Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Can we get a home loan post bankruptcy?

QUESTION: My husband and I are trying to prequalify for a home loan. He was married once before and filed for bankruptcy; this was over eight years ago, but it still shows up. We have also paid off a lot of old debt, but it still appears on our credit report as not paid. What can we do to set the record straight? ANSWER: It's time that you and your mate took active steps to clean up your credit file so it correctly shows the bills you've paid off. If you haven't already done so, complete the "request for reinvestigation" form that's included with your credit report, or write a letter to the credit bureau listing and requesting removal or reinvestigation of the incorrect and old information. If the bureau doesn't respond within 30 days, send a follow-up letter requesting that they remove the disputed information. If the bureau claims the information is accurate, contact the creditors directly. If the creditor agrees that the bills are paid off, get it in writing. Then, send this letter to the credit bureau. Or, provide the name and phone number of the creditor to the bureau so it can call and verify the information. If the creditor won't assist you, call the credit bureau customer service number and ask for help. Once your file is current, try again to prequalify for a mortgage. Because you're dealing with a number of complications, it would probably be best for you to work with a mortgage broker. You should be able to find a mortgage for which you can qualify, but don't bank on finding the best terms -- you may need to make a 20% to 25% down payment, pay high points, pay higher than average interest, or even get a cosigner.

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