<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 25, 2002


                          Accredited Home Lenders, Inc.
                        --------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

---------------------------------  ----------------  ---------------------------
          CALIFORNIA                   333-07219             33-0426859
     --------------------           --------------         --------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of    (Commission File       (I.R.S. Employer
         Incorporation)                 Number)          Identification No.)

                                                     ---------------------------
    Attention: General Counsel                                  92128
     15030 Avenue of Science                                    -----
            Suite 100                                         (Zip Code)
         San Diego, CA
        ---------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (858) 676-2100
                                                           ---------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    No Change
              -----------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

Item 2.  Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
         ------------------------------------

Description of the Notes and the Mortgage Loans

     Accredited Home Lenders, Inc. (the "Registrant") has registered issuances
of an aggregate of up to $500,000,000 in principal amount of asset-backed
securities, on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), by a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (Registration File No. 333-07219) (as amended, the "Registration
Statement"). Pursuant to the Registration Statement, Accredited Mortgage Loan
Trust 2002-1, a Delaware business trust, issued $207,398,000 in aggregate
principal amount of its Accredited Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Notes, Series
2002-1 (the "Notes") on July 25, 2002 (the "Closing Date"). This Current Report
on Form 8-K is being filed to satisfy an undertaking to file copies of certain
agreements executed in connection with the issuance of the Notes, the forms of
which were filed as Exhibits to the Registration Statement.

     The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture") attached
hereto as EXHIBIT 4.1, dated as of July 1, 2002, between the Trust and Wells
Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, in its capacity as indenture trustee
(the "Indenture Trustee"). The Notes evidence indebtedness of the Trust and
consist of two classes, the Class A-1 Notes (the "Class A-1 Notes") and the
Class A-2 Notes (the "Class A-2 Notes"). Also issued, but not offered by the
Trust are the Trust Certificates (the "Trust Certificates") evidencing the
ownership interest in the Trust.

     The primary assets of the Trust will consist of two groups of residential
mortgage loans. One group contains first lien fixed-rate mortgage loans and
relates primarily to the Class A-1 Notes. The other group contains first lien
adjustable-rate mortgage loans and relates primarily to the Class A-2 Notes. The
Class A-1 Notes have an aggregate principal amount of $68,704,000 and a fixed
interest rate of 4.930% per annum. The Class A-2 Notes have an aggregate
principal amount of $138,694,000 and a variable interest rate.

                                       2
<PAGE>


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
         ------------------------------------------------------------------

(a)  Not applicable

(b)  Not applicable

(c)  Exhibits:

         1.1  Underwriting Agreement, dated July 23, 2002, between Accredited
Home Lenders, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.*

         4.1  Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2002, among Accredited Mortgage
Loan Trust 2002-1, a Delaware business trust acting through its owner trustee,
and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as indenture trustee.

         4.2  Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2002,
between Accredited Home Lenders, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust National Association,
as Owner Trustee.

         8.1  Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP regarding tax matters, dated as of
July 25, 2002.*

         10.1  Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2002, among
Accredited Home Lenders, Inc., as Sponsor and as Master Servicer, Accredited
Mortgage Loan Trust 2002-1, as Issuer, Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP, as
Backup Servicer, and the Indenture Trustee.


*    To be filed by Amendment
                                       3
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                            ACCREDITED HOME LENDERS, INC.



                                            By: /s/ Ray W. McKewon
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Name:  Ray W. McKewon
                                                Title:  Senior Vice President


Dated:  July 25, 2002

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

     1.1     Underwriting Agreement, dated July 23, 2002, between Accredited
Home Lenders, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.*

     4.1     Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2002, among Accredited Mortgage Loan
Trust 2002-1, a Delaware business trust acting through its owner trustee, and
Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as indenture trustee.

     4.2     Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2002,
between Accredited Home Lenders, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust National Association,
as Owner Trustee.

     8.1     Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP regarding tax matters, dated as of
July 25, 2002.*

     10.1    Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2002, among
Accredited Home Lenders, Inc., as Sponsor and as Master Servicer, Accredited
Mortgage Loan Trust 2002-1, as Issuer, Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP, as
Backup Servicer, and the Indenture Trustee.




