Talk to Your Mortgage Servicer or Landlord First, March 23
Loan Payment Update, March 20
Mortgage Relief Scam, March 18

If your office is closed, how can I make my house payment?

You can make your payment online, mail it to us or put it in the drop box at our Bismarck office.  More information.

My job was impacted by the coronavirus and I can’t make my mortgage payment, what should I do?

Contact NDHFA’s loan servicing department by phone, (800) 292-8621 or (701) 328-8080, or by e-mail, hfaservicing@nd.gov, to discuss your situation.

What kind of assistance can NDHFA offer me if I can’t make my payment?

If the coronavirus has impacted your employment – hours reduced, layoffs, etc. – you will need to provide NDHFA with a letter from your employer, preferably on your company’s letterhead, stating your employment has been impacted. Once we receive the letter, NDHFA will:

• Waive any late fees that would normally be assessed.
• Not report negative information to the credit bureaus concerning missed payments.

Once you are gainfully employed again, NDHFA’s loan servicing staff will work with you to set up a repayment plan and offer whatever loss mitigation options are available at the time.

My friend doesn’t have to make a mortgage payment, he received a payment holiday. Why didn’t I receive a holiday?

A payment holiday doesn’t mean that your friend won’t have to make a payment, it means the payment was deferred. Eventually, the payment will be required. Each mortgage loan servicer has different financial circumstances dictating what they can offer.

What happens if I can’t make my mortgage payment?

Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and guidance from federal agencies and the GSEs, there are two protections for homeowners with federally or GSE-backed (Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac) or funded mortgages:

First, for many federally or GSE-backed loans, your lender or loan servicer may not foreclose on you until at least Dec. 31, 2020. Specifically, the CARES Act and the guidance from the GSEs, the FHA, the VA, and the USDA, prohibit lenders and servicers from beginning a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure against you, or from finalizing a foreclosure judgment or sale. This protection began on March 18, 2020, and extends through at least December 31, 2020.

Second, if you experience financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, you have a right to request and obtain a forbearance for up to 180 days. You also have the right to request and obtain an extension for up to another 180 days (for a total of up to 360 days). You must contact your loan servicer to request this forbearance. There will be no additional fees, penalties or additional interest (beyond scheduled amounts) added to your account. You do not need to submit additional documentation to qualify other than your claim to have a pandemic-related financial hardship.

For more details go to Consumer Finance Protection Bureau at www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/guide-coronavirus-mortgage-relief-options.

I received an offer of mortgage assistance; how do I know if it is legitimate?

While some offers of assistance are legitimate, many are not. Some red flags include:

• Guarantees that a business can stop a foreclosure or eviction, regardless of circumstances.
• Asking for payment before any services are performed.
• Instructions to make mortgage or rent payment to someone else, not to your loan servicer or landlord.
• Asking you to sign incomplete or blank paperwork or pressuring you to sign a document you have not had time to read thoroughly.

Do not respond to emails, texts or social media notifications that you can receive or are qualified for assistance. Call your mortgage servicer or landlord to discuss your situation.

COVID-19 Housing and Homeless Services, ND Dept. of Human Services
Eviction for Tenants, Legal Self Help Center, State of ND Courts
Where to Go for Housing Assistance in North Dakota, ND Center for Persons with Disabilities 

Physical Inspection and Site Visit Procedures for July-December 2020, August 17
Opening Doors Monthly Check-In Protocol Updated, March 18
Developers Urged to Mail or Upload HIF Applications, March 18
Inspections Postponed, File Reviews and Reporting Continues, March 17
Online/Phone Attendance Options for LIHTC and HTF Hearings, March 17

Mortgage Relief Options and Protections, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
How to Help Homeowners Protect Their Homes, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Foreclosure Scams Awareness, North Dakota Housing Finance Agency
Coronavirus Advice for Consumers, Federal Trade Commission
COVID-19 Resources, State of North Dakota
Coronavirus (COVID-19), CDC and FEMA
Housing During the COVID-19 Crisis presented at Main Street Summit 2020
Tools for Landlords with Tenants Impacted by COVID-19, HUD