Home loans for discharged bankrupts

A bankruptcy can stay on your credit file for 2 years after you're discharged, but you can still get a home loan.

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Key takeaways

  • Most lenders won't consider a mortgage application from someone who has experienced bankruptcy, even if you've been discharged from the bankruptcy.
  • But there are specialist bad credit lenders who can help, like Pepper Money, Savvy and Liberty.
  • You will still need to be discharged from bankruptcy. And you'll have to get a loan with a higher interest rate.

Lenders who accept discharged bankrupts

Most lenders won't consider a mortgage application from someone who has experienced bankruptcy, even if you've been discharged from the bankruptcy.

But there are specialist bad credit lenders and brokers who can help, such as:

  • Pepper Money
  • Savvy
  • Red Rock Mortgages
  • Liberty

Mortgage brokers can help too

Qualified mortgage brokers can help you find appropriate bad credit mortgages. They specialise in helping borrowers in unique circumstances and also help you craft the best possible mortgage application.

Compare home loans for discharged bankrupts

2 of 2 results
Finder Score Interest Rate p.a. Comparison Rate p.a. Fees Custom Badges Monthly Payment
Pepper Money logo
Finder score
Pepper Money Essential Prime Full Doc Home Loan
Finder score
Interest Rate
5.89%
Comparison Rate
6.07%
Fees
  • Application: $599
  • Ongoing: $120 p.a.
Principal & Interest45% min. equityOwner-occupierOffset account
Monthly Payment
$890
per month
Enquire nowMore info
Compare product selection
Pepper Money logo
Finder score
Pepper Money Essential Prime Full Doc Home Loan
Finder score
Interest Rate
7.44%
Comparison Rate
7.62%
Fees
  • Application: $599
  • Ongoing: $120 p.a.
Principal & Interest10% min. equityOwner-occupierOffset accountLMI
Monthly Payment
$1,044
per month
Enquire nowMore info
Compare product selection
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Showing 2 of 2 results

Can I get a mortgage after my bankruptcy ends?

You can get an apply for a mortgage from the first day your bankruptcy ends. But keep in mind that your bankruptcy remains on your credit report:

  • For 5 years from the start of your bankruptcy.
  • Or 2 years after your bankruptcy ends (whichever is later).

Unfortunately, your credit file doesn't list the reasons behind your bankruptcy, meaning you could find it very difficult to get any sort of home loan even once you're discharged.

Because these listings stay on your credit file for seven years, this can put your dreams of owning a home on hold.

That's why finding a specialist lender is a really good idea.

How do I apply for a home loan as a discharged bankrupt?

It always helps to have a strong mortgage application. Here are some tips to strengthen your application even as a discharged bankrupt:

How can I improve my credit report?

Here are some useful guides to improving your credit report.:

Check your credit score for free right now

Are mortgages for discharged bankrupts different to regular home loans?

A home loan from a specialist bad credit lender serves the same basic purpose as any other mortgage: it lets you borrow money to buy a property.

But there are some differences too:

  • Higher interest rates. Your loan will likely have a significantly higher interest rate. But it still pays to compare and get the best possible deal.
  • A higher loan-to-value-ratio (LVR). Regular mortgages usually require a 20% deposit (meaning an LVR of 80%) or even just a 5% deposit. A bad credit loan may only lend you between 55% and 70% of a property's value, meaning you will need a larger deposit. But this isn't always the case.
  • More fees. Most mortgages come with fees, but bad credit loans for discharged bankrupts typically charge higher fees. This includes application fees and ongoing monthly fees.

Frequently asked questions

What is Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 7,000 home loans across 120+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best home loans for cashback, you can see how each home loan stacks up against other home loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type. We also take into consideration the amount of cashback offered when calculating the Score so you can tell if it's really worth it.

Read the full breakdown

Sources

Richard Whitten's headshot
Senior Money Editor

Richard Whitten is Finder’s Senior Money Editor, with over eight years of experience in home loans, property, credit cards and personal finance. His insights appear in top media outlets like Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine, and the Herald Sun, and he frequently offers expert commentary on television and radio, helping Australians navigate mortgages and property ownership. Richard started his career in education and textbook publishing in South Korea. He holds multiple industry certifications, including a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking (RG 206) and Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146), as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Communications from Deakin University. See full bio

Richard's expertise
Richard has written 688 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Home loans
  • Credit cards
  • Personal finance
  • Money-saving tips

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15 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    NickAugust 14, 2014

    If I’m co-borrowing with someone who isn’t an ex-bankrupt, does this make a difference to your lending options?

      Shirley Liu's headshotFinder
      ShirleyAugust 18, 2014Finder

      Hi Nick,

      Thanks for your question.

      It does widen your lending options a bit, as the lender will consider the combined credit histories of both applicants.

      Having said that, it might not widen your options a whole lot, especially if the bankruptcy occurred less than seven years ago.

      If you’d like, you may want to consider a mortgage broker who can help find a home loan for your situation.

      All the best,
      Shirley

      Marc Terrano's headshotFinder
      MarcAugust 18, 2014Finder

      Hi Nick,

      Thanks for the question.

      When co-borrowing with someone, both of your credit histories will be taken into account when your lender is deciding whether to approve your application or not. This means that even if one borrower has a clean credit history if the other has negative listings, you may have trouble getting approved for a loan from a regular bank. In these cases, it may be helpful to seek the services of a mortgage broker or a bad credit home loan to help you find a loan.

      I hope this helps,
      Marc

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