Can I Buy a Home with No Credit History?

It’s true that credit is an important part of qualifying for a home loan, but it’s not the end-all and be-all. Buying a home with no credit is possible—the process just takes a few extra steps. Those steps can depend on a few factors, including whether you have a cosigner, as well as the size of your down payment. They will also depend on what type of home loan you’re pursuing.

Overview

Buying a home with no credit is possible through non-traditional credit evaluation and manual underwriting. Conventional loans may accept at least two 12-month non-credit payment references, including housing history. In contrast, FHA/VA loans can use an NTMCR or lender-developed histories for items such as rent and utilities. 

Alternatives such as a creditworthy cosigner and a larger down payment can strengthen your application, and you can start building credit via on-time payments, low-limit credit cards, rent reporting, or becoming an authorized user. A Preferred Rate Mortgage Advisor can help tailor a path for your situation.

Conventional Mortgage Loans

A conventional mortgage loan requires borrowers to provide at least two payment references. A payment reference is like a receipt, confirming that a specific person paid a specific amount toward a bill or company.

Payment references almost always take the form of a “code” containing a unique set of numbers and letters that links your payment to a specific transaction. If this isn’t included, you can always add a few details in the “payment reference” section of an online transaction to note what the payment is for.

Payment references must be non-credit payment references or tradelines that don’t appear on the credit report. So credit cards, student loans, car leases, and installment loans wouldn’t work, but rent, utilities, and other such payments would.

If two or more borrowers have the same payment reference, it can count for each borrower. Each payment reference must have existed for at least the most recent 12 months.

In addition, at least one borrower must have a housing payment history as one of the payment references. If more than one borrower has a housing payment history, then all the housing payment histories for the most recent 12 months (or the length of housing payment history if less than 12 months) must be verified.

FHA/VA Loans

If you want to get a home loan with no credit and are eligible for an FHA (Federal Housing Authority) or VA (Veterans Affairs) loan, the lender can obtain a Non-Traditional Mortgage Credit Report (NTMCR) from a credit reporting company.

This type of report is used to assess the credit history of a borrower who does not have trade references that appear on traditional credit reports. The NTMCR serves as a substitute for the more traditional Tri-Merged Credit Report (TRMCR) or Residential Mortgage Credit Report (RMCR).

The lender can also independently develop the borrower’s credit history.

This can be done by evaluating the applicant’s payment history on other items, including:

• Rent
• Utilities
• Internet
• Insurance premiums
• Tuition
• Retail payments
• Medical bills
• Personal loans

Alternatives for No-Credit Borrowers

As mentioned, a cosigner is one way to get a home loan with no credit history — provided the cosigner is creditworthy. Even though you’re the one making the payments, a cosigner is technically also on the hook for the loan should you stop paying.

For this reason, it’s wise for both parties to think long and hard about entering into this type of arrangement. It can be a great strategy if you want to get a home loan with no credit, but only when everyone knows exactly what they’re signing up for.

A larger down payment also shows the lender that you’re serious about this home and have skin in the game. Plus, a larger down payment means a lower loan amount, which reduces the lender’s risk. Even if you weren’t intending to put down a significant sum, some lenders will require a larger down payment if you want to get a home loan with no credit.

Borrowers with no credit will also undergo manual underwriting to assess their risk. This will include analyzing elements such as income, employment, existing debt, and monthly expenses.

A manual underwriting process is beneficial today because many lenders rely on fintech tools, such as automated underwriting systems, to qualify borrowers. However, these tools are likely to deny a loan application if a borrower has no credit history.

Building Credit

Of course, all of this can be avoided if you have good credit. The easiest way to build your credit profile is by getting started.

You can begin to build your credit by:

• Putting monthly bills, including utilities, car loans, and student loans, in your name—and paying them on time, every time.
• Applying for a credit card or two with a low balance, and then paying those balances off by their due dates.
• Ask your property manager whether rental payment data is reported to any credit bureaus through platforms like Experian RentBureau. Programs like Rental Kharma and Chime also allow you to pay your rent through their apps, which can help you build some credit history.
• Becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit card. Like a cosigner, that person is still responsible for any debts you accrue—and your credit score can be impacted if the account holder misses a payment. So be sure to choose a responsible account holder who understands all the pros and cons of this arrangement—and be sure to put some thought into the pros and cons for yourself as well.

There are many paths to homeownership, so never consider this milestone out of reach. Instead, contact a trusted Preferred Rate Mortgage Advisor today to discuss your unique financial situation and goals. We’re always here to help, and we’re happy to provide the solutions you’re looking for!