Qualified San Marcos homeowners encouraged to seek mortgage assistance

Staff Reports

The City of San Marcos encourages homeowners with single-family mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to seek assistance with the FHA’s special COVID-19 mortgage payment forbearance. All homeowners with FHA-insured loans may ask for forbearance without penalty because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A COVID-19 forbearance is not payment forgiveness. Qualified homeowners may temporarily reduce or suspend monthly mortgage payments for up to six months but must pay any reduced or paused payments in the future. Payments can occur over time; a lump sum is not required at the end of the forbearance period. 

The federal foreclosure and eviction moratorium remains in effect through July 31, 2021. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 300,000 borrowers are at least 60 days delinquent on their mortgage and could benefit from forbearance assistance. 

Qualified homeowners must request COVID-19 forbearance assistance from their mortgage servicer by September 30, 2021. When working with their mortgage servicer, homeowners should state that a hardship related to COVID-19 necessitates forbearance assistance. Documentation of the hardship is not required. 

Most homeowners with other types of loans may also request mortgage relief. More information about assistance options may be found online at: www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/mortgage-and-housing-assistance/

For more information about COVID-19 mortgage payment forbearance, contact the FHA Resource Center at 1.800.225.5342 or visit www.hud.gov/coronavirus/homeowners.