If you are hoping to buy in New Jersey with a low score, collections or late payments, the first step is knowing what a lender will see. Pick a city below to read how underwriters weigh credit beside income and savings, which accounts may need attention before closing, and how to recognize offers that take advantage of borrowers with credit trouble. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor, and each loan is subject to credit approval.
Call to talk with a licensed loan officer. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
New Jersey foreclosure process: Judicial: the New Jersey Judiciary states that foreclosure is a judicial process in New Jersey, with contested cases decided by a Superior Court Chancery judge. Lenders look at when a foreclosure or bankruptcy was completed, so keep the final court or trustee documents.
Where the numbers point in New Jersey
Counties with the most home loan applications denied (2024):
| County | Home loan applications denied (2024) |
|---|---|
| Bergen County | 5,110 |
| Middlesex County | 4,705 |
| Ocean County | 4,659 |
| Essex County | 4,324 |
| Monmouth County | 4,260 |
| Camden County | 3,698 |
| Burlington County | 3,633 |
| Union County | 3,060 |
| Morris County | 2,671 |
| Passaic County | 2,656 |
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Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 508-8976. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
Bad Credit Mortgage Lenders by city in New Jersey
- Absecon
- Allendale
- Asbury Park
- Ashland
- Atlantic City
- Audubon
- Avenel
- Barrington
- Bayonne
- Beachwood
- Bellmawr
- Belmar
- Bergenfield
- Berlin
- Bernardsville
- Bloomingdale
- Bogota
- Boonton
- Bound Brook
- Bradley Gardens
- Bridgeton
- Brigantine
- Brookdale
- Browns Mills
- Budd Lake
- Butler
- Caldwell
- Camden
- Carlstadt
- Carteret
- Cherry Hill Mall
- Clayton
- Cliffside Park
- Clifton
- Closter
- Collingswood
- Colonia
- Cresskill
- Crestwood Village
- Dayton
- Dover
- Dumont
- Dunellen
- East Franklin
- East Orange
- East Rutherford
- Eatontown
- Echelon
- Edgewater
- Elizabeth
- Elmwood Park
- Emerson
- Englewood
- Englewood Cliffs
- Fair Haven
- Fair Lawn
- Fairview
- Fanwood
- Finderne
- Florham Park
- Fords
- Fort Dix
- Fort Lee
- Franklin
- Franklin Center
- Franklin Lakes
- Franklin Park
- Garfield
- Glassboro
- Glen Ridge
- Glen Rock
- Gloucester City
- Green Knoll
- Greentree
- Guttenberg
- Hackensack
- Hackettstown
- Haddon Heights
- Haddonfield
- Haledon
- Hamilton Square
- Hammonton
- Harrison
- Hasbrouck Heights
- Hawthorne
- Heathcote
- Highland Lakes
- Highland Park
- Hightstown
- Hillsdale
- Hoboken
- Holiday City-Berkeley
- Hopatcong
- Iselin
- Jamesburg
- Jersey City
- Keansburg
- Kearny
- Kendall Park
- Kenilworth
- Keyport
- Kingston Estates
- Kinnelon
- Lake Mohawk
- Laurence Harbor
- Leonia
- Lincoln Park
- Lincroft
- Linden
- Lindenwold
- Linwood
- Little Ferry
- Little Silver
- Lodi
- Long Branch
- Madison
- Madison Park
- Manasquan
- Manville
- Margate City
- Marlton
- Martinsville
- Matawan
- Maywood
- McGuire AFB
- Mercerville
- Metuchen
- Middlesex
- Midland Park
- Milltown
- Millville
- Montvale
- Moorestown-Lenola
- Morganville
- Morris Plains
- Morristown
- Mount Arlington
- Mountainside
- Mystic Island
- New Brunswick
- New Milford
- New Providence
- Newark
- Newton
- North Arlington
- North Caldwell
- North Haledon
- North Plainfield
- Northfield
- Norwood
- Oakland
- Ocean Acres
- Ocean City
- Oceanport
- Old Tappan
- Oradell
- Palisades Park
- Palmyra
- Paramus
- Park Ridge
- Passaic
- Paterson
- Paulsboro
- Perth Amboy
- Phillipsburg
- Pine Hill
- Pine Lake Park
- Pitman
- Plainfield
- Pleasantville
- Point Pleasant
- Pomona
- Pompton Lakes
- Princeton
- Princeton Meadows
- Prospect Park
- Rahway
- Ramblewood
- Ramsey
- Ramtown
- Red Bank
- Ridgefield
- Ridgefield Park
- Ridgewood
- Ringwood
- River Edge
- Robertsville
- Roseland
- Roselle
- Roselle Park
- Rumson
- Runnemede
- Rutherford
- Salem
- Sayreville
- Secaucus
- Short Hills
- Smithville
- Somerdale
- Somers Point
- Somerset
- Somerville
- South Amboy
- South Plainfield
- South River
- Spotswood
- Springdale
- Stratford
- Strathmore
- Succasunna
- Summit
- Tenafly
- Tinton Falls
- Totowa
- Trenton
- Twin Rivers
- Union Beach
- Union City
- Upper Montclair
- Upper Saddle River
- Ventnor City
- Villas
- Vineland
- Waldwick
- Wallington
- Wanaque
- Washington
- Watchung
- West Freehold
- West Long Branch
- West New York
- Westfield
- Westwood
- Wharton
- White Horse
- White Meadow Lake
- Williamstown
- Wood-Ridge
- Woodbury
- Woodcliff Lake
- Woodland Park
- Yardville
- Yorketown
Common questions
Do medical collections count against me?
They are often treated more gently than other collections, and some programs set them aside when sizing your debts. How they are handled depends on the program and on how the account appears on your report. If a medical bill was paid by insurance or is not yours but still shows as owed, dispute it with the credit bureau and keep the paperwork for your loan officer.
Are there other loan types for borrowers with lower scores?
Yes. FHA loans, which our sister site covers, are another route some borrowers with lower scores look at. A licensed loan officer can tell you whether your file fits an agency or government program before you settle on a non-QM option. Comparing more than one path is worthwhile, since a route with less risk for the investor usually prices lower for you.
How can I improve my credit before applying?
Start with the basics. Pull your reports from the official free source and challenge anything inaccurate with the bureau that reports it. Keep every current account on time, since your latest history weighs heavily. Pay down card balances where you can, and avoid opening several accounts at once. Be wary of paid services that promise to remove accurate negative items from your reports.
Other non-QM options in New Jersey
Bank statement loansNon-QM lendersSelf-employed1099 loansP&L loansAsset depletionNo-doc / stated incomeNew self-employedITIN loansForeign nationalNon-warrantable condoBank statement HELOCInterest-onlyAfter bankruptcySelf-employed refinanceNon-QM jumbo
Related guides
- How to Compare Non-QM Loan Offers: Loan Estimates, Features and Fit
- What Is a Non-QM Loan?
- Private Mortgage Lenders vs. Non-QM Lenders: What Is the Difference?
Bad Credit Mortgage Lenders overview · New Jersey non-QM overview
- 2024 HMDA denial reasons