This BLOG On Re-Establishing Credit During Waiting Period After Bankruptcy Was UPDATED On January 21st, 2019
Life is not over after bankruptcy, foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or short sale.
- People go through a financial crisis such as job loss, business loss, divorce, medical issues, and other extenuating circumstances where their household income is lost or has been greatly reduced
- On the positive note, everyone recovers and life goes on
- For those folks who have gone through a bankruptcy, foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or short sale, they can qualify to purchase a home
However, there are mandatory waiting periods they need to abide by to qualify for a mortgage after bankruptcy and foreclosure.
Waiting Period Guidelines After Bankruptcy And Foreclosure
Here are the mandatory waiting period requirements.
Bankruptcy:
- There is a mandatory 2 year waiting period from the discharge date of the bankruptcy to qualify for VA and FHA Loans
- Home Buyers can qualify for VA and FHA Loans one year into a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy repayment plan with Trustee Approval
- There is no waiting period to qualify for VA and FHA Loans after Chapter 13 Bankruptcy discharged date
- There is a four-year waiting period to qualify for Conventional Loans after Chapter 7 Bankruptcy discharged date
- There is a four-year waiting period to qualify for Conforming Loans after a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy dismissal date
There is a two-year waiting period to qualify for Conventional Loans after Chapter 13 Bankruptcy discharged date.
Waiting Period Guidelines After Foreclosure And Deed In Lieu Of Foreclosure
Foreclosure and Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure:
- There is a mandatory 3 year waiting period from the recorded date of the foreclosure or the date of the sheriff’s sale to qualify for FHA Loans and USDA Loans
- The waiting period time clocks start the date the name of the homeowner has been transferred out of their name to lenders name
- There is a two-year waiting period to qualify for VA Loans after foreclosure and/or deed in lieu of foreclosure
- There is a four-year waiting period to qualify for Conventional Loans after a deed in lieu of foreclosure
The waiting period is seven years to qualify for Conventional Loans after a foreclosure.
Qualifying For A Mortgage After A Short-Sale
Short Sale:
-
- There is a mandatory 3 year waiting period from the date of a short sale to qualify for FHA Loans and USDA Loans
- Borrowers need to provide the HUD Settlement Statement and normally that date is the waiting period time clock starts
- The is a two-year waiting period to qualify for VA Loans after the short sale date
- There is a four-year waiting period to qualify for Conventional Loans after a short sale
Once bankruptcy, foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or short sale is finalized, it is reported to the three credit bureaus:
Effects Of Bankruptcy And Housing Event On Credit Reports
Credit scores will most likely plummet by at least 150 points or more.
- However, credit scores will gradually improve slowly over time as bankruptcy and/or housing event ages
- Just because one has passed the mandatory waiting period does not automatically qualify them for a mortgage loan
- Lenders want to see that borrowers have re-established credit
- By re-establishing credit during waiting period will expedite increasing credit scores
- Many lenders want to see three established credit tradelines that have been seasoned for at least 12 months
- While others require 24 months of re-established credit
- Borrowers cannot have a late payment after a bankruptcy, foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or short sale
There are many ways of re-establishing credit during waiting period after bankruptcy and foreclosure.
Re-Establishing Credit During Waiting Period With Secured Credit Cards
Getting secured cards is the best way of re-establishing credit during waiting period.
- Get three secured credit cards with at least a $500 credit limit
- Three secured credit cards will have the maximum effect in increasing credit scores
- Make sure never to be late with the minimum payment
- Each secured credit card should boost credit scores by at least 20 points
- Do not have any more than a 10% credit balance in each of those secured credit cards
- Do not apply for unsecured credit because the chances are that the applicant will not get approved
- Hard inquiries will hurt credit scores
- Each hard inquiry will drop credit scores by at least 5 points
Multiple hard inquiries do not look on the credit report and mortgage underwriters will frown on multiple credit inquiries.
Rental Verification And Overdrafts: Re-Establishing Credit During Waiting Period
Rental verification shows great weight for mortgage lenders.
- Always make your rent payment with a bank check
- Rental verification, although not reported to the credit bureaus, carries more weight than any new credit items that are reported on the credit report
- The only way that you can prove rental verification is to provide 12 months worth of canceled checks to the mortgage loan underwriter
- Never bounce a check
- A $5 dollar overdraft can be a deal killer
- Get overdraft protection
- Lenders do not want to see any overdrafts in the prior 12 months
One of two overdrafts will most likely not be a deal-killer but will be limited on which lender will accept a mortgage application.
Credit Scores During Re-Establishing Credit During Waiting Period
Future Home Buyers who follow my advice on re-establishing credit during waiting period will see their credit scores will go up over 100 points or more during the course of 12 months.
- There are many cases where I have seen mortgage loan borrower’s credit scores over 700 after a year of filing bankruptcy, foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or short sale
- As time passes, the less impact prior bad credit will have on credit scores
- One late payment will drop credit scores by more than 80 points so make sure to religiously pay the minimum payment on time
To get qualified for a mortgage after bankruptcy and/or foreclosure, please contact us at Gustan Cho Associates at 800-900-8569 or text us for a faster response. Or email us at gcho@gustancho.com
