{"id":5435,"date":"2026-06-11T20:25:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T14:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lrgrealty.com\/lrg-blog\/?p=5435"},"modified":"2026-06-14T01:15:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T19:15:52","slug":"buying-house-after-bankruptcy-san-antonio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lrgrealty.com\/lrg-blog\/buying-house-after-bankruptcy-san-antonio\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying a House After Bankruptcy in San Antonio"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A bankruptcy or foreclosure does not permanently disqualify you from buying a home in San Antonio. FHA is available 2 years after a Chapter 7 discharge. VA loans follow the same 2-year timeline for eligible Veterans. Chapter 13 allows FHA after just 12 months of on-time plan payments with court approval. Foreclosure to FHA is 3 years from the completion date. The waiting periods are shorter than most buyers assume, and the credit rebuild during the waiting period is structured and achievable. This page covers every timeline, what lenders look for after a credit event, and the honest rebuild path for San Antonio recovery buyers in 2026.<\/p>\n

Talk to an Agent About Your Timeline \u2192<\/a>
\nAffordability Calculator<\/a><\/p>\n

Veteran or active-duty Military? See LRG Veteran Homefront \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n
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2 yr<\/div>\n
Ch7 to FHA \/ VA<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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12 mo<\/div>\n
Ch13 to FHA (w\/ court)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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3 yr<\/div>\n
Foreclosure to FHA<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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$290K<\/div>\n
SA Median Home Price<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Quick Answers<\/div>\n

Buying after bankruptcy at a glance<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Chapter 7 waiting periods<\/div>\n
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FHA<\/b>2 years from discharge date.<\/span><\/div>\n
VA<\/b>2 years from discharge date.<\/span><\/div>\n
Conventional<\/b>4 years from discharge date.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Chapter 13 waiting periods<\/div>\n
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FHA<\/b>12 months of on-time plan payments + court OK.<\/span><\/div>\n
VA<\/b>12 months + court approval. Some lenders: discharge.<\/span><\/div>\n
Conventional<\/b>2 years from discharge. 4 years from dismissal.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Foreclosure waiting periods<\/div>\n
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FHA<\/b>3 years from completion date.<\/span><\/div>\n
VA<\/b>2 years from completion date.<\/span><\/div>\n
Conventional<\/b>7 years from completion date.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What to do during the wait<\/div>\n
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Rebuild credit<\/b>Target 580+ for FHA, 620+ for full menu.<\/span><\/div>\n
Save reserves<\/b>2-3 months of payments after closing.<\/span><\/div>\n
Stabilize employment<\/b>2 years of documented income.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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Top Questions<\/div>\n

Three things buyers ask first after bankruptcy<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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\nHow long after bankruptcy can I buy a house in San Antonio?<\/summary>\n
Chapter 7 to FHA: 2 years from discharge. Chapter 13 to FHA: 12 months of on-time plan payments with court approval. VA follows the same Chapter 7 timeline. The waiting period is shorter than most buyers assume, and the credit rebuild can happen during the wait.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nCan I get a mortgage while still in Chapter 13?<\/summary>\n
Yes. FHA allows application after 12 months of on-time Chapter 13 plan payments with court permission. You do not need to wait for full discharge, which can take 3 to 5 years. Court approval requires a motion from your bankruptcy attorney. Most courts approve if the payments are current.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nWill I need a large down payment after bankruptcy?<\/summary>\n
No. FHA at 580 requires only 3.5% down ($10,150 on a $290,000 SA home). VA requires $0 down. DPA programs at 620+ can cover the FHA down payment entirely. The down payment barrier is the same after bankruptcy as for any other buyer at the same credit level.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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Chapter 7 Bankruptcy<\/div>\n

The Chapter 7 timeline: 2 years to FHA and VA<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes most unsecured debts and produces a discharge typically 3 to 4 months after filing. The FHA waiting period is 2 years from the discharge date, not the filing date. A buyer who filed in January 2024 and received discharge in April 2024 is eligible for FHA in April 2026. VA follows the same 2-year timeline. Conventional requires 4 years from discharge. During the 2-year waiting period, the buyer rebuilds credit through secured cards, on-time payments, and responsible credit use.<\/p>\n

The non-obvious issue is the discharge date versus the filing date. All waiting periods for Chapter 7 start from the discharge, which comes 3 to 4 months after filing. Buyers who count from the filing date think they are eligible sooner than they are. This matters because lenders verify the discharge date on the bankruptcy records, and an application submitted 23 months after filing but only 20 months after discharge will be denied. The exact discharge date appears on the court’s discharge order. Obtain a copy from your bankruptcy attorney or from PACER, the federal court electronic records system. Start the mortgage conversation 3 months before the 2-year anniversary so pre-approval is ready on the eligibility date.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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