Geeky Talks
Inexplicable pain, heartache, and why I continue to fight
I read the email at 7AM friday morning. I dropped the phone and clutched my stomach. “Noooo” I could hardly breathe.
It was true, I was sure it was true. My groggy mind tried to form the words. “We lost the house.” I said it out loud just to be sure I was awake.
“We lost the house” Louder now with more force.
“WE LOST THE HOUSE” I ran to the bathroom to get Mr. Flinger who was busy getting ready for a normal day. A regular Friday.
But this was no longer a regular Friday.
He looked boggled, confused, unsure. I began to sob. “Wait, calm down, what?”
Unable to speak I pulled him downstairs and showed him the email. The lender denied us. My credit score fell over 120 points this one month alone. I couldn’t speak.
“It. Was. The. Late. Payment. On. My. Student. Loan.” I chocked.
Apparently, not realizing my student loan didn’t get switched with our other bills to our new bank, I neglected to check it for two months. Two months. Any other two months would not matter. This two months, though, will change our life.
I paid the bill in full on January 8th, 2010. I set up automatic deduction so I would never make this mistake again. I thought I fixed it. I didn’t think twice.
Until Friday.
The 60 days will cost us the house. Our house. The house that just Monday we stood in, for only the second time, talking to each other like new lovers. “Doesn’t it feel like we’ve lived here before?” “Yes, what is that? Did we marry in another life and have this house?” The children have moved in according to their drawings at school and home. We’ve made plans for our garden. We have, very much literally, fallen in love, as a family, with this house. The kids have their own rooms. They have a back yard. They look forward to schools with great reputations and parental involvement.
It was surely a dream too good to be true. A gem. Our house.
My husband and I have worked hard to get to where we are. We planned, nearly too well, the order of events. We finished undergraduate school, got jobs, and got married. I finished graduate school before I had our first child. I planned, the entire time, to use my graduate degree to provide a life for my children where their mother was both happy and involved. I followed a passion to get my continued education. My husband passed the creditials for being a professional engineer to better serve his family and work. We continue, planning, to this point. This end. This dream.
This is the year we were to move in to a hose big enough for the children to grow up in, finish school in, bring home boy friends, girl friends and leave for college in.
Our goal, since dating in 1989, has been to be in The House by the time our first child entered public school. Our goal was to provide a stable home for our children in a house we could stay in.
We found that house in October, 2009.
Literally, it was familiar upon first glance and immediately ours in our hearts.
Having a few quiet moments in our house on Monday, I sat, alone, watching the ghosts of the future. I saw my children running in from the school bus. I heard my daughter talking endlessly on the phone up in her room. I saw my parents visit and have enough space to stay after their long flight from Texas and a backyard big enough to house our puppy we are all eager to get.
Ghosts, fleeting hopes, and wishes.
I spent Friday working with our mortgage broker and the Dept of Ed. I called, I cried. I wrote earnest letters begging for help. The difference I’m asking for is simply this;
Remove the 60 day late off my credit, make it 30 days, and I can get the house my family needs.
This window will close quickly. We may not get an extension on this house. If we don’t move fast, our chance for finding any house will be gone as the market rises and the chance to leave our small condo closes. In the words of our mortgage broker, it’s now or in ten years when you recover from this market.
My fifteen year old daughter and thirteen year old son growing up without a backyard and sharing a room. This is the future if we don’t move quickly.
So I called up the chain of command. Three times. I asked, begged, who do I talk to? Who can help me? I just need thirty days marked off my credit. My account is in good standing. I have auto-deduct set up. You will get paid on time. I am sorry. It was a mistake.
I am sorry.
These are the words I choked out to my family yesterday morning. I sobbed, “I am sorry I am sorry I am sorry” as they gathered around me on the couch. The intense pain of knowing I let each and every one of them down was almost too much to take. They snuggled me. They kissed me. My son offered his lovie to me. And I sobbed even harder knowing how hard we worked for this dream and how I had single-handedly destroyed it.
And now I’m begging you.
I have no other choice but to fight for our new life. It is my fault it is gone and it is my duty to fight for it. I am asking, begging, pleading with you. Do you know anyone in the Credit Clearing department in the Department of Ed? Do you know a lender who will accept a 583 credit knowing my husband’s is in the 700’s and mine will return there shortly? We are good people, we pay our bills, we are a family just wanting to do what is best. We work hard to be where we are and will continue to do so. It is who we are.
I will do anything for this dream.
My daughter asked if she could help me. She was confused by my tears. “Moms and Dads cry too?” My children looked lost and afraid. I hugged them. I said they could help. They could help mommy because Moms and Dads are just people, too. We make mistakes. Small, silly, life altering mistakes.
And God I’m sorry.
