Bad Credit Mortgage Loans

How to Buy a Home with Bad Credit

At Alpine Mortgage, we understand that life’s financial challenges shouldn’t keep you from achieving your dreams of home ownership. We offer a variety of bad credit home loans for consumers with less than perfect credit or low credit scores. Our bad credit mortgage products  can help put consumers on the road to home ownership and financial independence. 

What Do Mortgage Lenders Consider a Bad Credit Score?

Image of Bad Credit Loan Options

Mortgage lenders typically consider any credit score under 620 as bad credit when evaluating loan applications. This range can vary slightly among lenders, but generally, scores below this threshold may result in higher interest rates or a denial of loan applications. Conventional loans require a minimum credit score of 620 and have waiting periods after a bankruptcy or foreclosure before a borrower can apply for a loan. Mortgage lenders assess applicants' credit scores as a key factor in determining their eligibility for a mortgage loan, especially for individuals with bad credit, offering various loan options like FHA, VA, and USDA loans that accommodate lower credit scores.

Our home loans for bad credit are specifically designed for individuals whose credit history might prevent them from obtaining conventional financing. We provide mortgage loans for borrower’s looking to buy a house or refinance their existing home and take cash out to payoff other debts. Borrowers can qualify for these loans even if their credit history has any of the following:

  • Low Credit Scores. Minimum credit score as low as 500.
  • Bankruptcy. No waiting period after a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
  • Previous Foreclosure. No waiting period after a foreclosure.
  • Late Payments. Credit card and installment late payments permitted.
  • Charge-offs & Collections. Charge-off & collection accounts permitted.

These and a host of other credit related issues can be overcome by working with bad credit mortgage lenders that specialize in mortgage loans with poor credit. Alpine Mortgage maintains a team of highly skilled industry professionals familiar with the company’s less than perfect credit mortgage programs.

Bad Credit Loan Programs

Below are some of the details of our bad credit home loan programs.

Loan TypeMin. Credit ScoreMin. Down Payment
FHA5803.5%
FHA Low Score50010%
VA5800%
USDA5800%
Non-QM50020%

FHA Loans

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) plays a crucial role in insuring loans for consumers with poor credit, offering a safety net that makes it possible for lenders to provide mortgages with more lenient terms. These loans are backed by the government, ensuring that individuals with poor credit histories have access to home financing. The FHA's backing means that lenders can offer these loans with no risk-based pricing adjustments, making them an attractive option for those looking to buy a house with bad credit. 

Our FHA loans are specifically designed to assist home buyers with bad credit or very low credit scores, offering a lifeline to those who might otherwise be excluded from the housing market. With the ability to accommodate credit scores as low as 580 with a minimal down payment of just 3.5%, and even down to a 500 credit score with a larger down payment of 10% or more, FHA loans stand out for their accessibility. For borrowers with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy there is a 2 year waiting period after discharge. There is no waiting period for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy after 12 months of payments in bankruptcy have been made.  There is a 3 year waiting period after a foreclosure. 

VA Loans

For veterans, our VA loans offer favorable terms even with a less than perfect credit history. VA loans can go down to a 580 credit score with no down payment required. Additionally, VA loans do not require mortgage insurance which makes them an attractive options for eligible borrowers. There is a 2 year waiting period after discharge of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and no waiting period for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy after 12 months of payments in bankruptcy have been made. There is a 2 year waiting period after a foreclosure. 

USDA Loans

Geared towards buyers in rural areas, USDA loans offer 100% financing options and lower credit score requirements that can go down to a 580 credit score. There is a 3 year waiting period after discharge of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and a 1 year waiting period after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. There is a 3 year waiting period after a foreclosure. 

Non-QM Loans

We have a variety of other Non QM loan programs available for borrowers that need more flexibility with credit scores down to 500 and no waiting periods after a bankruptcy or foreclosure. 

How to Get Pre-approved for a Bad Credit Mortgage

Getting pre-approved for a bad credit mortgage is quick and easy with our online Loan Application. After completing the application, you will receive instructions on how to upload your documents. For a list of documents you will need to upload, see our Pre-approval Document Checklist.

How to Improve Your Credit Score Before Buying

Image depicting ways to improve credit scores

  • Check Your Credit Report for Errors: Mistakes on your credit report can drag down your score. Regularly reviewing your credit report for inaccuracies and disputing any errors is crucial.
  • Keep Your Credit Accounts Open (for Now): Closing credit accounts can increase your credit utilization ratio, negatively impacting your score. Keep accounts open to maintain your available credit.
  • Add New Accounts: Opening multiple credit accounts at once can be risky, but if managed wisely, can increase your total available credit and improve your credit utilization ratio, potentially boosting your score in the long run.
  • Avoid Unnecessary Hard Pulls: Hard inquiries can temporarily lower your credit score. Avoid applying for new credit in the months leading up to your mortgage application.
  • Avoid New Credit Cards and New Debt: New credit cards and debt can increase your debt-to-income ratio and decrease your credit score. Focus on paying down existing debts.
  • Save for a Larger Down Payment: A larger down payment can compensate for a low credit score by reducing the lender's risk, potentially leading to better loan terms.
  • Lower Your Debt-to-Income Ratio: Reducing your overall debt before applying for a mortgage can improve your debt-to-income ratio, making your application stronger to lenders.

Embracing a new financial beginning is possible with Alpine Mortgage. Our bad credit mortgage loans are tailored to meet your unique circumstances, helping you secure a home while improving your financial health. Our bad credit loans are available in the following states: California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. 

Call us today at (800) 876-LOAN to speak with one of our bad credit mortgage specialists or click here to have one of our bad credit home loan specialists contact you.

Bad Credit Mortgage FAQs

  • Improve Your Credit. Ensure all bills are paid on time as late payments can affect your credit score. Also, lower your credit utilization ratio by paying down existing debt. Aim to keep your total outstanding at at 30% or less of your total credit limit.
  • Save for Larger Down Payment. Saving for a larger down payment of over 10% qualifies you for more options.
  • Work with a Credit Repair Specialist. A credit repair specialist can help with fixing errors on your credit report and improve your credit scores.

You'll need to provide various documents, including proof of income (such as pay stubs or tax returns) and recent bank statements. For a complete list of documents needed, see our document checklist.

Government backed loan programs, such as FHA, VA and USA loans, are usually the easist type of loan to get approved for.

Good income will help lower your debt ratio and is a strong compensating factor that lenders take into consideration when evaluating an applicant with bad credit.

Most negative information will remain on your credit report for 7 years, including late payments, charge-offs, collections, and most public records.Bankruptcies can stay on your report for up to 10 years, depending on the type.

The time it takes to improve your credit score depends on your starting point and the actions you take. Some improvements, such as paying down debt, can have a quick impact, while others, like building a history of on-time payments, may take several months or more to reflect positively on your score.

Applying for a mortgage will result in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may cause a slight, temporary dip in your credit score. However, multiple inquiries from mortgage lenders within a short period (usually 45 days) are typically treated as a single inquiry, minimizing the impact on your score.


Bad Credit Tools & Advice