Bad credit mortgages can be a great way to get on the property ladder for those with less stellar credit histories.
Here are the best bad credit mortgage deals in Canada. approvU has partnered with the best specialty mortgage lenders with mortgages exclusively for borrowers with bad credit history. Also, approvU allows you to personalize your mortgage the way you want, even with your bad credit situation. Try approvU today to instantly qualify.
Best Bad Credit Mortgage Deals In Canada
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A bad credit mortgage is a loan granted to those who have a low credit score or no score at all. Since the risk is higher for the lender, they will charge more interest and application fees than traditional loans. Bad credit mortgages can be challenging to qualify for and may require large down payments or co-signers.
As explained above, the foundation of a bad credit mortgage is a credit record. Your credit record or credit report is a detailed record of your credit history maintained by credit reporting agencies like Equifax and TransUnion. It includes information on your current and past borrowing and repayment patterns and public records such as bankruptcy filings and unpaid debts.
Your credit report tells mortgage lenders how creditworthy you are. There are B-Lender, alternative or subprime lenders specializing in bad credit mortgage solutions.
Let’s review the following individual guides to understand preparing, qualifying better, and applying for a bad credit mortgage.
What Is A Credit Score?
Before diving into a bad credit mortgage, we should break down credit scores. Your credit score is a three-digit number that lenders use to determine your creditworthiness for a loan.
It summarizes your history as a borrower and indicates how responsible you’ve been with credit in the past. So, if you regularly pay bills late and are carrying a mountain of debt (among other things), your score will reflect this.
If you have a high score, you’re generally more likely to be able to secure better mortgage rates from lenders.
What Is Considered Bad Credit For A Mortgage Lender?
Your credit score exists on a scale between 300 and 900 in Canada. While there’s some variance based on which credit scoring model we’re looking at, your score can generally be classified as follows:
760-900: Excellent
725-759: Very good
620-724: Good
560-619: Average
500-559: Fair
Below 500: Poor
Depending on where you fall on this scale, you’ll have access to specific mortgage loan options from different lenders at different rates.
It all depends on what your financial situation is and what your needs are.
Regarding mortgages, your credit score will significantly impact what’s available to you. Let’s take a look at what your score means when it comes to your mortgage qualification:
600-900: At this range, you should be able to get a mortgage with a prime lender, like a major bank. This might be a little harder with a score in the low 600s, but it could still be possible depending on certain other factors.
500-600: At this range, you’re more likely to find a mortgage with a bad credit mortgage lender with higher rates than you’d see with a bank.
Remember that the specifics here will depend on the lender you’re applying for a loan with and all sorts of variables surrounding your situation.
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Getting approved for a prime mortgage loan with credit scores of 600 and below is impossible. Compared to a bad credit mortgage, prime mortgage loans are meant for individuals with credit scores of 600 and above. These products come with low mortgage rates, low down payment requirements, and low closing costs.
With a bad credit score, you may want to consider turning to bad credit mortgage lenders. These are lenders that specifically cater to people with poor credit.
While a bad credit mortgage means you still have a chance of buying a house with a mortgage loan from alternative mortgage lenders, this type of mortgage will come with significantly higher rates than one you’d get from a major bank.
You must always make sure you can afford to pay it back before applying for a bad credit mortgage.
How Do I Check My Credit Score In Canada For Free?
After all this talk of credit scores, you might be wondering, “How do I even check my credit score in the first place?” Well, there are a few ways to get this information. For starters, you can go right to the source and get your score by buying it from one of the major credit bureaus – TransUnion or Equifax.
You can also go online to sites like Credit Karma, Borrowell, and Nerdwallet to find your score for free in exchange for joining their mailing list.
Because of your credit score’s importance to the borrowing process, you must know what it is before applying for a mortgage.
Approach Bad Credit Mortgages with Caution
If you’re looking to find a mortgage despite your poor credit history, it’s possible.
But before looking for the right mortgage lender, consider the cost implications carefully. A lower score on your end means that you’ll be paying a lot more interest than you would be with a strong credit score.
If you’re eager to buy a house and know you can afford to pay higher rates, then a bad credit mortgage may be a good option for you.
But you might also want to consider spending time understanding how you got here. Go over your finances, review your budget, implement healthy financial habits, and do what needs to be done to raise your credit score. Paying off a mortgage is a long road to go down, so you’ll want to ensure you’re set up for success!