What Should You Do When Applying For A Loan After A Bankruptcy Discharge
Remember, the longer you wait to apply for new credit following your bankruptcy, the better because it gives you time to repair your finances and credit. Here are a few other things you should do before applying for a loan after a bankruptcy discharge:
- Improve Your Payment History Although it can take a lot of time and effort, reestablishing a good credit history should be a top priority. You can do so by making as many timely payments as you can using one of the products above.
- Monitor Your Credit Report Get a free yearly copy of your credit report from Equifax and TransUnion. This way, you can monitor your progress and check both copies for errors or signs of identity fraud .
- Save and Budget Reduce your unnecessary expenses and tally up your important ones so that you dont make the same mistakes twice. Also, be sure to build an emergency fund to cover any payments that your income cant support.
- Compare Loan Offers Dont apply with the first lender that claims to approve recently bankrupt borrowers. Compare interest rates, fees and payment terms so you end up with a loan that will truly benefit your finances.
- Be Patient Bankruptcy comes with hefty financial consequences that can be hard to recover from. However, if you cant afford to take on another high-interest debt, its probably safer to wait until your bank account and credit have improved.
Know That Not All Cards Are Created Equal
After a bankruptcy, you may be inclined to use a debit card so you don’t rack up any new debt. But Duguay emphasizes that, because activity on debit cards is not reported to the credit bureaus, responsible use wont help you rebuild your credit.
Cunningham recommends a retail or gas credit card, as these options are often the easiest to obtain.
You may also consider a secured credit card, which is a type of credit card that typically requires a cash deposit to open the account. Your deposit will often equal your credit limit, and the issuer holds your deposit as collateral. Your secured card activity is then regularly reported to the credit bureaus, so when you use a secured card responsibly, you can begin to rebuild a positive credit history. It is important to note that some issuers may require that a certain amount of time to have passed since a bankruptcy before they will extend credit.
About Bankruptcy Canada Trustee
Bankruptcy Canada is a free service provided by bankruptcy trustees in Canada to explain how bankruptcy works, how you can avoid bankruptcy, and helps you decide whether bankruptcy is the right option for you and your family.
My bankruptcy was discharged April 2010. I have a credit card and some investments and my bank wont lend me a cent.I dont know where to go to get a loan that I can trust.
The note about your bankruptcy will appear on your Equifax credit report for six years after the date of discharge, so in your case the note will be there until April 2017, so it will be more difficult to borrow than if you had never declared bankruptcy. If your bank will not lend you money, you could explore other options, such as another bank or a credit union. However, every time you are turned down for a loan your credit score is harmed, so it is dangerous to apply for loans at too many banks. It may be prudent to ask the bank specifically why they turned you down for the loan. Was it simply because of the bankruptcy, or was it due to your income or other factors? If you know what the issue is, you may be able to take steps to correct the issue.
A better option may be to work on rebuilding your credit by taking the steps mentioned in the article above, including saving money, and perhaps getting a secured credit card. Often starting with a smaller loan is a prudent strategy to begin to rebuild your credit.
Recommended Reading: What Does Bankruptcy Discharge Papers Look Like
Fannie Freddie And Ginnie
Most conventional loans in the United States are owned by or insured by the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae. These backers have similar loan eligibility requirements for borrowers who have filed bankruptcy cases. These are guidelines. Your mortgage lender or mortgage broker can help you with the specifics.
In addition to a waiting period, these organizations require that borrowers demonstrate they have re-established credit after the bankruptcy.
Chapter 7: The waiting period is 4 years, or 2 years with extenuating circumstances . An example of extenuating circumstances would be a layoff and extended unemployment, or medical issues.
Chapter 13: The waiting period is 2 years from discharge and 4 years from dismissal, or 2 years from dismissal with extenuating circumstances.
If you have more than one filing within the past 7 years, the waiting period is 5 years from the most recent discharge or 3 years with extenuating circumstances.
Should You Pay With Cash Or Credit For A Car After Bankruptcy
Assuming youre able, paying with cash is almost certain to be cheaper even if you have a good credit rating, which you certainly do not soon after a bankruptcy. With your old debts discharged, saving the money you would have paid on those old loans and credit cards might allow you to put together enough money to get a car without borrowing again.
Financing a car after bankruptcy will be more difficult, but its still possible.
Don’t Miss: Epiq Bankruptcy
How To Improve Your Chances
To get approved for a mortgage after bankruptcy, you need to demonstrate to lenders that you can manage your finances responsibly.
That will require establishing good credit habits and ensuring that youre not overutilizing credit, says Puricelli.
