Buying a House After Foreclosure 2023 – FHA, Conventional, VA, USDA, Non-QM

You might think that if you’ve had a foreclosure in the past, you are no longer eligible to buy another home.

That’s simply untrue.

Mortgage lenders can approve a loan after a foreclosure, deed-in-lieu, or short sale, given enough time since the event and rehabilitated credit.

Here’s how to buy a house after foreclosure.

In this article:

Foreclosure waiting periods

Here are waiting periods for various credit events and loan types

Standard waiting periods

Loan typeForeclosureDeed-in-lieu/
Short sale
Conventional
(Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac)
7 years4 years
FHA3 years3 years
VA2 years2 years
USDA3 years3 years
Non-QM1 day1 day

Waiting periods after an extenuating circumstance

Loan TypeForeclosureDeed-in-lieu/
Short sale
Conventional
(Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac)
3 years2 years
FHA1 year1 year
VA1 year1 year
USDA3 years3 years
Non-QM1 day1 day

What is an extenuating circumstance?

Even mortgage lenders understand that “life happens.” You have a major medical event, a primary wage-earner passes away, or you experience another financial event that was outside your control.

The lender is looking for events that weren’t a result of financial mismanagement. For instance, you were in a car wreck which caused income loss and mounting bills.

And even with a good reason, you may not be approved for shorter waiting periods.

For instance, FHA does not consider the following events “beyond your control”:

  • Divorce 
  • Job loss
  • Inability to sell a home

In all cases, expect to wait the full period. Each loan program has a different definition of “beyond your control” and “financial mismanagement.” It’s best to speak to an experienced lender and have your file fully underwritten to get a final answer.

The ideal scenario for approval

Whether you’re looking to qualify for shorter waiting periods or not, here’s what the lender is looking for when deciding to approve you after a foreclosure.

Buying a house after foreclosure timeline for best chances of approval.

The less-than-ideal scenario, but still acceptable

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just a matter of waiting long enough after foreclosure, although that’s part of it.

What really determines whether you’ll be approved is how you’ve managed credit after the foreclosure. You usually must have impeccable credit for three to seven years afterward, depending on the loan program. 

Example approval scenario: You purchased a home when you were 22 before you knew how to budget or control spending. You went into foreclosure. You have since received new credit cards and an auto loan. You’ve made all payments on time, including rent, for seven years. You may be approved, despite early financial mismanagement.

When does the waiting period start?

The foreclosure waiting period starts when the home is “off the lender’s books.” This means one of the following:

  • The home has been sold in a foreclosure sale and your name is removed from the deed
  • The lender has received HUD’s insurance payment reimbursing them for the loan, if it was an FHA loan.

So, unfortunately, the waiting period does not start the day you move out. HUD could take time to make its payment to the lender. Or a lender of a non-FHA loan could sit on the home for months before selling it.

So it may “feel” like a four-year waiting period, even though an official guideline says three years.

Help! I’m on the CAlVRS list!

The Credit Alert Verification Reporting System (CAlVRS) alerts the lender that you are in default on a federal debt, including a previous government-sponsored mortgage, student loan, or even SBA loan. 

You are not eligible for an FHA, VA, or USDA loan if you’re on the list.

If your foreclosure was on a government-backed mortgage, there’s a three-year waiting period to be removed. The longer of the program’s waiting period or CAIVRS waiting period will apply.

To be removed from the list as soon as possible, pay the federal debt in full.

If there’s any doubt, make sure your lender pulls CAIVRS when you request a homebuying pre-approval.

Non-QM loans: 1 day waiting period

Non-QM loans are programs that are created by individual banks and lenders, not government agencies. 

As such, these lenders make their own rules, including about post-foreclosure waiting periods.

Non-QM lenders can approve a loan in as little as one day after a foreclosure. 

Keep in mind that you will likely need a large down payment and low debt-to-income ratio. So if you’re looking for a 3.5% down payment like FHA provides, you’ll have to wait out that agency’s three-year timeframe.

Related:

FAQ about buying a house after foreclosure

When does the waiting period start after foreclosure?

Lenders define the start of the waiting period after foreclosure as 1) the date HUD issues the insurance payment to the former lender, if it was an FHA loan, or; 2) The date the home was sold at auction and your name was removed from the deed.

How long do I have to wait after foreclosure to buy a home?

You usually have to wait 3-7 years after foreclosure to buy again, plus demonstrate re-established credit during that timeframe. There are rare but possible exceptions, like when a significant event occurred that was beyond your control, such as the primary wage-earner passing away or an unforeseen medical event.

How does a lender know you have a foreclosure?

A foreclosure stays on your credit report for seven years and it can’t be removed. It will automatically fall off your credit after seven years.

What if I forfeited the home before the foreclosure was finalized?

Forfeiting the home can come in a few forms, such as a pre-foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or short sale. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer reduced waiting periods for these events, typically 4 years, but 2 years with extenuating circumstances.

Related: Buying a house after bankruptcy

Along with your foreclosure, you may have filed for bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy waiting periods tend to be shorter that those for foreclosures. In that case, the foreclosure waiting period would apply.

If you’ve experienced both bankruptcy and foreclosure, see: Buying A House After Bankruptcy: FHA, Conventional, VA, USDA, Non-QM

Buying a house after foreclosure: totally possible

Having a foreclosure in your past isn’t the end of the road. You can still enjoy the benefits of homeownership, if you can prove you deserve it.

Make all credit account payments on time, starting now. Apply for new credit. The longer you have perfect credit accounts, the better your chances of being approved someday.

If you’ve restored your credit already, and enough time has passed, try applying with a lender now. You might be surprised that you can buy again.

Sources:
Fannie Mae Selling Guide
Freddie Mac Selling Guide
USDA Handbook
VA Handbook

Author

  • Tim Lucas

    Tim Lucas spent 11 years in the mortgage industry helping everyone from first-time buyers to experienced investors. He purchased his first home at 26 with just $1,100 out-of-pocket and now owns real estate worth $2.4 million. Tim was the managing editor at national websites TheMortgageReports.com and MyMortgageInsider.com and has been featured in publications such as Time, U.S. News, MSN, and more. Connect with Tim on LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok.

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