So my daughter recorded this video for you. It is all she knows to do. I write because it is all I know to do. My husband supports us, loving us even if, in his words, we had to live in a shack and my son offers his stuffed toys because he wants to help. We plea, we beg, we call, and all I can do is hope we get this house in the end.
Our house.
Mygodmygod, it is our house.
From the archive where I first wrote about finding the house:
Imagine my shock, then, when we go for a drive at our lunch hour to “scope out the neighborhood” we’d ideally love to live, and find our dream.
I’ve never felt this way about a house before.
He clearly never has either.
Or a person for that matter.
We walk around noting the emptiness. We walk all over the grounds, picturing the children playing and each other fixing up the yard. We talk about where we would put the furniture as we peer through the spider-web windows.
It’s so…... “Up” ..... in a way.
The house is ours from first sight. We’re not sure about financing yet, if the foundation is sound, if we can even do this. But for some reason, this particular house, this one time in our lives, there isn’t s spreadsheet, a lengthy discussion, a hesitation.
This one time I got to see my husband fall in love on first sight.
And I was right there with him falling in love, too.
I hope we found our home.
Our home.
Something tells me this is “it.”
I just know.
Jan, 30, 2010 Read the Archives 
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Try Fifth-Third Bank. They gave us a no-doc mortgage. It’s worth a try. I’m so sorry, I know how this feels. I’ve been in a similar situation. Best of luck to you.
I don’t know what to say other than this. Earlier this year, my husband and I lost two houses before we moved into this, what really honestly is our dream house. I know you can’t see it now, but it really, really, will be ok.
Hugs hon.
oh. oh, ugh. i am awfully sorry.
i hope this gets turned around for you, i really do. i wish i could do something.
My heart is breaking for you, and I SO WISH I knew someone to contact for you. Instead, fingers crossed and prayers going up that all will work out.
Try another lender. Those combined credit scores shouldn’t prevent the purchase. I hate that feeling… especially when YOU KNOW its the right house.
Shit. There is nothing I can do. Nothing. But I am crossing EVERYTHING that someone else will read this who can do something.
oh my gosh. I really really really wish there was something I could do, I am so sorry.
Thank you. I thought maybe just getting the word out would help. And I’ll try some of the info we get.
Also, for the love of Peter, DO NOT pay anything late when you’re buying a house. Sob.
I don’t have any advice, but I am so sorry this is happening to you. :(
I recently discovered I was 60 days behind on a credit card I’d used once EVER. The charge was $75. The late feeds were $30. Ugh. The card was new after my purse was stolen last May. We were still getting Bill Pay notices for the OLD card, with a zero balance. So, I didn’t realize.
I was mortified. I’m not sure if it’s dinged my credit or not. I hope not. But, we’re not trying to buy a house (or anything else right now), so it’s not as big a deal if my credit was dinged.
I hope someone can help you.
I don’t know anyone. But I pray. For you. And them. And even if they don’t call back… the right person will. And then you will know what to do. Be listening.
I wish I had some, any pull. This is effed up, for lack of a classier term. We’re not talking being evicted from a home or having a car repossessed; we’re talking being late on a student loan. Am furious FOR you. Will reset myself and send you all my best thoughts.
Oh I am so, so sorry. My heart is breaking for you reading this. I wish I could help in some way. Please don’t blame yourself though!
Banks and lenders are cracking down so hard right now on everyone. We have perfect credit and have paid all of our bills on time. Yet when we were given an offer to transer a credit card balance and accepted it, the company called my husband and started grilling him about what he planned to do with the money, his job info, etc.
Then they told him that not only would they not give us the balance transer, but they were closing our card down. A card we’ve had for years and have never been late on a payment on. Again, we have perfect credit.
I really believe these lenders are looking for any and all excuses not to loan (and a lot of these banks are taking the money that WE the people gave them in the bailout and are investing it and/or paying lofty raises to their executives instead of loaning it out as they were supposed to do).
So really, even if everything had been perfect, it’s still really hard, so please don’t beat yourself up.
And I’m a huge believer in positive thinking so keep on envisioning your dreams of living in the house. Don’t give up hope yet! I’m praying that it will still come together for you and your family.
OMG, I am totally passing the word. You deserve that house!!!
I’m with Jodifur - we lost out on our dreamhouse before we found a better one. Still, it’s so disappointing. You do “move in” as soon as you fall in love with it. I’m sorry :(
Oh God, I’m so sorry! I wish I knew someone or could just fix it for you, my stomach hurts for you. It has to be okay, it just has to be fixed. Prayers, good thoughts, crossed fingers, candles lit.
