The short answer: Mortgage forbearance itself is not a FICO scoring factor, but other loan information may affect a score. Reporting depends on your agreement and applicable rules. A confirmed plan differs from simply stopping payments, but no one can promise a particular result.
This post is for you if:
- You are on a plan and want to understand its credit reporting.
- Your forbearance ended and you are reviewing a future mortgage.
- You want to compare your credit report with your written agreement.
Would a short call help you sort out the reporting questions?
Talk it throughDoes mortgage forbearance affect your credit score?
A mortgage forbearance itself is not a factor in Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) Scores, but other loan information may still affect a score. How the account is reported depends on the agreement and applicable rules. That means I cannot promise a particular score result, even when a servicer approves a plan.
FICO says the fact of forbearance is not considered, though other loan details may still matter. The CFPB separately says an otherwise-current account must be reported current.
How does a servicer report mortgage forbearance?
A forbearance notation does not by itself mean a missed payment. The CFPB says if your account was otherwise current, it must be reported current; missed payments without an agreement can be reported.
Metro 2 is a standardized reporting format, not a score. CDIA identifies separate guidance for payment postponement, deferment, and forbearance, and says the furnisher chooses the reporting option and duration. Ask how your own plan will be furnished.
Does CARES Act Section 4021 still apply?
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created a special rule for qualifying COVID-19 accommodations during a defined period. It began January 31, 2020 and ended August 8, 2023, 120 days after the national emergency ended. It is not a permanent rule for new forbearance.
Section 4021 required current reporting when consumers met the accommodation terms; previously delinquent accounts generally retained status until brought current, and charged-off accounts were excluded. Congress.gov records termination on April 10, 2023, setting the later 120-day endpoint. Ask your servicer how a current plan will be reported.
How are repayment plans, deferrals, or modifications reported?
Repayment plans, payment deferrals, and loan modifications do not all share one reporting treatment. CDIA's Metro 2 guidance separates the reporting categories and leaves the option and duration to the furnisher.
Ask how your account will appear during and after the plan. Confirm the amount due, and keep the agreement and payment records. My forbearance requirements guide has questions to ask your servicer.
Can I get a mortgage after forbearance?
No single wait applies to every program. Eligibility can depend on whether you completed the plan, current loan status, recent payment history, the new loan type, and lender underwriting.
| Program | What the current source says | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Fannie Mae | The current guide requires an existing mortgage to be current at application, defined as no more than 45 days since the last paid installment. The temporary COVID-era rule requiring at least 3 timely payments was retired February 15, 2023. | The 45-day rule is not a post-forbearance wait. Standard guide policies apply. |
| Freddie Mac | Bulletin 2023-5 expired temporary COVID purchase and refinance eligibility rules for existing mortgages, effective immediately on February 15, 2023. | The bulletin does not establish a universal current wait. Detailed Guide timing was not verified. |
| FHA | Under HUD's TOTAL Mortgage Scorecard, fewer than 3 consecutive monthly payments after forbearance triggers Refer/manual underwriting for purchase and no-cash-out refinance; fewer than 12 triggers the downgrade for cash-out refinance. FHA modification requires at least 6 payments for no-cash-out refinance. See HUD Handbook 4000.1, Update 18. | A downgrade is not an automatic denial. The modification rule is limited to no-cash-out refinance. |
| VA purchase loan | The VA page lists a Certificate of Eligibility, credit and income standards, lender requirements, and occupancy. The page does not specify a post-forbearance wait. | Lender review still applies. |
For a possible refinance, see my refinance overview.
Would it help to organize questions before a future application?
Book a timeHow can I check my mortgage credit reporting?
You can request free weekly credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com and compare the mortgage line with your plan. The CFPB recommends checking for errors and disputing them.
- Save the agreement and payment confirmations.
- Compare account status and payment dates on each report.
- Dispute incorrect entries with the reporting company and send the servicer your records.
Keep copies of reports and responses.
What should I ask my servicer and lender?
Before forbearance ends, ask the servicer to confirm your balance, required payment, reporting status, and next option in writing. This can help you compare future statements and reports.
- What status will you report while I follow the plan?
- What amount will be due and when?
- When will the account update after the plan?
- What records should I keep?
For a future purchase or refinance, ask a lender to review your mortgage history and current guidelines. Only a full review can show which options may fit.
Frequently asked questions
Will forbearance lower my FICO Score?
FICO does not consider the fact of forbearance itself. Other loan information may still matter.
Does forbearance mean my loan is delinquent?
Not automatically. If you were otherwise current, CFPB says the account must be reported current; missed payments without an agreement can be reported.
Does CARES Act Section 4021 still apply?
No. The special COVID covered period ended. Confirm how any current agreement will be reported.
How does FHA review forbearance payments?
FHA applies different underwriting rules by transaction type. A Refer downgrade means manual underwriting, not automatic denial.
Do Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have a waiting period?
Fannie retired a temporary COVID overlay and returned to standard guide policies. Freddie expired temporary rules, but universal current timing was not verified.
Where can I check mortgage reporting?
Use AnnualCreditReport.com to review your mortgage history and dispute inaccurate entries with the reporting company and servicer.
Sources
Last verified October 29, 2026. Programs, limits and fees change, so confirm the current numbers before you rely on them.
- CFPB forbearance guidance
- FICO score FAQ
- CARES Act Section 4021
- H.J.Res.7, Public Law 118-3
- CDIA Metro 2 guidance
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.3-03
- Fannie Mae LL-2021-03
- Freddie Mac Bulletin 2023-5
- HUD Handbook 4000.1 Update 18
- VA purchase loan
If you are ready to explore options, start your application here and I can review your details.
Start your applicationI am Fabion Medhanie, U.S. Army Retired and a loan officer in Las Vegas. This is education, not a rate quote or a loan approval. Your loan options depend on your full file.
Based in Las Vegas? Meet a U.S. Army Retired loan officer in North Las Vegas, or see VA loans and all loan options.