*To be filed by Amendment
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "g8k-29465.txt", "description": "8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 7028}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ACCRED HOME LNDRS INC AC MOR LN TR 2002-1 AS BK NT SE 2002-1", "cik": "0001178809", "assigned-sic": "6189", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-07219-03", "film-number": "02725464"}, "business-address": {"street1": "15030 AVE OF SCIENCE", "street2": "STE 100", "city": "SAN DIEGO", "state": "CA", "zip": "92128", "phone": "3128366713"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "15030 AVE OF SCIENCE", "street2": "STE 100", "city": "SAN DIEGO", "state": "CA", "zip": "92128"}}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 25, 2002

                          Accredited Home Lenders, Inc.
                        --------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

---------------------------------  ----------------  ---------------------------
          CALIFORNIA                   333-07219             33-0426859
     --------------------           --------------         --------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of    (Commission File       (I.R.S. Employer
         Incorporation)                 Number)          Identification No.)

                                                     ---------------------------
    Attention: General Counsel                                  92128
     15030 Avenue of Science                                    -----
            Suite 100                                         (Zip Code)
         San Diego, CA
        ---------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (858) 676-2100
                                                           ---------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    No Change
              -----------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2.  Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
         ------------------------------------

Description of the Notes and the Mortgage Loans

     Accredited Home Lenders, Inc. (the "Registrant") has registered issuances
of an aggregate of up to $500,000,000 in principal amount of asset-backed
securities, on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), by a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (Registration File No. 333-07219) (as amended, the "Registration
Statement"). Pursuant to the Registration Statement, Accredited Mortgage Loan
Trust 2002-1, a Delaware business trust, issued $207,398,000 in aggregate
principal amount of its Accredited Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Notes, Series
2002-1 (the "Notes") on July 25, 2002 (the "Closing Date"). This Current Report
on Form 8-K is being filed to satisfy an undertaking to file copies of certain
agreements executed in connection with the issuance of the Notes, the forms of
which were filed as Exhibits to the Registration Statement.

     The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture") attached
hereto as EXHIBIT 4.1, dated as of July 1, 2002, between the Trust and Wells
Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, in its capacity as indenture trustee
(the "Indenture Trustee"). The Notes evidence indebtedness of the Trust and
consist of two classes, the Class A-1 Notes (the "Class A-1 Notes") and the
Class A-2 Notes (the "Class A-2 Notes"). Also issued, but not offered by the
Trust are the Trust Certificates (the "Trust Certificates") evidencing the
ownership interest in the Trust.

     The primary assets of the Trust will consist of two groups of residential
mortgage loans. One group contains first lien fixed-rate mortgage loans and
relates primarily to the Class A-1 Notes. The other group contains first lien
adjustable-rate mortgage loans and relates primarily to the Class A-2 Notes. The
Class A-1 Notes have an aggregate principal amount of $68,704,000 and a fixed
interest rate of 4.930% per annum. The Class A-2 Notes have an aggregate
principal amount of $138,694,000 and a variable interest rate.

                                       2
Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
         ------------------------------------------------------------------

(a)  Not applicable

(b)  Not applicable

(c)  Exhibits:

         1.1  Underwriting Agreement, dated July 23, 2002, between Accredited
Home Lenders, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.*

         4.1  Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2002, among Accredited Mortgage
Loan Trust 2002-1, a Delaware business trust acting through its owner trustee,
and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as indenture trustee.

         4.2  Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2002,
between Accredited Home Lenders, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust National Association,
as Owner Trustee.

         8.1  Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP regarding tax matters, dated as of
July 25, 2002.*

         10.1  Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2002, among
Accredited Home Lenders, Inc., as Sponsor and as Master Servicer, Accredited
Mortgage Loan Trust 2002-1, as Issuer, Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP, as
Backup Servicer, and the Indenture Trustee.

*    To be filed by Amendment
                                       3
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            ACCREDITED HOME LENDERS, INC.

                                            By: /s/ Ray W. McKewon
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Name:  Ray W. McKewon
                                                Title:  Senior Vice President

Dated:  July 25, 2002
EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

     1.1     Underwriting Agreement, dated July 23, 2002, between Accredited
Home Lenders, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.*

     4.1     Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2002, among Accredited Mortgage Loan
Trust 2002-1, a Delaware business trust acting through its owner trustee, and
Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as indenture trustee.

     4.2     Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2002,
between Accredited Home Lenders, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust National Association,
as Owner Trustee.

     8.1     Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP regarding tax matters, dated as of
July 25, 2002.*

     10.1    Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2002, among
Accredited Home Lenders, Inc., as Sponsor and as Master Servicer, Accredited
Mortgage Loan Trust 2002-1, as Issuer, Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP, as
Backup Servicer, and the Indenture Trustee.

*To be filed by Amendment