To rebuild your credit more quickly, follow these tips provided by Graham:
- Pay all your bills on time and in full
- Check your credit score and three free credit reports often and dispute anything inaccurate
- Dont take on unsecured debt, like personal loans or credit cards, which will most likely come with high interest rates
- Get a secure line of credit or loan that is backed with a deposit you pay beforehand
Having a friend or relative cosign on new credit lines can also help you qualify more easily and start building new credit.
But this strategy comes with a lot of risk, because the cosigner is agreeing to take over your new debts if you cant pay them. And if the loan goes bad, their credit will take a hit, too.
How Soon Will My Credit Score Recover After Filing For Bankruptcy
This depends on the steps you take following bankruptcy. If youre careful to maintain good credit habits such as paying all of your bills on time and keeping your debt balances as low as possible you could see an improvement in your credit score in the 12 to 18 months after you filed for bankruptcy.
Tip:
For example, take it slow to apply for new credit so you can manage your balances without straining your budget.
If you decide to take out a personal loan after bankruptcy, remember to consider as many lenders as possible to find the right loan for you. Credible makes this easy you can compare your prequalified rates from multiple lenders in two minutes.
Ready to find your personal loan?Credible makes it easy to find the right loan for you.
- Free to use, no hidden fees
- One simple form, easy to fill out and your info is protected
- More options, pick the loan option that best fits your personal needs
- Here for you. Our team is here to help you reach your financial goals
You May Like: How Much Does It Cost To File Bankruptcy In Ky
How Bankruptcy Can Affect Your Ability To Get A Mortgage
Bankruptcy can significantly lower your credit scores, remain on your credit reports and affect your ability to obtain credit, including a mortgage loan, for up to 10 years. Fortunately, its impact lessens over time.
For a lender to even consider you for a mortgage after bankruptcy, your bankruptcy must be discharged. A bankruptcy discharge is a court order that eliminates your debts. In addition to making sure your bankruptcy has been discharged, a lender will look at your credit report to determine your creditworthiness.
It’s a good idea to check your credit report before you apply for a home loan to make sure it’s accurate. Look for mistakes such as incorrect or outdated information or accounts that were not included in your bankruptcy filing that are listed as part of it. Be sure to contact the credit agency as soon as possible and dispute any errors you find.
When you do begin to apply for a mortgage after bankruptcy, your lender will likely ask you a few questions about your bankruptcy. They may ask you when your case was discharged, what you’ve done to establish new credit, and how you’ve been keeping up with your bills. It’s a good idea to have the answers to these questions ready beforehand so that the application process runs smoothly.
Let’s dive deeper into how each type of bankruptcy can affect your ability to get approved for a mortgage.
How Does Bankruptcy Impact My Credit
Bankruptcy will inevitably have a negative affect on your credit score, but you are likely to see your credit score drop before then, especially if you are in debt and unable to keep making monthly payments.
After you have been declared bankrupt your credit score will usually reflect this, so be prepared to have a bad or very poor credit score. This will make it much more difficult for you to be accepted for any sort of credit, especially for any amounts over £500 where you will have to declare your bankruptcy.
You May Like: Dave Ramsey How Much To Spend On Engagement Ring
Impact Of Foreclosure On Waiting Periods
All of the above waiting periods can be impacted, and potentially increased, if your bankruptcy included a foreclosure. In that case, the FHA loansâ waiting period increases to 3 years and conventional loans increases to 7 years. Both VA and USDA loans remain the same, at 2 and 3 years, respectively. Proving extenuating circumstances can reduce the waiting period.
Check Your Credit Report
Lenders look at your credit reporta detailed report of your credit historyto determine your creditworthiness. Although bankruptcy filings can remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, it doesnt mean you have to wait 10 years to get a mortgage.
You can speed up the process by making sure your credit report is accurate and up to date. Its free to check: Every year, you are entitled to one free credit report from each of the big three Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
A good strategy is to stagger your requests, so you get a credit report every four months . That way you can monitor your credit report throughout the year. One of the best credit monitoring services could also be useful in this endeavor.
On your credit report, be sure to watch for debts that have already been repaid or discharged. By law a creditor cannot report any debt discharged in bankruptcy as being currently owed, late, outstanding, having a balance due, or converted as some new type of debt . If something like this appears on your credit report, contact the credit agency right away to dispute the mistake and have it corrected.
