When can you apply for a home loan after bankruptcy?
- Discharged bankrupt: You can borrow up to 90% of the purchase price of a property but you’ll need 14% to 16% of the purchase price to cover your deposit, stamp duty and Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
- Undischarged bankrupt: We can’t assist you with a home loan if you’re currently bankrupt but a specialist financier may be able to assist you.
Please fill in our online assessment form or give us a call on 1300 889 743 and one of our mortgage brokers can let you know what your options are.
Will I get a discounted interest rate?
In most cases, you’ll pay a higher interest rate for your loan.
However, we’ve made an agreement with some of our lenders to obtain normal home loan interest rates for customers who are now in a good financial position.
Discounted rates may be available if:
- Your loan is for no more than 80% of the property value.
- You can provide evidence that you now pay your bills on time, e.g. a rental history.
- You can provide evidence that the bankruptcy was a one-off event that wasn’t your fault.
- You’ve been discharged for a particular period of time, e.g. one year.
We can’t guarantee that we can get you normal bank interest rates. Every application is assessed on its merits. Please call us on 1300 889 743 to discuss your situation.
Are low doc loans available?
Yes, it’s possible for discharged bankrupts to qualify for a low doc loan.
You must meet standard low doc criteria; provide limited income evidence in the form of BAS, an accountants letter or business bank statements and have a reasonable explanation for your past credit history.
Can I refinance my current home loan?
Most people lose their properties when they declare themselves bankrupt.
A few people manage to keep their homes or have purchased a home since being discharged.
You can refinance to a new lender if you have an excellent repayment history on your current home loan.
Lenders ask for statements to prove that your last 6 to 12 months repayments have been on time.
What is discharged bankruptcy?
The term ‘discharged’ is purely an automatic process of the law which releases the bankrupt from bankruptcy.
What does this mean in plain English?
When you’re discharged from bankruptcy, you’re no longer bankrupt and no longer required to have limited assets and no overseas travel.
However, the bankrupt estate continues and the now ex-bankrupt still has an obligation to cooperate with the trustee.
From a finance point of view it means that you’re now able to apply for credit again.
Save yourself the hassle of approaching the major banks – you’ll find that they can’t approve your application while the bankruptcy listing is still on your credit file.
Rebuilding a positive credit history
Did you know that as a ex-bankrupt you can “prove yourself”? You’ll need to establish a new credit history by opening new accounts and managing them well.
Firstly, make sure that you regularly pay all of your bills and rent on time. If you end up with another black mark on your credit file then it makes you look like a repeat offender.
Secondly, when you do take out a home loan then make all of your repayments on time every time. Don’t even be a day late! It’s hard for us to refinance your loan back to a major bank if your repayment history isn’t perfect.
If you can’t yet buy a home then begin accumulating genuine savings. This proves to the banks that you’re good with your money, can set a goal and can stick to it.
The goal is to show that the problems that happened are in the past and that you’re now a credit worthy borrower!
