It is surprising how many people have zero remorse after a foreclosure. There are those who think nothing of going through the process again to advance their self-interest, with little regard for either their ability to repay or their reputation with a lender. For this reason, lenders do not zealously arrange mortgages for post-foreclosure loan applicants without a thorough screening process.
It doesn’t take long to deduce moral character and integrity. If it is evident the “incident” will never happen again, there are reputable private lenders who are willing to provide a new mortgage – even one day after the foreclosure is finalized (at interest rates that are reasonable under the circumstances).
The Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), the ultimate buyer of a conventional loan advanced by a mortgage lender, requires borrowers to wait seven years after title has transferred in a foreclosure proceeding. However, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires that just 3 years elapse before they insure the mortgage advanced by an FHA lender – whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs only 2 years to elapse before guaranteeing the mortgage of a VA lender.
As long as the Certificate of Title is produced evidencing that the 3-year anniversary requirement has been met, a post-foreclosure borrower may obtain an FHA mortgage. And the loan application can be made in advance so that borrowers are ready and able to close on a timely basis, regardless of how the foreclosure is reported on a credit report by the credit bureaus.