My advice (and while I’m a lawyer, I can’t give unsolicited legal advice, so consider this girlfriend advice) is to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT. Keep asking to speak to someone higher. Keep saying that you don’t want this story to have to become a national one where the bank ends up looking like a monster. Keep heading up the ladder until you get the result you want. I think you can. Hollee
I am so sorry - please try other lenders! Even if you had to take a different interest rate to get in, you can always refinance in a few months.
Don’t give up - your scores should be just fine for getting a house. Keeping fingers crossed and sending out good finance mojo into the universe for you.
Terrible story, It hurt reading it.
I was a Realtor years ago and had a client lose his credit by paying off a loan. Sounds counter-intuitive but a late payment wasn’t reported until the balance was zero. Had he left $1.00 on the loan he would have been fine.
If you contest the mark with the credit agency directly, they usually get removed but it takes 30 days.
We’re currently moving because our landlord had an adjustable rate loan and the bank refused to refinance. It’s weird living in a home that’s currently on the market…it isn’t much fun.
Good luck!
Rick @rbucich
I’m so sorry! But I have a strong feeling this will work out. My feelings are usualy right on…
Simon’s credit got FUBARed a few years ago when he opened a Mervyn’s account to get a discount on a $10 belt and then never received a statement for it because they sent it to an old address. Flash forward a few years, and it almost (almost!) cost us our house too. (Is there a possibility you can get approved for the house loan on your husband’s credit only?)
Nooooo. I am so sorry. There HAS to be a way. It’s your house. Believing and praying.
Love,
Steph
This will all work out. It has to. Love and hope and peace to you, lady. xoxo
Oh Leslie, I’m so sorry. Please don’t lose hope. I cannot give you the house but to help tide you over until you do get it (because I believe that you will!) I will give you what I can… a hug. *hug*!!
Oh, honey! I am so very, very sorry. I’ve been here and it was all my fault for screwing up the bills. I know the guilt and I wish I could help.
Chin up, sweetheart. It will all work out.
(Not helpful, I know, but I’m usually a smartass, so this isn’t easy for me!)
KISSES!!!
Sometimes, it just takes the right underwriter. My credit score was, coincidentally 583 when we purchased our home. The hubby’s was higher and mine was on the rise after a ding from something I won’t get into but should have never been there to begin with. She worked a bit to get it approved anyway. Also, another option we were presented with when it first came back declined was taking my own name off the house and letting my husband buy it alone.
I’m with everyone else who said to look for other lenders. Look online, ask your realtor for a referral (her commission depends on y’all getting this house, after all!), ask whoever you can. And if you need a name of a good realtor in that area, email me. I don’t know anything about lenders there, though. Sadly.
Or, what about an FHA loan instead? There’s a higher PMI payment, but the credit restrictions aren’t as tight. That’s what we did to get our house.
Good luck to you, sweetie. Hang in there. XOXO
Oh, oh, oh. How horrible, how awful, how ugh. I wish there were something I could suggest :(
**hugs**
My husband and I are about to buy a house. Because my credit score is not high enough (only about 4 pts to low) they are only putting his name on the loan but putting me on the title as a non-purchasing spouse. It is the only way for us to get it even though we are financially ok. This is definitely worth a try. If one says no try another lender. There is someone out there that will do it for you!!! Best of luck to you!
I am so so sorry.
My husband and I were approved for our loan in Chicago this time last year. When we decided to move to Austin in the fall, we reapplied and were denied.
Then I lost my job.
Then my husband didn’t get the job he was in the running for and took an “inbetween job.”
We’re now living in a small one bedroom saving our pennies hoping it’s only temporary.
I hurt just thinking of this. You’ve got lots of great advice here - I hope, really hope - something mentioned here turns it around!
I’m praying for your heart. I know what it’s like to lose a dream house. I’ve lost two already, and the one we are waiting on is The One (again….as strange and horrible as that sounds, I was just as convinced by the others!).
Remember that NO MATTER what happens, the story and the dreams don’t end here. And as difficult as it is to believe right now, the happiness of your future doesn’t depend on the perfect house.
Oh honey *hugs*
It looks like you’ve gotten some WONDERFUL ideas here. I hope you can turn this around, it is indeed your house.
Keep calling the student loan companies. Go up the ladder. If anyone will write a letter have the lender do a quick rescore and they will take the letter off.
Do you have to be on the loan? If not, definitely go off until you have the home.
Also, in Feb, once they re-report there is no telling how much higher your score may be. They typically report the first week of the month…
Good luck
I am SO sorry this is happening. I will be hoping and praying that you find another lender or that they fix your credit score so it can go through.
Try just having your husband on the loan and adding yourself to title after 6 months. it may take shifting some credit obligations from his name to yours to fall within the debt to income ratios, but it can be done. email me if you need some help
Oh, honey. I feel just sick for you.
