Rather, I would suggest stockpiling cash (and/or credit lines), make sure I'm on a strong financial footing with great creditworthiness, and start looking at deals rather than try to time the market. 

I think the bear case for FDO is that at some point management of Dollar tree gets fed up of trying to fix the brand and just sells it off to private equity which could lower the creditworthiness more.

Each buyer's situation is going to be a little bit different and each lending institution will interpret the buyer's credit worthiness differently.

Marcus,You are very sharp in checking these things out before tying the knot.Sit down with your finace' and discuss her credit history and pull both of your credit reports and examine them.If she can add to your creditworthiness, then wait until your are married.

Both are still wrecks, the value of both are less, the mentality of the borrower has already been tainted and in a different mindset than a more credit worthy borrower.

Clearly, in your specific case, the seller performed DD and fond you to be more than credit worthy, this a feeling of comfort.

Our deal didn't go through at the time because the person, although credit worthy(score wise) didn't have a substantial history.  

Big money maker and you can live there for free and moderate the Animal House.You might have some difficulty getting a bank mortgage, but you could either search for seller financing or get a credit worthy co-signer, someone who loves you and maybe gave birth to you?

Your credit score will be a factor when you first get started, but becomes less of a factor as you establish your business' credibility and creditworthiness.

DocumentID=366780New mortgage regulations resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act will harm homeownership, reduce credit, and prevent credit-worthy borrowers from obtaining an affordable mortgage, witnesses from Habitat for Humanity, community banks and credit unions told a House Financial Services subcommittee today.