A little two story bungalow by the beach... rows of wood planks that act as a boardwalk stretching towards the sea.. the view of a crimson sunset as I look through the kitchen window.. the soft crash of waves as they lull me to sleep at night.. a thousand stars sprinkled across the water, while the bar-b-cue fire lights up the patio...

Ok, so that's a little hard to find in Oklahoma, but I can still dream right?

Oklahoma isn't so bad...

If I only had a little piece of it to call my own.

So my question, how can a former beach bum transform himself into a refined home owner?

If you have an answer for that, I'll be astonished and amazed..

But first, if you don't mind my mindless prattle, and I'm sure there's a lot of that, if I may enlighten you with a brief history..

So there I was, living in a land of dreams.. of sunny beaches and warm weather, where sweaters were donned only when the temperature reached a chilly 68 degrees... when my carefree life of rogue wanderings and restless habits soon turned into a simile of that once great movie, "plains trains and automobiles".. I got divorced, decided to take my life savings (a couple hundred dollars), and set out across the USA..

After two years of aimless wanderings, I found myself in this land they call Oklahoma.. A place where cows run free and sometimes, for several months, you must don ice-skates to get to work and back.

Needless to say, my credit was shot, and so were my chances of ever owning a home.

I got remarried, and soon found myself in the endless cycle of work, sleep, pay bills, and.. yes.. more work.

My wife got sick.. I got sicker.. and we had to move in with the parents to survive..

By now, I'm really missing that salty piece of land.

I digress.

So here I am today.. My credit isn't perfect, but much better than it was. I think the weatherman would call it fair to partly cloudy, with a slight chance of hurricane.

I've been looking for options.. If the seas get stormy we need shelter from the storm..

Maybe someone who is far more intelligent than I can enlighten me.

I have found quite a few houses (I use that term loosely, maybe 'shanty' would be a more apt term?).. a few houses that are for sale that are under $20,000. Obviously 'fixer-uper-ins', (Oklahoma word?), but I have the ambition and desire to remodel.

So my question, what is the best way to get financing to puchase a home like this - Especially for one with not-so-great credit? I plan on using this as an investment, fix-er-up and reseller... How much would I need down? And advice would be greatly appreciated, and sure, I'll even save a salty drink for ya as well..

If I may pose another inquiry... or so..

Are there any other options for home-ownership out there? I have been suggested a few - buying land, manufactured housing, lease-purchase - but those options still pose the same problems I'm facing..

The way the housing market is right now, I can only pray for a solution, and maybe, just maybe, an opportunity will arise.

And so, now that my meaningless babble has resolved itself, I humbly sit back and await a reply..

Time to run.. got boats to build.

Welcome to the forums.

A point perhaps for consideration - you speak about your credit being potentially stormy, but would like to invest in the future. Perhaps getting what you can in line and order now is the best way to build for you future?

A humble thank you for the reply...

And, my friend, consider the point considered...

It's been a long trip but I can see that safe harbor before me.. They say the sun will fry your brains, I guess the cold chill does the oppisite?

Anyway, I ramble..

About a year ago I went through a credit specialist, and was able to fix a lot of problems on my credit - apparently, someone with my same name and almost the same ssn ended up on my report, if that's not worse than a hurricane in December then I don't know what is..

So, got that fixed, but still issues from my divorce, which, apparently, won't go away unless I hire a pirate of a lawyer..

I was told that everything with my credit on that end is done, and can't be adjusted any further.. now I have to work at rebuilding my credit..

I was able to get a secured credit card, and a car loan - both of which has been repaid on time, early as they say..

Above and beyond that, I don't know of any other way to fix the credit problem. That's one reason I posted my inquiry.

Another point, briefly, if my ramblings can be considered as such..

I was told that with my credit, and what I have saved, I should be able to apply for either an FHA loan or an Rural Home Mortgage.. although the latter I have not had an opportunity to do my homework.

The bottom line is this; 1.) I need to rebuild my credit, and 2.) I I need to do it in a way that is financially sound with prospects for stability and growth.

The greatest investment I can make at this time is with buying a house, restoring it, and, with luck, growing my family..

Are there any other ways to rebuild credit? - and - Is there any prospects for us for home ownership within the future? Again, any help with this would be much appreciated..

I greatly appreciate the reply, you're a good man, no matter what they say.. (except that one thing.. I dunno.. )

Gotta run, got boats to build

Hello. I would first like to say welcome to the forum. I am new as well, but I see this is Dated back in November, and it is now 4 months later in March. If you are still on this forum, let me know and I would love to check in and see how you're doing 4 months later. Hope all is going well.
-Katie
PS Your writing style reminds me of that of JD Salinger. Love it.