I am 51 yrs old and still renting. I have approximately $15k to put down on a home. The big problem is my credit. It is totally trashed. I've had some lenders tell me they'll get a mortgage for me only to hear them say (when they reply at all) that my credit is so bad they can't help. I'm in trouble with the IRS (tax lien), and the rest of my credit isn't much better. This was due to a nasty divorce I went through in 1997. The only good things I have going for me is that I have lived at the same residence, although it is a rental, for the past 8 years and that I have been steadily employed throught my adult life. I live in Zephyrhills Florida ( close to Tampa). Does anybody have any suggestions as to what I can do to obtain a mortgage? Thank you in advance.

Jim gasboy@gte.net

Dear Gosby:

Bfre you try to obtain any mortgage loan, you must restablish your credit score, because if you succeed getting a mortgage loan, it will be consider a higher risk loan, because you haven't any experience owning a home before, and most of the lender will charge extremly higher interest on their principal, and bank will never approve you because the banks have all lending rules written and they can't be change, so bad credit loan is hard to approve. pln buying your home at least next year so you can build your credit again, and use your credit cards within the limits of your budget, but pay them on time, your payment refelect your responsiblity and capability, and thats all you need.