With very few exceptions, one of the first things a potential lender will ask you for when you are apply for a home loan is your permission to run a credit check. If you have some concerns about your credit history, you might want to think about what some people call "no credit check mortgages." There are lenders that specialize in helping people with bad credit get into their own homes and acquire financing at a reasonable interest rate.
Unless you are applying for a VA Home Loan Refinance, pretty much any legitimate lender is going to check your credit. However, your credit score is not the only consideration lenders will look at when you apply for a loan, and you should not think of it as the only determining factor. Some loan products are designed for people with a less than optimum, or sub prime, credit profile. Lenders who specialize in these types of loan products will weigh in other factors when considering your loan application. If you can provide verification of income (through W-2s, pay-stubs, and past years tax returns), and if you can provide personal references and documentation of your ability to meet your financial obligations, such as rent payments or deposit receipts, then you may be able to qualify for one of these types of loans.
Also, the fact that you are already a homeowner will weigh substantially in your favor when you approach a lender to refinance. As long as your Loan to Value Ratio (LTV) is high, the bank will take that into account when determining the risk of lending you money. It is likely that they will also look at the timeliness of the payments you have been making on your existing mortgage.
Your credit score is based on an average of the scores from the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian), and generally the middle score is the one used to determine your rating. When looking for a no credit check mortgage, shop around to as many lenders as you can and talk to loan officers to see what they recommend to improve your score and overall risk profile. You may not qualify for the same loan that a borrower with excellent credit could acquire, but many lenders will work with you to help you get a mortgage product that works for you.
