In response to the COVID-9 pandemic, owners of single-family homes with federally backed mortgages can apply for financial assistance under the CARES Act.

Mortgage Forbearance

Federally backed home loans can get six months of mortgage help. If you are having trouble with payments, your loan servicer should be able provide the following:

• Defer or reduce your payments for six months if you contact your loan servicer to make arrangements
• Give you another six months of mortgage relief at your request
• Offer options for how you can make up the deferred or reduced payments. They will discuss these options with you at the end of your forbearance period.

It is important to note that forbearance does not mean your payments are forgiven or erased. You are required to repay any missed or reduce payments in the future that can be paid overtime. Forbearance must be repaid and there are multiple forbearance programs or options to help you based on the type of loan you have.

If you have a Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, or USDA loan, you will not have to pay back the amount that was suspended all at once, unless you are able to do so.

If you are unsure which mortgage you qualify for, please out the Consumer Financial Protections Bureau websites which are both available in English and Tagalog:

• Consumer Financial Protections Bureau (in English)
• Consumer Financial Protections Bureau (in Tagalog)

If your mortgage is backed or funded by federal agencies and GSEs (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac), here are links for programs you may be eligible for:

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• See HUD COVID-19 resources
• Check if your single family loan is FHA insured by contacting the FHA Resource Center by phone at 1-800-CALL FHA, or via email at answers@hud.gov.
• Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) Section 184/184A. Contact the ONAP by phone at (800) 561-5913, or via email at Section184@hud.gov.
• U. S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA) Direct or Guaranteed loans
• See USDA COVID-19 resources
• USDA Direct Loan borrowers can also call USDA directly at 800-414-1226
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• See Guidance for VA home loan borrowers during COVID-19
• Native American Direct Loan (NADL) borrowers can contact the BSI default resolution team at 800-327-7861 or customercare@bsifinancial.com
• If you’re nervous about contacting your servicer, or if you’d like VA’s help and advice, please contact a VA loan technician at 877-827-3702.
• Fannie Mae
• Check here to see if your loan is backed by Fannie Mae or call 1-800-232-6643 and press “4” for homeowner
• Freddie Mac
• Check here to see if your loan is backed by Freddie Mac or call 1-800-373-3343 and press “4” for homeowner.

If your mortgage loan is not covered by one of the federal agencies listed above, the loan is not covered by CARES Act. You can contact your loan servicer to see what options are available to you. You can find your servicer’s name on your mortgage statement or by searching on the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS) website.

You can look at additional housing relief options on this website from the State of California.