When your forbearance period is approaching its end and your hardship has not fully resolved, requesting an extension is usually your first and best option. Extensions are available for most federally backed loans -- but you have to ask before the current period expires, and you need to understand the limits specific to your loan type.
This guide walks through how to request a forbearance extension in Florida, what to say to your servicer, how many extensions you may be eligible for, and what comes next when extensions run out.
Step 1: Identify Your Loan Type
Your extension eligibility depends entirely on who owns or backs your loan:
- Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (conventional conforming): Look up your loan at MakingHomeAffordable.gov or call your servicer. Total forbearance including extensions can reach 18 months under current guidelines.
- FHA (Federal Housing Administration): FHA loans allow up to 18 months of total forbearance under post-CARES Act guidelines. Contact HUD at 1-800-225-5342 to verify.
- VA (Veterans Affairs): VA has its own forbearance and extension program. Contact the VA Regional Loan Center at 1-877-827-3702.
- USDA Rural Development: USDA has specific loss mitigation tools including payment moratoriums. Contact the USDA Florida State Office at (352) 338-3400.
- Private label or portfolio loan: Extension eligibility depends on the investor's specific guidelines. These vary significantly and are less standardized.
Step 2: Call at Least 30 Days Before Your Forbearance Ends
Do not wait for the servicer to contact you. Call the loss mitigation department directly at the number on your monthly statement or forbearance confirmation letter. Have ready:
- Your loan number
- The start and end dates of your current forbearance period
- A brief explanation of why the hardship continues
- Your current monthly income (even if reduced)
For more context on the forbearance process from the beginning, see our Florida forbearance guide.
Step 3: Document the Call
Write down the date, time, the name of the representative, their employee ID if they give one, and what they tell you. Ask: "Will I receive written confirmation of this extension, and when?" If the extension is not confirmed in writing within a week, call back.
Servicer records and borrower records sometimes diverge. Having your own contemporaneous notes protects you if a dispute arises later.
Step 4: Ask About Loss Mitigation Options Simultaneously
Even while requesting an extension, ask the representative to describe the loss mitigation options available when your forbearance ends. Under CFPB Regulation X, the servicer must offer you a written evaluation of all available options before moving to foreclosure. Options typically include:
- Deferral: The missed payments are moved to the end of the loan as a non-interest-bearing balloon. You resume your regular payment immediately. This is the most common resolution for temporary hardships.
- Repayment plan: You pay back the missed amounts over 6 to 12 months by adding a portion to each regular payment.
- Loan modification: If your income has changed permanently, a loan modification permanently adjusts your loan terms. See our full Florida loan modification guide.
What Comes After Extensions Run Out
When you have used all available extensions, the servicer moves you into the loss mitigation evaluation process. Under CFPB Regulation X, if you submit a complete loss mitigation application at least 37 days before any scheduled foreclosure sale, the servicer cannot proceed to that sale.
Submitting a complete application protects you while the review is underway. Gather the documentation described in our loan modification guide as early as possible so you are ready to submit immediately when the servicer begins that conversation.
If You Are Already in Foreclosure
Requesting a forbearance extension does not stop a pending foreclosure lawsuit. If you have already received a Florida foreclosure summons, you have 20 days to file a written response regardless of what is happening on the loan modification or forbearance side. Contact a Florida foreclosure defense attorney immediately if you have been served.
Submitting a complete loss mitigation application does not stop the litigation, but it prevents the servicer from proceeding to a completed sale while the application is under review.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy as an Alternative
If forbearance extensions are exhausted and other options are unavailable or insufficient, filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy creates an immediate automatic stay that halts foreclosure and allows you to cure arrears over a 3 to 5-year plan. This is a significant step, but it is a legitimate tool for homeowners who have no remaining forbearance options.
Free Resources for Florida Homeowners
- HUD-Approved Housing Counselors -- Free guidance on forbearance, modification, and next steps. Call 1-800-569-4287.
- CFPB Mortgage Help -- consumerfinance.gov/mortgage
- FHA Loss Mitigation Help -- HUD at 1-800-225-5342
- VA Loan Specialist -- 1-877-827-3702
- USDA Rural Development Florida -- (352) 338-3400
Related Resources for Florida Homeowners
- Florida forbearance guide
- Loan modification guide for Florida
- 2026 CFPB Regulation X loss mitigation rules
- Florida foreclosure timeline 2026
- What to do when you receive a Florida foreclosure summons
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy to stop foreclosure
- HUD housing counseling in Florida
- Deficiency judgment in Florida
- Foreclosure defense attorneys in Florida
- Florida foreclosure answer defenses checklist
Call Barrett Henry
Barrett Henry is a Broker Associate at REMAX Collective with 23+ years of Florida real estate experience. He provides free, no-obligation consultations for homeowners navigating the end of forbearance and weighing their options.
Call or text Barrett at (813) 761-0133 for a free consultation. Or submit your information online.
