With so much talk in the news about the ‘credit crisis’ and the mortgage meltdown, I understandably am asked frequently, “How can anyone qualify for a loan nowadays?” And, most folks asking would like to buy a home, but just figure that they cannot qualify.
So, let’s look at what it takes to qualify for a home today. It’s not as daunting as you would think. Oh, and in this case I am going to focus on FHA loans. Much of the same applies to other mortgage types, with some differences. You will need:
- A minimum 620 credit score. That is your middle credit score, ignoring both the high and the low scores. Hint: If you don’t have a 620 currently, raising a credit score is often very quick and painless.
- No unpaid Judgments. Generally, those need to be paid.
- A relatively clean credit history for the past 12 months. Few or no late payments, and no collections. The most common exception to that rule involves medical collections.
- Chapter 7 bankruptcies must be discharged for 2 years, with some very difficult to qualify for exceptions.
- Chapter 13 bankruptcies must have been paid on for at least 1 year, and you will need court approval to buy a home.
- And, three years past a foreclosure.
So, as you can see, it is fairly easy to qualify for an Atlanta FHA loan. Oh, and you will need to come up with a 3.5% down payment. And, there are creative way to come up with a down payment. If negotiated, the sellers can pay all of your normal closing costs.
Oh, and the maximum loan limit for metro Atlanta is still $346,250.
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