Getting a home is a big part of the traditional American Dream. Four walls, a yard and a garage of your own can seem very appealing to people who have spend years in the confines of apartment living.

But if your credit scores are not what they could be, getting that mortgage from a traditional source can be a problem.

As a result, many poor credit mortgage plans are being offered. But as with anything in life, there are good choices and bad.

Before you enter into any mortgage plan, you should first examine your personal credit history. Find out why your credit score is so low.

In many cases, individuals just haven't had the opportunity to establish good credit, and there are ways to deal with this.

However, if your credit score is low because of bad money management, you need to deal with your existing problems first before adding a decades long financial commitment to your list of concerns.

Get your credit score as high as you can before shopping for a poor credit mortgage. Every bit that you can shave off the interest rate can result in thousands of dollars in saving over the life of the loan.

First, get your spending under control. If you are maxing out credit cards and are late in paying your bills, your credit score will always be an issue. Get your cards paid down, and all of your bills current before even applying for a mortgage.

If your spending is already under control, or you have gotten that problem taken care of, start improving your credit profile by setting up a checking and a savings account.

While it may seem old fashioned, keeping up a checking account and making regular deposits to a savings account makes a big difference to the loan officer reviewing your application. In addition to helping you discipline your money management, the savings you have set aside can be applied to your down payment.

Keep an eye on your credit report. Make sure that any discrepancies are taken care of right away. Even in the area of poor credit mortgages, your credit score matters.

Many companies have emerged to help you track your scores. Consult with your banker as to which once are reputable.

Once you have gotten your score as high as you can, you still have some hurdles to negotiate. Like many other products, poor credit mortgages can be a benefit or a curse.

While many reputable companies offer these products, predatory lenders are out there who will try to take advantage of your frustration. America's 'subprime lending crisis' was due in large part, to companies who offered 'good deals' to people who could not afford them.

Make sure that the company you choose for your poor credit mortgage has a good reputation. Read the comments on the web. Check their rating with the consumer organizations.

Even after they check out, don't let yourself be talked into more loan than you need. Even the most reliable company is still in business to make money. Keeping your head during the negotiation process is important to keeping your head above water later on.