You’ll need to wait until a judge discharges your bankruptcy before you can get a loan, but exactly how long do you need to wait? The answer depends on the type of bankruptcy you have on your record and the type of loan you want. The most common type of bankruptcy is Chapter 7 bankruptcy. During a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a court wipes away your qualifying debts. Unfortunately, your credit will also take a major hit. If you’ve gone through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you need to wait at least 4 years after a court discharges or dismisses your bankruptcy to qualify for a conventional loan. Government-backed mortgage loans are a bit more lenient. You need to wait 3 years after your bankruptcy’s dismissal or discharge to get a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan. To qualify for a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loan, you only need to wait 2 years after your discharge or dismissal. Chapter 13 bankruptcies involve a reorganization of your debts. Chapter 13 bankruptcy means you may need to make scheduled payments to your creditors. It doesn’t have as large of an effect on your credit score – and you can keep your assets. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is less serious than a Chapter 7, but most types of loans still include a waiting period. The amount of time you need to wait to apply for a conventional loan after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy depends on how a court chooses to handle your bankruptcy. If the court dismisses your bankruptcy, you must wait at least 4 years from your dismissal date before you can apply. If a court discharges your bankruptcy, the waiting period is 4 years from the date you filed and 2 years from your dismissal date. Like a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, standards are a bit more relaxed for government-backed loans. USDA loans require a 1-year waiting period after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The waiting period is the same whether you get a discharge or dismissal. FHA and VA loans simply require a court to dismiss or discharge your loan before you apply.
