The days of the bad credit home loan are over. Even though demand for this type of loan has increased, there are fewer lenders that are willing to make home loans to borrowers with bad credit or poor credit. It used to be fairly simple to get a subprime mortgage with a credit score below 620, but today approval is not so automatic. However, there are specialty lenders who will still approve mortgages to home buyers given the right circumstances. If you can show that credit problems are in the past, and that you have the ability to repay the loan, then it may still be possible to get approved for a bad credit mortgage.
In fact, bad credit mortgages can be a good way to reestablish credit if payments can be made regularly and on time. If you have bad credit or poor credit, it is best to find a specialty lender that is familiar with resources to help you establish a firmer financial footing. Do not be taken in by companies that promise to fix your bad credit and want to charge you high fees for their services. Competent credit counseling is available for very little, or even for free. Any specialty lenders worth their salt will send potential home buyers with bad or poor credit to such a counselor. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) maintains a list of approved counselors that can help you to find specialty lenders, and give you sound advice for maintaining your credit.
It will be worth your time and effort to first try and improve your credit score before seeking a home loan. Even if you can find a bad credit loan you will likely have to pay higher interest, and you will be limited in the amount of the loan you will be approved for. By bringing your credit score up first you will have more lenders to choose from, it will be easier for you to get approved for the amount and type of loan you need, and you will not have to pay as much in fees and interest. The best first step is to find a competent counselor to help you learn what you need to do to maintain your credit, and help you find the resources you need to purchase the home you want.