Subprime Mortgages

When a lender considers you for a home loan, your FICO score, loan-to-value ratio and many other factors are taken into consideration. When a low credit score is combined with a low down payment (which means a high loan-to-value ratio), the result is what is known as a subprime loan. Subprime mortgages are riskier to lenders, so they have higher interest rates.

Before the recession, borrowers could obtain subprime mortgages easily, even with a FICO credit score as low as 580 with 100 financing. Today, it is harder to qualify for a subprime loan, but not impossible. As the economy has improved lenders have slowly made subprime home loans more accessible, and lowered the minimum credit score required to around 620 to 640.

What to keep in mind before getting a subprime loan:

• You are not required to get a subprime mortgage just because you have been offered a subprime loan. You may actually qualify for an FHA loan with a lower rate.
• A subprime loan may be a good choice temporarily if you can refinance down the road after you improve your credit score.
• A subprime loan may have a prepayment penalty. This will make it costly to refinance later.

Subprime Lenders

Subprime lenders are learning that many consumers who have gone through a rough time, including foreclosure or bankruptcy, were once responsible homeowners and good credit risks. More lenders are now offering home loans with better terms to these consumers who are trying to recover from credit problems.