538 Credit Score Mortgage

Options for getting a mortgage loan with 538 Credit score

With 538 credit score, you have several options for a mortgage. Purchase or refinance through FHA or financing by private money lenders, aka hard money lenders. To obtain a HUD FHA loan, you must have at least 10% down and compensating factors such as low DTI (Debt to Income ratio), stable income, and reserves.

FHA, Fannie-Freddie, VA, USDA and Subprime, Non-QM loans

With poor credit of 538 you are not eligible for Conventional (Fannie- Freddie) loans, Va, or USDA. To find out if you are qualified for an FHA loan, explore https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing . You may be able to get a Subprime loan with LTV under 65%. Find out wht loan you qualify for with our FHA /Subprime eligibility calculator If your credit score is 580 or higher, you may need only a 3.5% down payment.


538 credit score mortgage

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Private money lenders for credit score 538

Despite having a low credit score, Private investors will refinance your mortgage as long as you have enough equity in the property or you put in a large down payment.

Owner-Occupied Residential FHA Owner-Occupied Residential Hard Money Non-Owner-Occupied Residential Commercial Vacant Land
Max Loan to Value 90$ 60.81$ 60.91$ 62.46% 50.56%
Programs FHA Hard Money Hard Money Hard Money Hard Money
Vesting Natural name Natural, Corporation, LLC Natural, Corporation, LLC Natural, Corporation, LLC Natural, Corporation, LLC
Tax Returns 2 years tax- Must documents showing ATR Alt documents or equity-only loans Alt documents or equity-only loans Alt documents or equity-only loans
Points 3.03 3.04 3.77 3.52 3.83
Rate 7.36% 11.27% 12.16% 11.67% 13.36%
Loan terms 30 years or 15 years 1—5 years 1—5 years 1-7 years 1-3 years
Property Condition Good condition Any Any include Fixer-Upper Any Unentitled land reduce LTV to 29.23

The Rates & Terms depend on the Loan-to-Value, credit, property location, condition, and local real estate market condition. Unlike the FHA loan, which has standard underwriting, private money loan programs differ significantly between lenders. It behooves you to contact and get quotes from at least three lenders before you make a decision. See a list of potential hard money lenders or use the Lendersa form to shop for your loan simultaneously with hundreds of private money lenders.

How mortgage brokers rip you off

538 is a low score; unfortunately, a small percentage of mortgage brokers could take advantage of your credit disadvantage by trying to charge you an arm and a leg. Therefore, it would be best if you compared 3-10 lenders' programs before deciding on the best lender, thus avoiding mortgage brokers' rip-offs and loan sharks.

Improve your credit score for mortgage

Credit scores of 625 or above will open the door for more loan programs and better rates & terms. If you are not rushing to refinance or purchase a property, consider raising your credit score before attempting a loan review. Check our recommended resources to improve your credit at the bottom of the page Improving your credit score will enhance your chances for better loans. Understanding how credit scores work is the first step to raising your credit.

Here are a few links to resources that could raise your credit score: https://www.usa.gov/credit-reports https://www.fanniemae.com/crediteducation https://myhome.freddiemac.com/refinancing


List of lenders who consider lending to borrowers with 538 credit:

  • Valley Bank of Helena
  • 3030 North Montana Ave., Helena, MT, 59601
  • Valley Bank proudly serves the Helena Valley and surrounding areas, helping businesses and individuals achieve their financial goals every day. We are a division of Glacier Bank, which is owned by Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (GBCI), a regional bank holding company headquartered in Kalispell, Montana.
  • East Coast Financial Corp.
  • 1460 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk, MA, 02771
  • "Our company motto, ""One Family Helping Another"", signifies the importance of treating all clients as if they were family. We realize the process of financing real estate can be difficult at times which is why we make it our primary goal to deliver superior service in an effort to make your experience more pleasurable than you may have expected.
  • ERATE®
  • 4701 Patrick Henry Drive, Building 16, Suite 100, Santa Clara, CA, 95054
  • ERATE® is a nationwide publisher of financial and interest rate information specifically targeted for use by the consumer. ERATE began as a prime-only mortgage brokerage and transitioned into a consumer resource site with the primary goal of helping consumers educate and protect themselves.
  • The Hutson Company
  • 1244 Main Street, Gardendale, AL, 35071
  • The Hutson Company is a mortgage loan company that serves the entire state of Alabama. We specialize in brokering purchase mortgage loans for new and existing homes and also in refinancing existing mortgages. The Hutson Company has been in business for over 30 years. The Hutson Company does all types of mortgage loans including FHA, VA, USDA
  • FitzGerald Financial Group
  • 600 Jefferson Plz, Rockville, MD, 20852
  • FitzGerald Financial Group is your hometown mortgage company. As a division of TowneBank, we uphold the principles and philosophies that have been established by our hometown traditions. FitzGerald Financial Group is dedicated to providing the personal experience that you expect from a hometown lender with the most advanced technology available to
  • Bank of Ann Arbor
  • 125 S. Fifth Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104
  • Bank of Ann Arbor is a locally owned and operated bank with total assets and assets under management of over $2 billion, serving people and businesses throughout Washtenaw County and Plymouth. Bank of Ann Arbor is a community bank headquartered in downtown Ann Arbor with 8 locations throughout Southeast Michigan.
  • Watkins Mortgage
  • 549 E. Sandy Lake Rd, Suite 200, Coppell, TX, 75019
  • Watkins Mortgage we strive to differentiate ourselves from other mortgage companies by putting the needs of the borrowers first. To use our experience and vast knowledge to advise our clients while listening to their needs. To remind ourselves that owning a home is liberating and encouraging to everyone.
  • Carolina Country Mortgage
  • 1540 E Front Street, Suite 10, Clayton, NC, 27527
  • We know that each customer has specific needs, so we strive to meet those needs with a wide array of products, investment tools, mortgages and best of all quality service and individual attention. Our team of professionals has over 100 years of lending experience with some of the biggest banks in the country.
  • RABASA Inc.
  • 780 Callecita Aquila Sur, Chula Vista, CA, 91911
  • Basa Realty and Mortgage is a full service real estate office & mortgage broker, providing convenience & service others can't offer.Communicate with other agents, buyers & sellers, mortgage officers, title personnel involved in the home buyer & selling process.Helping customers make sound decisions on selling their homes, purchasing or refinancing.