Texas Hard Money Lender: How to Qualify for Texas Home Loans with Bad Credit

Subprime mortgages in Texas have been considered a predatory lending practice by many law makers. The facts show otherwise as Arizona home loans with bad credit programs have typically been used by investors as a money making strategy, not by people who have been taken advantage of by banks.)

A subprime mortgage is a lending practice that can benefit borrowers with low credit scores. Typically, subprime mortgages are given to borrowers with a less than stellar credit history or to borrowers with other financial factors that make them too much a liability for a traditional loan. Based on these factors, the borrowers would not qualify for a traditional mortgage so banks give them a subprime loan with a higher than average interest rate. Because subprime borrowers represent a higher risk for the lender, most lenders charge a higher than prime interest rate.

The most common type of subprime mortgages that are offered are adjustable rate mortgages or ARMs. An adjustable rate mortgage initially offers a very low interest rate, usually below the prime rate offered by a traditional loan. For an informed investor who intends to fix and flip or only own a home for a short period of time, an adjustable rate mortgage can be a great investment tool. However, an ARM is somewhat misleading to uninformed borrowers as it initially charges a lower interest rate. After the ARM period the rate adjusts to a significantly higher rate and higher monthly payment. These types of mortgages were given out frequently by banks to un-creditworthy buyers in 2005 and 2006. Once the loan reset to the higher interest rate, many borrowers were unable to afford their new monthly payments and defaulted on their home loans. ARM were largely responsible for the increase of subprime mortgage foreclosure increases in the mid-2000s.

In addition to ARMs, many private equity firms and hedge funds also give subprime loans. Interest rates are usually higher for these loans because the borrowers represent a higher credit risk to the lender. Although there have been some predatory lenders, the majority of these firms want to help create a win-win situation. Investors make money and borrowers are able to purchase homes.

In response to the foreclosure crisis, may law makers want to eliminate Texas home loans with bad credit programs entirely. They cite these types of loans as being predatory lending practices as the interest rates can reach as high as 9% when a traditional loan hovers around 4%. They also claim that these loans are disproportionately given to people who make less than the median level of income and there is also fear that subprime mortgages could hurt minorities or young people.

The Truth About Subprime Home Loan Texas

As stated above, there is concern among law makers that Texas home loans with bad credit are designed by banks to gain the most money from groups who have the least. The foreclosures of the mid-2000s helped fuel this fire. Politicians and loan reform groups make a variety of claims about the unsavory nature of subprime lending in Arizona, however, many of these claims have been proven inaccurate when the numbers are examined.

The first claim by politicians looking to discredit subprime lending in Texas is that it would unfairly discriminate against low income borrowers. This claim is categorically false. In fact, most subprime borrowers in Texas are above the median income line. Most subprime mortgages tend to be second mortgages that are purchased as investment properties. Subprime borrowers also tend to own fewer low value homes than traditional mortgage holders.

A second claim against sub prime mortgages Texas is that subprime loans are unfairly given out to borrowers who are young without a substantial credit history. Subprime mortgages are not given out to mostly young borrowers. In fact, the average age of a borrower for a subprime mortgage was between 35 and 55 years of age. This indicates that subprime mortgages are not being used to penalize borrowers with insufficient credit history due to age.

Finally, another criticism is that minority borrower will be discriminated against and only offered high interest loans. A demographic study indicates that this is untrue. By analyzing zip codes and demographics, it was concluded that subprime mortgages are not more common in zip codes with a Hispanic population concentration.

Subprime mortgages are not being used by banks to unfairly discriminate against borrowers, rather than are a valuable tool for borrowers with low credit scores or as a means to purchase an investment property.

Since subprime mortgages often charge higher interest rates, they have unfortunately been lumped into the same category as title or payday loans. Some politicians see them as predatory practices without having all the facts. Texas home loans with bad credit programs and loans are not a predatory lending practice by banks. Rather they are a tool that can be used for borrowers that would otherwise not qualify for a mortgage. Whether you are purchasing a second home as investment, or buying a home for your family to live in, don’t let a low credit score determine your fate. Contact a local mortgage broker to determine your options and see if a subprime loan is a good option for you.