Apartment dwellers and homeowners with bad or poor credit who are looking for a mortgage with 100% financing may be surprised to discover, that due to today's more lenient lending practices, it is almost as easy to get approved for a new home loan or to refinance your current mortgage with a poor credit rating than it is if you had good a credit rating.

Tip - This type of bad credit mortgage loan normally doesn't translate into lower interest rate loans. You may qualify for a 100% mortgage but the terms of the loan and interest rate won't be a favorable as if you had great credit.

Bad credit (i.e. also known as Subprime) mortgage lenders offer a variety of 100% mortgage packages for borrowers and in some instances even 103% mortgage loans are available which also include your closing costs. You have several options when it comes to this type of financing. Below are few things that should help you get started on the right track.

100% Mortgage Loans - The Good and the Bad

The primary benefit of a home loan that offers 100% financing, especially if you have less than perfect credit, is that you can purchase a home with little or no cash down. Rather than continuing to throw money down the rat hole of monthly rent you can begin to build equity in a home of your own.

On the other hand, the primary disadvantage of 100% financing is that you will pay more for financing through a higher interest rate and in many instances higher closing costs and rather than having a 15 or 30 year fixed loan you will normally get an adjustable rate mortgage than will go up after 2 or 3 years. Another risk for the homeowner is that because you are purchasing a home with no money down you will have zero equity. If the housing market goes into a slump and the value of your home declines, you could end up with a mortgage for more than your home is worth.

Tip - To find out further information about how to purchase a home with bad credit or no credit visit your local real estate company and they might be able to refer you to a bad credit mortgage specialist. Another option is to simply do research on the internet or use your local phone book but shop around because like any business the mortgage business is very competitive and more options you have the better position you will be in to get the best deal possible.

Another advantage to this type of financing is that you are generally not required to pay for private mortgage insurance because private mortgage insurance is included in the higher rate that you automatically receive due to having poor credit.

Tip - For options in finding the best lender for you, check out the links below.