Mortgage relief available to homeowners affected by covid-19
If you have a federally-backed mortgage and have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, you can ask your lender to pause your mortgage payments for up to 180 days (six months). You can extend this suspension for an additional 180 days, for a full year of no mortgage payments.
Pausing mortgage payments is called a “forbearance.” The suspended payments are not forgiven, and you must pay them back at a later time. When the forbearance ends, your lender must work with you to make these payments. Depending on your situation, the lender could:
- Put the payments at the end of your loan,
- Offer a repayment plan, or
- Offer a loan modification.
If you are already in forbearance, you may be eligible for additional extensions. If you want an extension, continue telling your lender that you are affected by COVID-19 and want to keep your loan in forbearance for as long as possible.
Homeowners in foreclosure can ask for a forbearance and pause the foreclosure process. Reverse mortgage borrowers are also eligible for relief.
CVLS always recommends getting help from a free, HUD-certified housing counselor. You can find an agency near your home here: Getting An IHDA Loan - IHDA.
If the original mortgage borrower is deceased, we still encourage you to submit a forbearance request. However, you may need to probate the borrower’s estate. If you are interested in that option, please call 312-332-8785 or email COVID@cvls.org. Please indicate in your voicemail or email that the borrower is deceased.