Bankruptcy Mortgage Refinancing

Most homeowners assume the door marked "Mortgage" is boarded shut for them after a bankruptcy. Refinancing is actually a financial necessity on the road to rebuilding your credit. Here is what you need to know about refinancing your mortgage after bankruptcy.

The mortgage industry is extremely competitive; this means there are opportunities available to you that did not exist ten years ago. Having a recent bankruptcy no longer prevents you from refinancing your mortgage; however, the amount you pay depends on how savvy a shopper you are. Online search makes it easy to compare loan offers from a variety of different lenders.

As soon as your bankruptcy is finalized apply for a credit card. You might think this is contrary to a lot of the advice your read regarding bankruptcy; however, it is crucial to establish a history of on time payments with a creditor as soon as possible after bankruptcy. This history of on time payments will help build your credit score. Being on time and maintaining a low balance on this credit card is the first step to rebuilding your credit.

Because you can expect to pay a higher interest rate when mortgage refinancing after bankruptcy, it is important to avoid paying any retail markup of this loan. Mortgage companies routinely markup the interest rate you qualify to boost their revenues. This markup by the retail mortgage company is called Yield Spread Premium and results in paying thousands of dollars in unnecessary interest each year.

Mortgage brokers can be an excellent resource for homeowners with a recent bankruptcy. Be careful with mortgage brokers, you have to watch them like a hawk as they are just like used car salesman when it comes to overcharging for their services. Mortgage brokers routinely mark up your interest rate to boost their profits at your expense.