How to Buy Your First Home With Bad Credit: 15 Steps (2024)

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Co-authored byRyan Baril

Last Updated: February 26, 2023Approved

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   Get prequalified for a loan. The first step to buying a home is making sure you can get a loan. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Veteran's Administration (VA) provide loans that have more forgiving credit standards, so check these federal mortgage programs first. Work with a lender that specializes in FHA and VA loans if you are eligible. State and local programs may also be available to help people with bad credit get approved for mortgages. Check with your local housing authority for help. Some helpful resources include:

   • https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/fhahistory
   • http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/index.asp
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   Search for homes. Look for an assortment of homes that you're interested in, based on their location, condition, size, etc. Contact real estate agents in your area and tell them your situation. Use an online site or agency to do real estate searches in your area. One source of good deals is The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which sells homes that have been foreclosed on at market value. Visit hudhomestore.com for more information. Note that HUD homes still require you to supply the necessary cash or to get approved for a loan, and have a lengthy closing process.

   • If you have filed bankruptcy, learn how to buy a home after filing bankruptcy.
   • If you have no money to put down, visit how to buy a home with no money down.
   • If you want to lease, visit how to buy a house using a lease.
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   Temper your expectations. If you have bad credit you might not be able to get a loan for your "first-choice" home, unfortunately. If you do get a loan, you might be burdened with a high interest rate that will have you paying thousands more over the lifetime of the home. Be realistic about what you can afford - buying a home is one of the most important financial transactions you'll ever make.

   • Don't start your home-owning history by getting into a financial arrangement you can't afford. If this means you have to opt for a smaller home or a home in a less desirable location, so be it - it's better than defaulting in the future.
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   Take advantage of low down payments. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers loans with very low down payments to home buyers. Whereas a typical down payment may be 20% of the loan, an FHA loan can be as low as 3.5% of the loan. If you're short on cash, FHA loans are a very smart choice especially if you have less than perfect credit.

   • FHA will insure loans with a minimum credit score of 580.
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   Save money for a sizable down payment. The more money you are able to put down on a home, the smaller your monthly mortgage will be. Sizable down payments can also help you get approved for a loan if you have bad credit. Be sure to set aside money for the closing costs as well, which can cost 3-6% of the purchase price.

   • When you're saving for a down payment, keep the money you've saved separate from your normal expense account. Only dip into this money in absolute emergencies.
   • If you're having trouble saving for a down payment, consider taking up a part-time job, cutting out unnecessary expenses, or even moving to a less-expensive home in the mean time.
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   Consider seller financing. Seller financing is a real estate agreement where financing provided by the seller is included in the purchase price using the house as collateral. If you’re unable to get a conventional loan, this could be an option for you.^[1].

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   Obtain your credit report. Don't let bad credit sneak up on you. Keep an eye on your credit score as you attempt to work around it. Ask a lender or credit counselor to obtain your FICO credit report for you so you know it’s coming from a reputable source. Avoid using sites like Credit Karma, which can provide you with inaccurate information. You want to have a realistic view of your current credit profile so that you can set your goals accordingly and judge the successes of your efforts to improve your credit. Higher credit scores mean you're more likely to be approved for a loan and that your loan may cost less.

   • Federal law in the United States dictates that the 3 credit agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) must provide you with a free credit report every 12 months if you ask for it.^[2] Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to get started requesting your free credit reports.
   • Credit scores range from 300-850, with 850 being hypothetically "perfect" credit.^[3] Generally a credit score above 700-720 is considered "good," while anything below about 640 is considered "poor."^[4]
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   Work to fix your credit if you have bad credit. Your best chance of buying a home doesn't come from navigating the obstacles created by your bad credit. Rather, it comes from turning your bad credit into good credit so that you don't have to deal with those obstacles in the first place. It's a simple fact that buying a house on good credit is always the smartest move. With good credit, you're more likely to get approved for loans, and, as a general rule, the loans you get will usually have better interest rates and/or down payments associated with them. Take the time to improve your credit - in the long run, it's always your best bet.

