Bad credit but solid incomes. Can we get a mortgage?

Q: My wife and I both have bad credit, but solid incomes. Will anybody take a chance on us?

A: Just because your credit isn't up to speed doesn't mean you can't get a mortgage or refinance. The FHA program allows for FICO scores as low as 580 -- and you only need to put 3.5% down to buy a home. With scores lower than that, you'll need a 10% stake, but simply having a low score doesn't mean you can't get access to credit -- it simply means that your avenues and choices are more limited.