So you’ve decided that you want to become fully independent, and live in your own home. There’s just one problem: you have poor credit. This can dampen your ability to get a reasonable mortgage deal, or any mortgage deal at all. It’s helpful to consider your priorities, and see if it might be advisable to rent a home instead of taking out a loan to buy one. It’s a personal decision, depending on many factors, but here are some of the relevant points to consider.
The first thing you want to do is find out the value of your credit score. This is generally reported using the “FICO” method. If you’ve had any credit accounts in the past, it will record information about the length of time you’ve used them, and how good you were at making payments on any loans that you took out. There are three major credit bureaus in the U.S. where you can find this report. If your credit score is below 620, you will not be able to get a good interest rate on a mortgage.
When you’re considering buying a house, there are a number of extra fees that need to be paid as well. There are closing costs, underwriting costs, and title insurance fees. Once you own the house, property taxes and homeowners insurance are necessary expenses. If you were to rent an apartment, property taxes and insurance on the building are covered in your rent, and there are few “extra” costs when you first move in.
When you buy a home, you’re also sacrificing some freedoms and flexibility. Homes require maintenance and repairs on a regular basis. It’s necessary to fix the leaking roof and broken toilet, and the grass needs to get cut. In an apartment or condominium, the landlord covers all the required home maintenance, and recreational facilities are often provided.
In terms of home payments, rent can be considerably cheaper compared to subprime mortgage payments. Although there is a chance that rent prices will rise, variable rate mortgages can do the same. Also, property taxes and maintenance costs are unpredictable. In general, if your mortgage payment is three times that of your expected rent, it is not advisable to buy. If you were to rent and put the extra money in a savings account, it would be more financially prudent.
Some people consider buying a home to be an investment. They expect that a house’s value will increase over time, and eventually bring in more money in the future. However, real estate prices are not always guaranteed to increase, as can be in seen in the aftermath of the subprime mortgage crisis.
If you decide to move, it can be expensive and time-consuming when you own your home. It can take months to find someone willing to buy your home. Real estate agent commissions and moving costs can get up to ten percent of your home’s value. Renting a home or apartment allows you to move around without the cost involved in selling an old home and buying a new one. If your career demands that you move around a lot, renting makes everything easier.
If you’re concerned about a lack of privacy or lack of ability to keep certain pets, renting a house instead of an apartment can offer a solution. A typical apartment community will have restrictions on the number or type of pets that you can keep. You are also much closer to your neighbors, so there is a greater potential for disturbance. Renting a detached house will eliminate these worries; you receive the benefits of renting, while avoiding some of the downsides of apartments.
When you have bad credit, it can be more difficult to get a mortgage. Likewise, it can also be harder to rent a home. There are a few things you can do to encourage landlords to accept your application. If you get a copy of your credit report, you can see exactly what caused the poor credit, and provide an explanation for each problem. Landlords may be more willing to rent to you if they understand your credit history. You may also encourage them by offering a larger initial deposit or agreeing to pay more for your rent. Finding a co-signer for your lease will also decrease risk for the landlord, and make it easier to rent. Whatever you do, don’t lie about your credit. Landlords are able to obtain credit records easily.
Despite what others may say, not everyone can or should buy a home. If you’re having financial difficulty or currently have bad credit, it can be wise to consider renting as an alternative. Think about all of your options, and choose the one that fits best with your priorities and long-term goals. You can rent until you feel secure enough in your finances to become a homeowner.