08/29/2022
How Long Do I Have to Wait Until I Can Buy a Home Again?
If you’ve been through a foreclosure, you can expect to have to wait between about three and seven years — depending on why you defaulted, your current credit score and the type of loan you’re applying for, among other factors — before buying a home again.
Buyers who lost their homes due to economic hardships such as losing their job, illness or getting a divorce may have to wait less time to buy a home than those who walked away from an underwater mortgage even though they were able to pay or those who couldn’t pay once the rate increases on their adjustable-rate mortgage kicked in, experts say. Potential buyers must show that since the foreclosure they have raised their credit score significantly by paying all bills on time and not taking on too much debt.
The time period you have to wait before buying again also depends on your lender. For example, Fannie Mae requires borrowers to wait five to seven years to buy after a foreclosure and three to seven after a foreclosure with “extenuating circumstances’ (which are factors such as illness and severe injury that were beyond your control)(Zillow)
