How Soon After Bankruptcy Can You Buy A House?
First, you need to wait until a judge discharges your bankruptcy before you can get a loan. But exactly how long do you need to wait? The answer depends on the type of bankruptcy you have on your record and the type of loan you want.
Chapter 7
The most common type of bankruptcy is Chapter 7 bankruptcy. During a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a court wipes away your qualifying debts. Unfortunately, your credit will also take a major hit.
If you’ve gone through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you need to wait at least 4 years after a court discharges or dismisses your bankruptcy to qualify for a conventional loan.
Government-backed mortgage loans are a bit more lenient. You need to wait 3 years after your bankruptcy’s dismissal or discharge to get a USDA loan. To qualify for a VA or FHA loan, you only need to wait 2 years after your discharge or dismissal.
Chapter 13
Chapter 13 bankruptcies involve a reorganization of your debts. Chapter 13 bankruptcy means you may need to make scheduled payments to your creditors. It doesn’t have as large of an effect on your credit score – and you can keep your assets. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is less serious than a Chapter 7, but most types of loans still include a waiting period.
The amount of time you need to wait to apply for a conventional loan after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy depends on how a court chooses to handle your bankruptcy. If the court dismisses your bankruptcy, you must wait at least 4 years from your dismissal date before you can apply. If a court discharges your bankruptcy, the waiting period is 4 years from the date you filed and 2 years from your dismissal date.
Like a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, standards are a bit more relaxed for government-backed loans. USDA loans require a 1-year waiting period after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The waiting period is the same whether you get a discharge or dismissal. FHA and VA loans simply require a court to dismiss or discharge your loan before you apply.
What Type Of Mortgage Can You Get After Bankruptcy?
It’s technically possible to get any type of mortgage loan after a bankruptcy. There are no rules in place that permanently exclude you from getting a certain type of loan because you’ve gone through a bankruptcy. As long as you meet the waiting period discussed above, you’re free to apply. But you can qualify for some types of mortgage loans much easier than others.
An FHA loan could be a great option if you have a bankruptcy on your record. FHA waiting periods are shorter than other types of loans. If you have a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, there’s no waiting period at all after a court dismisses or discharges you. FHA loans also have looser requirements compared to other types of government-backed loans.
One of the major benefits of getting an FHA loan after a bankruptcy is its lower credit requirements. Even after a court dismisses or discharges your bankruptcy, it will still negatively influence your credit score. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for 10 years, while a Chapter 13 bankruptcy will stick around for 7.
During this time, your credit score will be much lower than before your bankruptcy. You can buy a home with an FHA loan with a credit score as low as 580 points. You may even qualify for a loan with a score as low as 500 points if you have a down payment of at least 10%. However, at Rocket Mortgage®, the minimum credit score is 580.
How To Apply For A Mortgage After Bankruptcy
Now, let’s take a look at the specific steps you’ll follow when you apply for your loan.
Step 1: Repair Your Credit
A bankruptcy on your credit report lowers your credit score. It’s possible to get a mortgage loan with a bankruptcy on your record but you still must meet your lender’s minimum credit score requirements. You’ll usually need to take some time to repair your score before you can apply for a loan if you have a credit score of 580 points or lower.
Here are some basic steps you can take to begin rebuilding your credit:
Re-establish your credit. After a bankruptcy, you may find that many of your old accounts are completely wiped off your credit report. One of the first steps you should take after a bankruptcy is to re-establish credit responsibly.
A great way to get started re-establishing your credit is to get a secured credit card. When you open a secured credit card, you put a deposit down with your credit card company. This deposit becomes your line of credit. From there, you make payments on your account and pay off your debt each month. You can get a secured credit card with a low credit score, even after a bankruptcy.
Pay down your debt. Focus any extra cash you have toward paying down debt after your bankruptcy closes. This shows creditors that you’re serious about making a change in your financial situation and raising your credit score over time. Lower levels of debt can also help you qualify for a mortgage.
Pay all your bills on time. The fastest and easiest way to raise your credit score is to make your credit card and loan payments on schedule each month. Consider signing up for auto-pay if you have trouble managing your payment due dates. Most credit card and loan companies have an auto-pay feature that automatically deducts your minimum payment on the day it’s due.
Step 2: Write A Letter Of Explanation
Your lender takes a careful look at your finances when you apply for a mortgage. Every time a lender issues a mortgage, they take a risk. Lenders need to know that you’ll make your payments on time every month. Of course, a bankruptcy on your record is a major red flag.
You can increase your chances of getting a mortgage after bankruptcy by writing a letter of explanation. A letter of explanation tells your lender more details about your bankruptcy and why you needed to declare bankruptcy.
You might want to include details on the circumstances that led to your filing and how your financial life has changed since then. Also, explain the steps you’ve taken to prevent a future bankruptcy as well – like paying off debt and building an emergency fund.
A letter of explanation isn’t a requirement to get a mortgage after bankruptcy, but it can help your lender see the bigger picture instead of just a set of numbers. Include your letter of explanation with your mortgage application when you request a preapproval.
Step 3: Get Preapproved
Once you’ve gone through your waiting period and your finances are in order, it’s time to apply for a mortgage preapproval. A preapproval is a letter from a lender that tells you about how much money you can get in a mortgage loan. Getting preapproved is important for a couple reasons:
- First, a preapproval letter lets you know which homes are in your budget and allows you to narrow your property search.
- Second, a preapproval tells real estate agents and sellers that you can secure the funding you need to buy the home you want to make an offer on. This can be an especially important consideration after a bankruptcy.
Your lender will ask you for some financial documentation when you apply for a preapproval. You can get preapproved faster if you already have your documents in order before you apply. Some documents that your lender will likely ask for include your last two:
- W-2s
- Bank statements
- Most recent paystubs
Keep in mind that preapproval and prequalification aren’t the same. Prequalifications usually don’t require asset verification. This means that they often hold less weight than a preapproval. Make sure you get preapproved – not prequalified.
Step 4: Respond To Lender Inquiries
Once you submit your preapproval application, the rest is in your lender’s hands. Your lender will review your income, assets, debt and credit to see if you qualify for a mortgage. If you seem like a good candidate, your lender will send you a preapproval letter. You can use your letter to start shopping for a home.
Your lender might need to contact you to ask questions about items on your credit report. This is especially common after an adverse financial event like bankruptcy. Be honest and respond to your lender’s inquiries quickly to improve your chances of approval.
Summary
It’s possible to get a mortgage after a bankruptcy. The amount of time you need to wait after your bankruptcy is dismissed or discharged depends on the type of bankruptcy and your loan type.
Let’s say you filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You’ll need to wait 2 – 4 years depending on your loan type. For a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may be able to apply immediately, or you may need to wait up to 4 years. FHA loans are a great option after bankruptcy because they allow you to buy a home with a lower credit score.
Before you apply for a preapproval, you may need to raise your credit score. If your credit score is below 580 points, you may want to focus on reestablishing credit before you apply.
Once your credit improves, write a letter of explanation that details your bankruptcy. You can apply for a loan preapproval after your waiting period expires. Have your financial documentation in order and respond to lender inquiries as fast as possible for the best shot at approval.
