowers would need a 680 credit score. Those with credit scores under 640 will get higher mortgage rates.
Oklahoma FHA Loans With Under 600 Credit Scores
Those under 600 credit scores will get the highest mortgage rates and may possibly pay discount points. Since the mortgage industry is so highly regulated, high mortgage rates on FHA loans will not exceed 4.75% on borrowers with credit scores under 600 FICO. Consumers will not see any lenders offer mortgage rates on FHA loans over 6.0%. Even the 5.0% mortgage rate is extremely rare. There are mandated maximum caps on how much lenders can charge on FHA loans no matter how low borrowers’ credit scores are.
FHA Loans With High DTI in Oklahoma
Credit Scores will have an impact on debt-to-income ratio requirements with FHA-insured mortgage loans. Oklahoma homebuyers will need a 580 FICO to qualify for a 3.5% down payment FHA loan. However, there is a significant difference in qualifying for an FHA loan with a credit score of under 620. Just because FHA Credit Score Requirements on a 3.5% down payment home purchase loan is 580 does not mean that any borrowers with a 580 credit score are home free and get loan approval. There are mandatory requirements for borrowers with credit scores under 620 to get an approve/eligible per automated underwriting system. FHA loans still remain to be one of the best mortgage options for bad credit in Oklahoma for 2022.
DTI Versus Credit Scores on FHA Loans
First and the most important factor that HUD requires on credit scores under 620 is that the debt to income ratio requirements gets reduced to 43% DTI to get an approve/eligible per automated underwriting system. If credit scores are at least 620 or higher, the back-end debt to income ratio requirements to qualify for an FHA loan get capped at 46.9% front end and 56.9% back end to get an approve/eligible per automated underwriting system.
FHA Loans is the Best Mortgage Options For Bad Credit in Oklahoma With Low FICO
Another issue borrowers with under 620 credit scores may need is verification of rent. Verification of rent can only be valid if the renter has paid his monthly rental payments with a check for the past 12 months. Or has done a bank wire from their bank account to the landlord’s bank account and has paid timely in the past 12 months. No late payments in their monthly rent payments are allowed. Cash payments to the landlord with a landlord receipt are not valid.
Can I Get an FHA Loan With 530 FICO and High DTI?
Borrowers with credit scores under 620 may be required to have one month’s reserves by the findings of the automated underwriting system. One month’s reserves are equivalent to one month’s PITI, which is one month of principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. Reserves cannot be gifted and need to be the borrower’s own funds. Reserves do not have to be held in escrow. Reserves can just remain in the borrower’s bank account. Other assets such as investment accounts and 401k retirement accounts can be used for reserves. There is no enforcement of reserves after borrowers close on their home loans.
What Type of Home Loan Is Easiest To Qualify For in Oklahoma?
Not all mortgage lenders have the same FHA Credit Score Requirements. This often confuses many home buyers, especially first-time home buyers. Even though FHA Home Loans are guaranteed by the government, every lender can have higher FHA Credit Score Requirements called lender overlays. Just because one lender turns down a borrower does not mean that borrower cannot qualify with a different mortgage lender. The first organization most homebuyers turn to when applying for a home loan is their local bank. However, most banks require a 640 credit score even though FHA Credit Score Requirements are 580. This is due to lender overlays.
Do Lenders Have Different Requirements on Same Mortgage Program?
There are two sets of FHA Guidelines:
- Agency Guidelines mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Lender Overlays
All lenders need to meet Agency Guidelines mandated by HUD. However, every lender has a right to have its own lender overlays that are above and beyond those of the minimum agency guidelines. For example, HUD requires a 580 credit score for homebuyers to qualify for FHA Loans with a 3.5% down payment. However, most banks will not accept any borrowers without a 640 credit score. This higher lending guideline imposed by lenders is called lender overlays. Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage Group is one of the very few national lenders with no overlays on government and conventional loans. Over 75% of our borrowers are folks who could not qualify at other lenders due to their strict overlays on top of agency guidelines.
May 10, 2022 - 6 min read