The U.S. government has multiple options available for military veterans who may be facing foreclosure. Through the Department of Veterans Affairs, borrowers can get financial relief through means such as forbearance, deferment, refinancing and more. However, there are some crucial details to be aware of. Here are some of the most important things to know about current veteran mortgage relief options:
One of the most important aspects of understanding veteran mortgage relief options is knowing the difference between loan deferment and loan forbearance. A loan deferment basically "pauses" your mortgage payments for a pre-determined period. During this time, you don't have to make payments on either the principal amount or interest. Your interest is also paused: during your deferment period, you will not continue to build interest on your loan.
Forbearance is extremely similar except for the lack of accrued interest. Just like a deferment, forbearance allows you to stop regular payments for an agreed upon amount of time. However, interest will continue to accrue as normal. While you don't need to pay it off until later, this can sometimes result in a higher total loan balance than originally planned.
Credit scores factor in to nearly every aspect of our financial lives. As such, it's important to consider the possible effect of mortgage relief on your credit score. While most mortgage relief programs won't affect your credit in a negative way, there are some situations that could cause your score to drop.
Normally, missed mortgage payments would negatively impact your credit score. If granted forbearance or deferment, your lender should keep your account marked as current. If you were already behind on payments before the relief period, it might mean your mortgage will remain in delinquent status and hurt your credit score.
There are many options for mortgage relief offered to U.S. veterans to suit a variety of situations. To determine which is best for you, keep these details in mind.
Shana Lundell has been a real estate professional since 2003 in Bourne, Cape Cod, Plymouth and the surrounding areas, where she’s lived since 2000. Shana is a luxury and waterfront specialist who has represented hundreds of buyers and sellers, including representing builders in over 100 new construction transactions in her career. She consistently achieves recognition awards for top production, including membership in the Coldwell Banker® International President’s Elite, an honor reserved for the Top 3% of agents globally. Shana ranks in the Top 100 of 4,000 Coldwell Banker agents in New England.
Shana works with a range of clients, including lifestyle properties, vacation residences, down-sizers, trade-up buyers, land, first-time home buyers, and new construction sales. She understands that moving happens for a myriad of reasons and has had the honor of helping all types of transactions. Many emotions can come into play during this time, but Shana is skilled at keeping calm and carrying on with care, professionalism, open communication, and the ability to keep things on target to achieve results. She guides her clients smoothly through the process, from dynamic marketing measures, negotiation and solution strategies, connecting pivotal professional resources, to coordinating the essential closing details.
Shana is proud to have over 100 five-star client testimonials that rave about her positive, professional, responsive, and authentic approach to real estate service. Love where you live. Live where you love. Looking to buy or sell? Call Shana Lundell!
