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Getting a mortgage with bad credit — that is, a credit score of about 579 or below — can be difficult, but you still have options for loans with favorable terms and APRs. Traditionally, home loans for bad credit borrowers fell to the risky subprime mortgage sector. Today, there are bad credit mortgage lenders out there ready to lend to you, including FHA home loan programs.
Here’s a look at those lenders that are most likely to present your best options for securing a home loan if your credit rating has meant you’ve been having trouble securing a mortgage.
Click here to find out how this man saved over $100k in mortgage interest.
| Lender | Loans Available for Consumers With Bad Credit Scores | Rates | Terms | Requirements |
| Ditech Home Loans | FHA Loan (down payment as low as 3.5%, one of the easier home loans to qualify for) | 4.5% | 30 years, fixed | Allowance for less-than-perfect credit |
| Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. | FHA Loan (down payment: 3.5% of final loan amount) | varies | 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years, fixed and adjustable | 640 min. credit score |
| Bank of America | Affordable Loan Solution mortgage (down payment as low as 3%) | 4% to 4.5% | 15, 30 years, fixed | Not listed |
| Quicken Loans | FHA Loan (down payment as little as 3.5%) | 3.99% to 4.56% | 15, 20, 25, 30 fixed | 580 min. credit score |
| Wells Fargo | FHA Loan (down payment as low as 3.5%) | N/A | not listed | Not listed |
| Rates accurate as of June 26, 2018 | ||||
Lenders for Bad Credit Mortgages
FHA home loans — home loans backed by the U.S. Federal Housing Administration — are a good option for those with less-than-perfect credit. The FHA sets borrower requirements. It also insures loans from lenders so that lenders can offer better deals -such as low down payments, low closing costs and easy credit qualification — to borrowers.
For someone who wants to know how to buy a house with bad credit but doesn’t want to compromise on mortgage affordability, an FHA loan is going to be one of the best options as often as not. The lenders listed here offer FHA home loans and bad-credit mortgage loans that are among the best options for consumers looking to get a mortgage despite a spotty or underdeveloped credit history.
FHA Loan Requirements in 2018: How to Qualify for an FHA Loan
Ditech Home Loans
Credit score requirement: Allowance for less-than-perfect credit
Ditech could be considered one of the best mortgage lenders for poor credit, including its FHA-banked options. Ditech offers FHA home loans for customers with less-than-perfect credit scores, including options that require a down payment as low as 3.5 percent. The current rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 4.5 percent, and you’ll need to get mortgage insurance. Ditech also offers FHA refinance options, which also allow for credit history deficiencies.
Primary Residential Mortgage Inc.
Credit score requirement: 640 minimum
The FHA Loan from Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. enables you to put as little as 3.5 percent down for a loan and set a term of 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years, making it a great option if you’re wondering how to get a home loan with bad credit. The company claims that one of the best mortgages available is an FHA-insured mortgage, which has less challenging credit requirements. This makes it a good option if you’re buying a house and have bad credit. Rates vary, though, and you’ll need to obtain mortgage insurance.
Click to read What Is an FHA Loan?
Bank of America
Credit score requirement: Not listed
Bank of America‘s Affordable Loan Solution program is designed for modest-income borrowers who can’t afford a large down payment. Maximum income requirements and loan limits apply, but no mortgage insurance is required and you can put as little as 3 percent down for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage.
The current rates range from 4 percent to 4.5 percent and Preferred Rewards customers might qualify for a $200 to $600 reduction on their loan origination fee. What’s more, they also offer VA home loans for those who qualify.
Homebuyer education might be required for first-time homebuyers from a HUD-approved provider or through Connect to Own, Bank of America’s nationwide network of counselors.
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Learn: How to Get an FHA Loan in 5 Easy Steps
Quicken Loans
Credit score requirement: 580 minimum
Quicken Loans — one of the more recognizable poor credit mortgage lenders — offers 15-, 20-, 25- and 30-year, fixed-rate loans for home loan borrowers to finance their primary residences. Its FHA loan requires as little as 3.5 percent down, and rates for a non-VA fixed rate home loan runs between 3.99% and 4.56%, depending on its terms.
Your rate depends on your credit, type of loan, loan amount and down payment. These factors give the lender an idea of how much risk it’s taking in approving a bad credit mortgage.
Click to read 19 Surprising Ways Your Mortgage Could Be Rejected
Wells Fargo
Credit score requirement: Not listed
Wells Fargo offers borrowers who seek a small down payment several loan options. You can get a conventional, fixed-rate mortgage with as little as 3 percent down.
With a Wells Fargo FHA loan, you are typically required to pay mortgage insurance, but you can qualify with a co-applicant. The bank also offers VA loans as well as loans through its Easy to Own Guaranteed Rural Housing Program.
Click through to get tips on how to refinance a mortgage with bad credit.
More on Mortgages
- How to Find Small Home Loans Under $50K
- 5 Ways to Get a Mortgage Even If You Don’t Meet Income Requirements
- Want to Retire Rich? Prioritize Debt Repayment First
Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.
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GOBankingRates is a personal finance and consumer interest rate website owned by ConsumerTrack, Inc., an online marketing company serving top-tier banks, credit unions, and other financial services organizations. Some companies mentioned in this article might be clients of ConsumerTrack, Inc., which serves more than 100 national, local and online financial institutions. Rankings and roundups are completely objective, and no institution, client or otherwise, paid for inclusion or specific placement. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the companies included in the article. All fees and rates are subject to change at the issuers’ discretion, and some bonus offers might no longer be available on the issuers’ websites, depending on how you access the web page.
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