Other mistakes to look for:
- Information that is not yours due to similar names/addresses or mistaken Social Security numbers
- Incorrect account information due to identity theft
- Information from a former spouse
- Outdated information
- Wrong notations for closed accounts
- Accounts not included in your bankruptcy filing listed as part of it
Don’t Miss: Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions Llc Scam
Can You Get A Loan After Bankruptcy
Getting approval for a loan requires a lot of research, documentation, and decent credit history. Add bankruptcy to the mix, and finding approval for a loan becomes even more difficult, as you will have a harder time qualifying. Experts recommend that you wait to build back your credit after bankruptcy before applying for a loan. Failure to wait can result in higher interest rates and overall unattractive loan terms. Banks will be unlikely to lend to you, but you may have some luck with private lenders, who may accept you as a risky client in exchange for skyrocketed interest rates.
How Long Does Bankruptcy Last In Australia
Bankruptcy lasts for three years, however differs slightly if you voluntarily apply for bankruptcy, or if a creditor applies to make you bankrupt.
If you voluntarily apply for bankruptcy, it will end three years and one day from the date the AFSA accepts your application. If a creditor has applied to the courts to have you declared bankrupt, it will end three years and one day from the date the AFSA receives your statement of affairs.
After this time has passed, you will be discharged from bankruptcy.
Don’t Miss: Can You Get An Apartment After Filing Bankruptcy
Correct Your Credit Reports
When you are applying for a post-bankruptcy loan, theres a lot of administrative work to be done.
First things first, youll need to make sure that your credit report going forward is fully accurate. Be sure to check with all three credit bureaus to ensure your reports are accurate and up-to-date.
If your credit report does not reflect a discharged bankruptcy, youll need to contact each of the three bureaus and send them a notice before you can attempt to open a new line of credit.
The history of your bankruptcy will remain on your reports for up to a decade, but its still important to show that its been discharged as soon as possible. Financial institutions often dont want to lend to those they believe are still struggling with insolvency.
Can You Get Unsecured Loans After Bankruptcy
It is technically possible to get unsecured loans after bankruptcy, but you usually have to wait a bit for your bankruptcy to age and your credit score to improve before you can get approved for a loan with reasonable terms. There may be lenders willing to give you loans almost immediately if youre willing to pay high interest rates and fees. However, this could easily send you back on the road to bankruptcy.
- After completing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your debts will be wiped so you wont have any debt payments to make. This could free up enough money in your monthly budget to allow you to take out a small loan.
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy restructures your debt into a manageable form which you will need to work to repay, over three to five years in most cases. Chapter 13 bankruptcy means you may not have any available income to dedicate toward a new loan until the bankruptcy payments are completed.
Either way, the key to getting an unsecured loan after bankruptcy is repairing your credit score and showing you can make on-time payments after the bankruptcy. While you may be able to get an unsecured personal loan immediately with a reasonable credit score, you will likely need to improve your credit score a bit before applying for an unsecured loan if youve recently been through the bankruptcy process. And in most cases, you will need to wait until the bankruptcy is discharged by the court.
Recommended Reading: How Long After Chapter 13 Can I Buy A Car
Finding Personal Loans After Bankruptcy
To get bad credit personal loans after bankruptcy, youll need to find a bankruptcy-friendly lender who is willing to work with you. There are many lenders who are known for working with borrowers whose credit scores are damaged following bankruptcy. A few online lending companies that may be willing to work with borrowers with fair credit include:
You can check out loans from banks and credit unions, too. Credit unions could be a good choice because they tend to have lower rates than traditional banks.
When applying for a personal loan after bankruptcy, its a good idea to evaluate the overall cost of the loan with the interest and fees to make sure its affordable over the full term and that its reasonable, considering what youll use it for. High interest rates are par for the course so be prepared for rates you may not have faced pre-bankruptcy.
Gaining Perspective On Debt
While there are consumers who go through bankruptcy and seem to learn little, there are others who do gain perspective on their financial problems. Some may learn how to budget better or even get professional advice on avoiding financial problems in the future. These steps mean that people who have declared bankruptcy often become more responsible, a win-win for the borrower and lender.
If youve recently been discharged from bankruptcy and are looking to apply for a loan, Loans Canada can match you with a lender who can help you.
Also Check: How To File Bankruptcy For Free In Ohio
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Reaffirmation Agreement
Homeowners who go through bankruptcy may want to try and keep their homes through a process known as “reaffirmation.”
A reaffirmation of debt after Chapter 7 bankruptcy means you will continue to be legally responsible for your mortgage payment. Talk with an attorney about reaffirmation and its implications for your financial situation before making a final decision.
With a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, homeowners who do not reaffirm will see their legal and financial responsibility for the mortgage end with the discharge. But there’s still a lien on the property, and it can take months or years for lenders to foreclose. Some prospective borrowers can continue living in the home after the bankruptcy discharge.
In cases like these, some lenders may require a Verification of Rent to verify borrowers have continued to make timely mortgage payments. Guidelines and policies on this can vary by lender.