In the wake of COVID-19, many homeowners — including veterans — entered mortgage forbearance to manage financial hardship. For months, one major question lingered: When will I be able to refinance or buy again?

On May 19, 2020, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued temporary guidance clarifying those rules. These policies helped reopen the door for responsible homeowners who had paused payments during the pandemic — and

When the CARES Act was signed into law in March 2020, it brought welcome relief to millions of homeowners affected by COVID-19 — including veterans and service members with VA-backed mortgages.

But with that relief came confusion. Terms like forbearance and payment deferral began circulating online, often without full explanations or context.

As Vetted VA professional Scott Schang warned early in the pandemic:

“Our fear

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every household in America. Businesses shut down, millions lost income, and many homeowners faced impossible financial choices.

If you’re a veteran with a VA-backed home loan, you were protected under the CARES Act, which provided options for mortgage forbearance — a temporary pause in payments for those facing hardship.

But after forbearance ended, a new question emerged:

Can