   • Keep in mind that paying off your credit card debts is one of the faster ways to improve your credit score rapidly.
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   Avoid common credit pitfalls. If you're reading this article, you probably already have less-than-ideal credit. However, this doesn't mean you should let your credit profile go into free-fall! Further neglect will only damage your credit more and make it less likely that you'll be able to get the house you've set your heart on. Avoid the following credit-damaging behaviors at all costs:^[5]

   • Late payments on student loans
   • Delinquent payments on other items (car, possessions, credit cards, etc.)
   • Short sales (selling a property for less than the amount still owed) or foreclosures. This is presumably your first home, but your partner or spouse may have been involved with other mortgages previously.
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   Have explanations for credit troubles. Sometimes, the negative effects of a bad credit history can be mitigated if there is a good reason for your difficulties. Be prepared to explain some the negative issues listed on your report, such as late payments, bankruptcies, or other issues. If your bad credit is due to a medical emergency, a job loss, or a divorce, be sure to know relevant facts and details surrounding this event so that lenders can consider the circ*mstances of your negative credit rating. You’ll need to provide proof or documentation of these events.

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   Dispute inaccurate information on your credit report. Even massive credit agencies make mistakes. Read your credit reports carefully - if you receive "bad marks" on the report based on information that is false or incomplete you can (and should) dispute it. Credit agencies are required by law to investigate your complaint within 30 days (unless they consider it frivolous.)^[6] Send a formal letter to the reporting company notifying them of the inaccuracies. It's practically free, and, if successful, can seriously boost your credit score.

   • Include copies (not originals) of documents that support your claims. You may also want to include a copy of your credit report with inaccurate items clearly circled.
   • Include, in your letter, a request for a "return receipt" - this way, you'll know if the agency has received your letter.
   • Keep in mind that you will not qualify for a mortgage while you are disputing any items on your credit report unless you can prove to the lender that the disputed account is fraudulent.
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   Don't fall for scams. When you've got bad credit and you're desperate to buy a house, it can be tempting to do something - anything - to eliminate your bad credit. A wide variety of quasi-legal predatory credit services and scams exist to take advantage of precisely this desperation. Don't fall for them. You can lose the cash that you do have and leave yourself in even worse straits than you were in before. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Services that offer to "erase bad credit" or give you a "clean slate" simply don't work. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), no companies or agencies exist that actually do these things. The FTC recommends that you should stay far away from services that:

   • Require you to pay money before any work is done for you
   • Tell you not to contact the credit agencies directly
   • Tell you to dispute (accurate) information on your credit report
   • Tell you to lie on your loan application
   • Are vague about your legal rights with regards to their "service"
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   Practice fiscal responsibility. If you've already disputed as much of your credit report as you can, there's not much more you can do other than to simply practice good fiscal habits for as much time as is necessary to improve your credit profile. By enacting good financial fundamentals, you can get your debt under control, and, within a few years, be on the road to good credit (and, thus, the house you desire). There's no "quick fix" to bad credit - making lasting improvements to your credit score requires you to make tough decisions to get your financial affairs in order. To start, you should:

   • Get your expenditures under control. You can't spend more money than you earn - this practice isn't sustainable. Start a household budget by keeping track of everything you spend money on every month, including bills, groceries, etc. You may be surprised by how much money you spend frivolously. Eliminate luxury purchases and expensive monthly services (cell phone and internet plans, for instance) in favor of cheaper alternatives.
   • Contact your creditors. Let them know your situation - they don't want you to default, so they will probably work with you to restructure your debt, making it easier for you to pay.
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   Give plenty of time for your credit to improve. Above all, repairing bad credit takes time. To go from bad credit to good credit usually requires you to be fiscally responsible for years. Work through your difficulties - get your expenses and debts under control and simply work on living responsibly for a while. You'll be amazed how liberating it is to get your fiscal affairs in order. Knowing that you're slowly but surely reducing your debt, rather than adding to it, feels great. Just keep at it!

   • Credit reporting agencies can report most negative information against you for 7 years and bankruptcies for 10 years.^[7]
   • Unfortunately, some negative information has no time limit for when it can appear on a credit report. This information is:^[8]
     • Any criminal convictions.
     • Information reported in response to a job you applied for that pays over $75,000 a year
     • Information reported because you applied for over $150,000 in credit or life insurance.
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   Consider meeting with an expert. Ultimately, consulting with an expert such as a loan officer or mortgage executive to fix your credit may save you a lot of money and time in the long run. Find a professional who can help you and meet with them for a consultation.

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