This BLOG On Home Loan After Foreclosure Waiting Period Guidelines Was UPDATED On December 13th, 2018
Millions of homeowners had a foreclosure in recent years. There are Waiting Period Requirements To Qualify For Home Loan After Foreclosure with government and conventional loans. NON-QM Loans do not have any waiting period requirements after foreclosure.
- Foreclosure rates have reached historic highs since the 2008 real estate meltdown
- Million of homeowners who thought they had thousands in equity in their homes soon realized all of the equity in their homes have evaporated
- A substantial percentage of homeowners were left hanging with mortgages that were higher than the value of their homes
- Many turned in their keys to their lenders and walked away
- Others did a deed in lieu of foreclosure or a short sale and walked away with nothing but a dream that someday they can own another home
In this article, we will cover and discuss Home Loan After Foreclosure Waiting Period Guidelines.
Real Estate Meltdown Of 2008
Yet, there are other homeowners who still have their homes with mortgages higher than the value of their homes.
- Those who own a home whose mortgage loans are higher than the value of their homes are stuck in their homes until their value substantially increases in value
- If they want to sell their homes, they would need to pay down their mortgage loans
Homes With Underwater Mortgages
For those homeowners who have mortgage balances that are higher than the value of their homes, it is often called that their homes are underwater.
- The government created and implemented the HARP program for those homeowners with underwater mortgages
- HARP, stands for Home Affordable Refinance Program
- HARP was created for homeowners who had mortgage balances that were higher than the value of their homes
- There is no appraisal needed but the home loan needs to be owned by Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac prior to June 1, 2009
The Launch Of HARP 2.0 For Homeowners With Underwater Mortgages
Homeowners who have loans that have not been sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac prior to June 1, 2009, the government created HARP 2.0:
- Homeowners can refinance their mortgages with no appraisal or income verification with HARP
- It is conventional loans equivalent to FHA Streamline Refinance
Rumors of HARP 3.0 is scheduled to be implemented this year still remains to be seen.
- HARP 3.0 is supposed to be created for those homeowners who could not take advantage of the HARP 2.0 program
- As of July 2017, HARP 3,0 has not been launched
Deed In Lieu Of Foreclosure
A deed in lieu of foreclosure is when a homeowner voluntarily surrenders the keys of their home to the mortgage lender. In return, the mortgage lender agrees not to pursue legal proceedings to foreclosure on the property.
- When a homeowner enters a deed in lieu of foreclosure agreement with their lender, the lender does not come after the deficit of the mortgage loan after the foreclosed property has been sold
- Both the homeowner and lender agree on the deed in lieu of foreclosure
Qualifying For Conventional Home Loan After Foreclosure & Deed in Lieu Of Foreclosure Or Short Sale
A person who has undergone a deed in lieu of foreclosure is eligible for a conventional mortgage loan in 4 years from the date of the deed in lieu of foreclosure with a 5% down payment.
- FHA loan programs treat deed in lieu of foreclosures just like any other regular foreclosure
- The wait time for the borrower is the normal 3 years for foreclosure and deed in lieu of foreclosure on FHA Loans
- There is a two year waiting period to qualify for VA Loans after foreclosures and short sales
Short Sales
A short sale is when a homeowner sells their home below the amount of the mortgage balance with the mortgage lender’s blessing.
- When the real estate meltdown of 2008 hit the United States, real estate values plunged nationwide
- Almost every neighborhood in the country was affected by this crisis
- Short sales, a term that was almost non existent prior to 2008, was a household name
Qualifying For Home Loan After Short Sale
A homeowner who had a short sale on his record is eligible to purchase a home via conventional mortgage loan after 4 years from the date of short sale.
- For those who are seeking a FHA mortgage loan, the wait time is 3 years
- FHA treats short sales like any other regular foreclosure and deed in lieu of foreclosure when it comes to wait times
- There is a three year waiting period to qualify for USDA Loans after short sales
- There is a two year waiting period to qualify for VA Loans after shorts sales
Qualifying For Home Loan After Foreclosure
Homeowners can qualify for home loan after foreclosure with FHA in 3 years after recorded date of foreclosure. The three year waiting period starts from the date of the sheriff’s sale of the property or the date the homeowner’s name was transferred out of their name into the mortgage lender’s name to qualify for a FHA Loan and USDA Loans.
- It is not the date the turned keys were turned in or the day of the eviction
- The waiting period start date is the date recorded on public records and/or date of sheriff’s sale
- Borrowers need to check with public records as of the date the deed changed over to the lender or new owner to find the exact waiting period start date
Update On Conventional Loan After Deed In Lieu And Short Sale
New Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Guidelines to qualify for a conventional loan after a deed in lieu of foreclosure and short sale has been implement in August 2014.
- There is now a four year waiting period to qualify for a conventional loan after deed in lieu of foreclosure, short sale, and bankruptcy with 5% down payment
- The two year waiting period after deed in lieu of foreclosure or short sale with 20% down payment is no longer available
- The good news is that the 20% down payment is no longer a requirement
- Borrowers can qualify for a conventional loan after a deed in lieu of foreclosure and/or short sale with a 5% down payment after 4 years
December 13, 2018 - 5 min read