| I won't assume you're applying for an FHA loan, but you can refinance into a 2- or 3-yr ARM (adjustable rate mortgage, fixed for 2 or 3 years) and pay off your Ch. 13 bankruptcy as part of your refinancing. You MUST have paid the "BK" on time - most people chose payroll deduction and it works beautifully! Your trustee will provide a payment history - since you elected to manage your debts (vs. a Ch. 7 discharge), you will be evaluated on how well you can prove you've "learned your lesson."
The time since you've filed a CHAPTER 13 will determine how long your "seasoning period" is (Ch. 7 needs the time since the BK was discharged). Depending on your credit score, Ch. 13 payment history, mortgage payment history (the FULL mortgage payment - not the arrears, if applicable), your mortgage balance, your property's appraised value, as well as your verifiable income will be evaluated as part of a thorough qualification process. This is standard operating procedure.
[Footnote: if all loan professionals had maintained these guidelines, many lenders will not be in the trouble they are now!] |