Identify the event and documentation
Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure and other significant credit events have different treatment. Keep court records, discharge or dismissal dates and evidence of current obligations. A qualified attorney can explain the legal status; a mortgage lender determines financing eligibility.
Ask for program-specific requirements
Conventional guidance can distinguish discharge, dismissal and documented extenuating circumstances. FHA, VA, USDA and lender overlays can differ. Do not use a single number of years as an approval promise, and do not assume one lender’s answer applies to every product.
Build reserves and current payment stability
A future mortgage should fit the household after the credit event, not just satisfy an elapsed-time test. Review reports, correct inaccuracies and preserve a buffer for housing costs. Be cautious of high-cost offers sold as the only possible route back to ownership.
A question worth asking
Can this page establish my post-bankruptcy eligibility?
No. Legal status, program requirements and lender underwriting need individual professional review.
Check the source
Primary references checked October 28, 2026. Rules and product availability can change; confirm the requirements for your actual transaction.