Let’s face it. A history of bankruptcy in your credit report isn’t very impressive. However, it does not mean that your credit worthiness is permanently damaged and can never be repaired. Bankruptcy doesn’t have to be the end of all your dreams. After bankruptcy, you can open up new transactions and rebuild your credit. For example, are you planning on purchasing a home? How will you know if you are ready to buy a home after bankruptcy? Here are some points for you to ponder:
Financial Stability
The first thing you’ll probably want to ask is, do I have a stable job that can support me and my family? Purchasing a home isn’t just about paying your monthly mortgage. There are other fees to shoulder such as taxes, down payment, home ownership insurance, maintenance, legal fees and others. Don’t forget that along with these charges, you still have other bills to pay like your electricity, telephone, credit card balances and other household expenses.
Will your monthly income be able to support all these expenses each month? More importantly, do you have a regular job to sustain you? Or is your monthly income dependent on freelance works and occasional projects? Even if you earn big from your freelancing, it may not be the most ideal source of income to bank on. Remember, a home loan is a long term commitment. If you don’t have a steady income to support you, it may not be advisable to get a mortgage loan at the moment.
Do You Have Enough to Put Down?
Yes, there are home loans that do not require a down payment. However, these types of loans are usually more expensive. Also, your monthly rates will most likely be higher than a loan with down payment. You can avail of better rates if you can at least put down a 10% or 20% payment.
How Are You Handling Your Debts?
Having been through bankruptcy must have taught you a valuable lesson in life. That is, to handle your finances wisely. So, have you been putting this lesson into practice? Take a look at how you’re handling your finances. Perhaps, you’ve already obtained a new credit card account. Are you able to pay your credit card balances regularly without any delays?
It is a good idea to start with smaller transaction like a credit card account to see how you handle your debts. If keeping up with your credit card bill is already a problem, then obviously it’s not a good idea to apply for a home loan. Allow some time so you can see if you have been making improvements in handling your personal finances. If you see that you’re keeping with all your monthly bills without a problem and you still have some budget left on your monthly income, then that’s the time to start thinking about obtaining a home loan.
There are many lending companies you can find online who especially cater to borrowers who have a history of bankruptcy. Yes, home loans after bankruptcy are possible if you’re ready for the challenge.
