If you have less than stellar credit, you may be a candidate for a sub-prime mortgage loan. So, what exactly are they, how do they work and should you apply for one?

Traditionally, the loan industry was fairly static. To get a loan, you needed a history of employment, adequate income and good credit. As the loan industry has matured, it has started developing programs for people that did not fit this profile. For those with credit problems, programs known as sub-prime mortgage loans slowly evolved. Here in Canada, sub-prime mortgage lenders are often referred to as alternate lenders, B lenders, non-conforming lenders or simply just private lenders.
Your credit score is determined by applying a calculation to your credit report. A score above 700 is considered good credit. One below 600 is considered bad credit.

Borrowers with a credit score that falls below 620 are candidates for sub-prime loan loans. Sub-prime mortgage loans work more or less the same way as a traditional loan. The primary difference has to do with risk. Because you have poor credit, the lender considers you to be a risky bet when it comes to paying back the loan. This manifests in the loan in a couple of ways.
First, you can expect to pay a higher interest rate on the loan. The rate can be anywhere from one to four points higher depending on your specific situation. The reason a lender charges you more is it expects more profit for taking a chance on you. If you work out of your home, or have a home office, you may be able to write a portion of the interest off of your income taxes – be sure to consult with your accountant.

You can also expect to pay a lender fee on the front of the loan. By charging you a fee up front, the lender is again trying to limit its risk. In practical terms, it is trying to get as much money up front as possible.

Debt consolidation loans are a viable option for Canadians seeking to be debt free. Individuals owing money to multiple creditors (such as credit card, charge companies and/or public utilities) should consider a consolidation loan as an option to manage and eliminate debt.

It is a loan from a Canadian bank or other financial institution that allows customers to repay debts to multiple creditors via one single monthly payment to said financial institution. Typically the customer will ask the financial institution for a loan amount equal to the total amount of money owed to the customer’s various creditors. If the loan is approved, the bank will settle the customer’s debts and the customer needs only to be concerned with paying back the one debt consolidation loan.

Depending on the type of consolidation loan, the customer may also benefit from a lower interest rate than that offered by the other creditors. This interest rate varies from bank to bank and should be researched before committing to a debt consolidation loan.