 TITLE: Can I Buy a House If My Spouse Has Bad Credit? CONTENT: Mortgage Options if Your Spouse Has Bad Credit\n----------------------------------------------\nIf your spouse has credit problems, don't fret just yet: There are a few things you might be able to do to get a mortgage with bad credit.\nLenders weigh criteria differently. Some put more emphasis on factors besides your credit score, such as DTI. If your spouse has a low debt-to-income ratio, it may help outweigh their credit problems.\nAnother tactic that could reduce the impact of their bad credit is making a larger down payment, which shows the lender you won't have to borrow as much. Also, many lenders offer programs for first-time homebuyers that tend to be more lenient with credit criteria. For example, many offer FHA loans, which are part of a government program that allows down payments as low as 3.5% and permits lower credit scores than conventional mortgages.\nSome lenders offer other types of first-time homebuyer mortgages, such as Fannie Mae's HomeReady Mortgage, which allows lower income and credit scores than on a typical mortgage. END