CAN I GET A MORTGAGE WITH BAD CREDIT?

If you have bad credit and want to obtain a mortgage to buy a new home, you may feel as though it's impossible since lenders tightened their eligibility rules. There are plenty of so-called “options” available on the Internet for bad credit loans, but you must be very careful to watch out for scams.

Mortgage laws have changed in recent years but, the following general guidelines apply:

• Your credit report must have fewer than two 30-day-late payments in the past two years. 

• Bankruptcies must be at least two years ago, with excellent credit history since then.

• Foreclosures must be at least three years ago, with excellent credit history since then.

If you have a few minor negative marks on your credit, you might be better off simply waiting a few months for those to clear (while continuing to make all your payments on time, of course). Alternatively, you...

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A MORTGAGE?

As you begin shopping for a new home, one question will weigh heavily on your mind: “How long will it take to get a mortgage?” For an extremely tiny minority of home buyers, it will take a few days to apply for a mortgage, get approved, and finalize the contract on a new home.

For the vast majority of home buyers getting a mortgage may take four to six weeks or even longer, if there are negative marks on your credit report or small debts you'd like to pay off before applying for a home loan. It can be very hard to be patient with the process.

Applying for a mortgage may seem mysterious (and even dangerous!), but the process is usually straightforward. Here's what generally happens, in the simplest terms possible.

First Step: Apply for a New Home Loan 

First, you'll talk to a mortgage...

THINGS NOT TO DO DURING THE LOAN PROCESS

1.       Don’t Do Anything That Will Cause A Red Flag To Be Raised By The Scoring System. This may include adding new accounts, co-signing on a loan, changing your name or address with the bureaus. Generally, the less new activity on your reports during the loan process, the better.

2.       Don’t Apply For New Credit Of Any Kind. Including those “You have been pre-approved “credit card invitations that you receive in the mail or online. Every time that you have your credit pulled by a potential creditor you could lose points from your credit score. Depending on the elements in your current credit report, you could lose anywhere from one to twenty points for one hard inquiry. For lender inquiries as of Jan. 2007, any indicial inquiries count as one incident through a duration...

SEVEN STEPS FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS

Home buying is exciting and the joy one feels walking into their first home is incomparable. First time homebuyers need to follow certain steps to get on the pathway to homeownership. Following these steps will make your dream of becoming a homeowner in Louisville, Kentucky (or surrounding area) a smooth process.

1               Get Pre-Approved? The first step is to talk to a lender.  If you are serious about buying a house, get pre-approved instead of just pre-qualified, that will show buyers that you are serious.  Your lender should be able to tell you what you need to do, give you advice on your credit score, and explain all the details. If you do not understand,...

If you're thinking of selling your home or refinancing your mortgage, you'll first need to value your property as accurately as possible. Inexperienced sellers might be tempted to head straight for the nearest and most convenient estate agent, and while they might have a vested interest in selling your property for as much as possible, it is still important to do some research for yourself.

An accurate valuation will help you to find a more realistic asking price while also making your home easier to sell. Every home should be valued on an individual basis, and there are far more considerations to take into account than the size alone. Additionally, you may want to increase the value of your property by carrying out some repairs and giving it a facelift.

1. Size
Size is the obvious first consideration when valuing your home, particularly in the case of apartments where values are largely determined by floor space. However, a professional...

Many people love the holidays because of the great deals that they can find while shopping, especially on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These deals usually pertain to hot ticket items such as TVs, appliances, movies, etc. Does real estate cross your mind when you think of deals during the holidays? Probably not...but that's because there are deals on homes for sale in Louisville KY nearly every day of the year!

Louisville homes experience price reductions all the time, which is a great opportunity for you to find the perfect home at a great value. Below are 10 of the most recently price reduced homes in the Louisville area...give my team a call at (502) 509-6812 when you would like to schedule a private showing!

1. 9106 Terry Rd, Louisville, KY 40258 - $109,900

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Many homeowners look for ways to improve the appearance and value of their properties. While small investments can bring increased value, conversely large investments may not bring the return you expect. Several factors weigh in on these decisions; if you plan to continue to live in the home, investments should be practical and improve upon daily living. If you plan to sell your home, only go as far as needed to gain a sizable return. It’s smart to focus on the details that buyers focus on; and you don’t want the highest priced home in the neighborhood. If the other homes are set in a certain price bracket, no number of improvements can transcend it by very much. Here are some basic tips to follow when planning home renovations or improvements, and how to get the most for your...

Halloween is not just a holiday, but a complete holiday season beginning on October first. The leaves begin to change and the weather begins to cool, setting the scene for a spooky Halloween. Throughout the month of October, the Louisville area is filled with a variety of local Halloween events to thrill and excite the entire family. While residents already know about the World’s Largest Halloween Party at the Louisville Zoo during October, there are many other family focused events during the Halloween season! Be sure to grab your calendar to mark the dates for your favorite Halloween events!

Corn Mazes

Corn mazes are a basic staple of the Halloween season. Most are suitable for the whole family, with some labeled as ‘haunted,’ they may be more suitable for the older kids.

FFA Field of Terror is a 6.5-acre corn maze located behind Thomas Nelson High School in Bardstown, Ky featuring scary haunted scenes. Hayrides are available to guests...

As of 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 64.5% of Americans own their own home. However, only 29% of those people own their home "free and clear," meaning they no longer owe the bank, or anyone else, for a home mortgage. According to Real Estate ABC, average home costs range from $159,500 to $282,000, depending on the region you are looking to settle in. Wherever you go, it is clear that buying a home will be a huge financial decision that will affect decades of your life. If you are looking for first time home buying tips, here are three of the best.

• Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

One of the contributing factors to the economic collapse beginning in 2007, now known as the Great Recession, was unfair and predatory lending practices on the part of banks to homeowners, according to NBC News....