THE dream of buying a home can turn into a nightmare when the reality of the home buying process begins to take shape.

At the top of the list, make sure you have a good credit profile so you can qualify for a home loan.

You also need to understand the real cost of the house beyond the selling price.

This includes things like property taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

Once you figure this out, you have an idea if you are ready to take the next step.

What if you still want to buy a house but bad credit is in the way? We have some tips on how to buy a home with bad credit.

Understanding Your Credit Score

Each lender has their own requirements as to the range they look for when it comes to a credit score.

Most look at your FICO score. FICO is the abbreviation for Fair Isaac Corporation, which was the first company to offer a credit risk rating.

FICO uses a formula to measure and assign how worthy you are to receive credit.

It is based on various factors including payment history, overdue balances, age of credit, new credit, and blended credit.

If your FICO score is below 580, your credit score is considered “bad” or “bad”.

A FICO score between 580 and 669 is considered “fair,” meaning it is lower than the average credit score of most American consumers.

FICO scores ranging from 670 to 799 are considered “good” and “very good”.

FICO scores of 800 and above are considered “outstanding”.

The higher your FICO credit score, the better the mortgage rate you can expect.

Larger down payment

One option if you have a bad credit score is to save up for a larger down payment.

The more money you put in, the less you will need to borrow.

This could help you get a lower interest rate and lower mortgage payments.

Since a larger down payment means you’re a less risky borrower, wait before applying for a mortgage until you’ve saved a substantial amount.

Ask your family for help

Let your family know that you are looking for a home and that you may need financial help.

Your family may be able to help you with your down payment, closing costs, or other related expenses.

If you have bad credit, you may need a co-signer to get approved for a loan.

You need to make sure you make your monthly payments, as a co-signer will be responsible for paying your mortgage in the event of a default.

Down payment assistance program

Many homeownership programs offer down payment assistance.

There are several types, including down payment grants which are a one-time lump sum payment assistance that does not have to be repaid.

Government loans offer low interest rates. Some allow homebuyers not to pay money for the down payment.

There are also low interest loans and deferred payment loans, both of which must be repaid.

Rent to buy

TikTok and Instagram influencer Preston Seo, who teaches financial freedom, shared unique tips with his more than two million followers on TikTok.

Preston Seo of The Legacy Investing Show told The Sun: “It’s definitely hard to get approved for a mortgage these days, but if you find a good lender, have a solid game plan and the run, you can certainly still get approval even in today’s world. financial climate. “

If you are interested in buying a certain house or apartment, Seo suggests offering the owner to rent the property with the option to buy in three years.

The landlord can take a portion of the rent each month and have it credited to a down payment.

Preston added, “Be patient. Credit repair can take a while.

“Just make your payments every month and you’ll see your credit score go up.”

We explain how mortgage rates are going up and how it will affect your finances.

Plus, here’s how homeowners get extra help with mortgage payments.