I filed for bankruptcy over a year ago. But I own an house, and its paid for outright. Could I still get an equity loan ?

More info would be needed.. lending guidelines require that certain derogatory events have minimum mandatory waiting periods.. BK 7, BK 13, foreclosure, Short sale, all have different waiting periods and guidelines, and they vary depending on the loan product you go with.. Right now, there are no conforming loan's which would allow you to pull cash out after 12 months. You would need to wait at least 24 months from the "discharge" date to go FHA.. conventional requires 4 years, and this is assuming you filed BK7 and you did not write off any mortgage debt.. if there was a mortgage involved, the the waiting period would be 3 years or FHA, and 4 to 7 years with Conventional.. Again, much more info would be needed, so to find out about your exact scenario, you would need to contact a LOCAL mortgage broker and apply with them. Once they see your complete loan profile, they will be better equipped to advise you properly. Also, by applying with your LOCAL Broker, you have an advantage because he's familiar with local customs and works with many lenders with each one offering a different type of lending program. This is unlike the local bank which typically only has a few lending programs. The more lenders, the more lending options, and the more likely your scenario will be accepted.. Plus, the broker is experienced in seeking out the best loan terms for your particular scenario, and he has lower overhead which typically results in lower rates and fees than most of the larger lenders.. I'm a Broker here in Scottsdale AZ and I only lend in Arizona. If you or someone you know is looking for financing options, feel free to contact me or pass along my information. William J. Acres, Lender411's number ONE lender in Arizona. 480-287-5714 WilliamAcres.com

I would start with a credit union. They are more forgiving if you have compensating factors.

Partly depends on what type of BK you filed, if it was CH13 technically FHA financing is allowed but with strict limitations and it will be totally up to the underwriter to approve or decline the loan based on all the details of your application and qualifications. Not easy...