I’m not sure it will help remove one iota of yuckiness right now but there is a quote I really like for the crappiest of crap moments.
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
I’m sure you’ve gotten tons of unsolicited advice, but have you thought about adding another cosigner, like a parent? And then, once your credit goes back to normal, refi the mortgage and take their name off?
I hope you get it. I’ll keep my fingers, toes, and nuts crossed for you.
I’m so sorry, sweetie. So sorry.
If it can happen, you’ll make it happen. Regardless of the house, your kids are blessed. I believe.
I’m so sorry Leslie. The loan for our house doesn’t even have my name on it because my credit score wasn’t as high as my husband’s. His is near perfect, mine is bleehhhhhh. So my name is on the title, but technically he bought it. I hope all the financial advice brings out a solution. I’m still rallying for you!
Ugh. Leslie. My heart hurts for you guys. I’m so, so sorry.
If I knew anyone at all I would call in favors for you.
Oh, please tell me something has happened for the better. Listen, for our first house, my husband’s credit was absolutely HORRID, so I go the loan in my name (but the title in both). Any chance that can happen?
Or, tell me, somebody has seen this from the credit clearing dept?
Bossy is an idiot when it comes to this stuff, an IDIOT, but she’ll hold you in her thoughts—and yes she does believe the internet will pull through for you with actionable suggestions.
Did Bossy just say actionable suggestions? Gah, you’d think she was a mortgage broker. xoxo
I know it seems impossible, but it will be okay. I hope that is true because it’s what I keep telling myself. I know that without a no-doc loan and my down payment, I’d never be in my house. I know that having my income be reduced by 60% has wrecked my credit. All I can do is hope for the best—do my best.
Praying you’ll see some light at the end of this tunnel, that your dream house will become reality, or that maybe, you’ll find another wonderful dream home to love.
I work in a job where I deal with credit reporting and look at credit reports on a daily basis. Pull your credit report (they should have given you a copy I think) and double check to make sure nothing else is reporting negatively. Seems a little weird that one account reporting 60 days past due would ding your score that much. Also, don’t waste your time trying to get them to change it, they have a legal obligation to report the account correctly, and unfortunately if you were truly 60 days past due (for whatever reason, even if it was legit) they are legally required to report you as such. If you were like 58 or 59 days behind you might be able to get them to change it. And seconding what others have said, maybe you can get the house/mortgage in just your husband’s name. And try a different lender or broker too, it won’t hurt to see if somebody else will approve you. Good luck.
So sorry hun. I’m praying that this will work out for you somehow
I’m so sad for you- I hope everything works out soon!!
Sorry to hear… but look at these good suggestions and ideas! It IS a lovely house and I want to visit you guys in it. You are doing everything you can to take care of it. Please don’t be too hard on yourself. Your kids love you. Your hubby loves you. We all love you. We don’t want to see you having pain like that <Big Hugs>.
May I ask what brand is your mortgage broker’s crystal ball? I’ll make sure we won’t get that brand! What’s up with that whole Ten-year-thing?? I don’t buy it!
Hope everything goes well and we will keep our fingers crossed.
Oh Leslie. I am so so so sorry. I am so sad for you. I was tearing up reading this.
I think you’re taking all the right steps. I just hope someone hears your plea. God, I hope someone does.
I love you.
I love you, and I am so sorry about this bump. I have been so excited for you about this house! Don’t give up! (I know you won’t.)
Additionally, we had a real estate agent tell us that it was possible for John to apply singly (my credit is smashed by student loan and medical bill debt) for a home loan. Is that a consideration for you guys at all?
I love you.
Oh, no! I would get the advice of a lawyer and try to fight for the house. I have to agree to Hollee. Be strong and have faith! Joe
I am not on the loan to the house. My credit is crap, we never realized that having nothing in my name didn’t help us, so when we bought our house in 2005 we just used Jeremy’s credit and not mine.
I am on the deed, just not on the loan, and I am totally okay with that, as is he. Can you guys do something like that? Talk to your lender and see.
(((hugs)))
Oh, hon…I feel for you. Wish I knew someone who knew someone but I just don’t. :-(
All I can say is that four months ago, my hubby and I were in the same boat - almost. Ours wasn’t a credit issue, but rather selling a nearly-100-yr-old house that “could potentially” have basement problems. We had to pay $5,000 to have those potential problems fixed, and our sale (and purchase of that perfect home) went through. But not with out a LOT of crying, panicking and general craziness. (Oh, did I mention this all happened in less than 30 days? Uh, yeah…) Keep your chin up…I’ll say lil prayers for you. ‘kay?
was going to say that I am so sorry to read that, and then I read that last comment. Is that for real?
Is there a light shining in the darkness? My fingers are crossed for you!