Most major mortgage loan programs (FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional) require at least 2 years to have passed since the discharge date of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. So if the discharge was in October 2023, then you're looking at October 2025 as the earliest point for eligibility.
Here’s a quick breakdown of typical waiting periods after Chapter 7:
Loan Type Waiting Period After Chapter 7 Discharge Notes
FHA 2 years With reestablished credit and no late payments
VA 2 years May allow earlier if strong compensating factors
USDA 3 years Though sometimes exceptions are granted
Conventional (Fannie/Freddie) 4 years (from discharge or dismissal) 2 years with extenuating circumstances
Between now and then, the best move is to keep building your credit, avoid new derogatory marks, and save for reserves or a down payment—even for zero-down programs, having some funds on hand helps in underwriting.
