If you have a VA loan, the U.S. government has options in place to assist you in case of financial hardship. There are multiple programs available to help you avoid late payments and foreclosure if your mortgage meets eligibility. Here are the major veteran mortgage relief options to know:
Refund Modification
A refund modification affects the principal and interest on your existing VA loan. This option allows the Department of Veteran Affairs to purchase any past-due payment and principal loan balance, given the amount falls within certain limits. Refund modification can result in an overall reduction of both principal and interest by up to 20%.
Partial Claim Option
A partial claim program helps cover you in a scenario where you can make current payments, but have accrued a past-due balance. With a partial claim option, you can resume your regular monthly payments again as soon as you're financially able, while any unpaid late payments are taken over by the VA. You'll owe the amount at the end of the mortgage, but it will not accrue interest while the VA holds it.
Loan Deferment
Loan deferment is one of the simplest mortgage relief options available to veterans. A loan deferment creates an agreed-upon period when you don't have to make regular payments on either principal or interest. It's essentially a "pause" on your mortgage until the end of the deferment period, without any interest accruing during the deferment time.
Forbearance
Loan forbearance is very similar to deferment with one crucial difference. If you receive loan forbearance, you can pause making your mortgage payments for an agreed-upon time period, but interest will continue to build. While forbearance can be an excellent way to mitigate financial hardship in the short term, it can sometimes result in paying higher than the original required amount due to the continuing interest.
All of these options are great ways to avoid foreclosure and late mortgage payments. Remember these programs if you need mortgage relief.
About the Author
Meryl Diamond
While I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I have spent the last 27 years living in the Lisle and Naperville area. The first single family home my husband and I ever owned was in Green Trails, Lisle. There were two things we loved about living in Green Trails - the sense of community and all the green space. This was a dream come true for my children who always had a friend to play with or a babysitter near by. For me, it gave me a chance to get to know the neighbors whom I have built lifelong friendships with. From neighborhood garage sales to summer barbeques, we always found reason to come together.
