We have to accept the fact that it is quite challenging for people with poor credit history to apply for loan from regular banks. However, it doesn’t mean it is impossible for them to obtain financial assistance. Since you know you have many negative items on your credit report, you should take other approach to apply for loan. In order to obtain home equity loan successfully, you are recommended to look for specialized mortgage lenders or credit unions for help.Since the global economy crisis in 2008, many bad credit loan providers have become very active in the market due to the high demand for loans. Looking for these lenders is not hard because all their particulars can be obtained easily through internet. The most difficult part for the loan applicants is how they can identify a genuine and reliable lender for themselves. Frankly speaking, there are too many scams and unethical lenders in the market. We have to be extra careful when we deal with these lenders. Here are some useful tips I would like to share with you.• Are you a member of any credit union? If yes, you are advised to contact your union to find out whether it offers any home equity loan for members. In general, most of the credit unions in United States offer this type of loan at lower interest rates. It will be good if you can apply loan from your union because it may offer flexible terms of repayment for you.• Don’t worry if you don’t join any credit union. You can get financial assistance from mortgage lenders. In order for you to look for good lenders, you are suggested to check with someone you know for their recommendations. If your friends are not able to recommend, you can contact a few local real estate mortgage brokers to get the names of the lenders.• I would say most of the bad credit home equity loan providers are online lenders. You can check their background by browsing their official websites one by one. You must find out how long they have been established in the market. These lenders normally include their loan packages in their sites. You are reminded to read their terms and conditions carefully before contacting them.• You may shortlist a few potential lenders. Bear in mind that all the information stated in the websites is not 100% true. You need to do some research by referring to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Don’t choose those lenders with a lot of complaints from customers. Find out the ratings for each lender. If you have time, you can find out more about the lenders through forums or online discussions.• After checking with BBB, you can now contact the lenders to ask more about their interest rates and other closing costs. Try to negotiate with them for lower interests. Shop around and make comparisons among different lenders so that you can get the best deal.To sum up, looking for a reputable home equity loan provider is not really hard but it is a bit time consuming. You need to spend some time doing your homework.