InfoBytes Blog
HUD issues mortgagee letter on Covid-19 forbearance
On September 27, HUD issued Mortgagee Letter 2021-24, which extends and adds Covid-19 relief options for borrowers who are struggling with mortgage payments due to the pandemic and for senior homeowners with Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) who require assistance to stay in their homes. According to HUD, these actions are in response to the impact of the pandemic and “are part of FHA’s continuing evolution of its COVID-19 policies so that the right tools are in place to help borrowers.” FHA is now providing: (i) “up to six months of COVID-19 Forbearance for borrowers requesting an initial COVID-19 Forbearance or HECM Extension from their mortgage servicer between October 1, 2021, and the end of the COVID-19 National Emergency, and an additional six months if the COVID-19 Forbearance or HECM Extension is exhausted and expires before the end of the COVID-19 National Emergency”; and (ii) “up to six months of additional forbearance for borrowers who requested or will request an initial COVID-19 Forbearance or HECM Extension from their mortgage servicer between July 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021, allowing these borrowers up to a maximum of 12 months of COVID-19 Forbearance or HECM Extension.”